Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 519: Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Entertainment Permits

HB 519 creates three new entertainment permit types for alcohol license holders in Anne Arundel County, replacing previous categories. It allows Background Permits (for piped music/one TV, $100 fee), General Permits (for background entertainment plus live music up to four musicians, trivia, karaoke, $200-$300 fee), and Full Permits (for stage shows, dance floors, etc., $200-$400 fee). The bill requires outdoor events under these permits to be at least 100 feet from residential zones and restricts Full Permits near schools or places of worship within 1,000 feet. It directly affects bars, restaurants, and venues with Class B, BLX, D, or H liquor licenses seeking to offer live music, karaoke, or stage events.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 512: Anne Arundel County - Board of License Commissioners and Part-Time Inspectors - Compensation

HB 512 increases minimum annual salaries for Anne Arundel County's Board of License Commissioners and part-time inspectors, effective July 1, 2026. The bill sets a new minimum $21,240 annual salary for the board chair (up from $18,000), $17,700 for other board members (up from $15,000), and $8,260 for each of the 18 part-time inspectors (up from $7,000). All salaries must include any cost-of-living adjustments available to Anne Arundel County employees. Additionally, part-time inspectors receive a $300 monthly expense allowance subject to approval. The bill directly affects these specific county positions handling alcohol beverage licensing.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 522: Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Class C Per Diem License Fees

HB 522 modifies Anne Arundel County's fee structure for temporary Class C alcoholic beverage licenses (for events). It changes fees from a flat daily rate to a per-point-of-sale location charge for events with 500+ attendees. Specifically, for events under 500 people, fees remain $25/day for beer/wine licenses and $50/day for full liquor licenses. For events of 500+ people, fees increase to $25 per serving location per day for beer/wine licenses and $50 per location per day for full liquor licenses. The bill applies only to Anne Arundel County and takes effect July 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 3: Higher Education - Student Financial Assistance - Dependents of State or Local Public Safety Employees (Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act)

HB 3, the Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act, exempts financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who died while on duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at Maryland public colleges. It directly affects children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, correctional officers, and Maryland National Guard members who were residents of Maryland at the time of their death. The bill amends Maryland law to define "public safety employee" broadly and requires the Commission to create implementing regulations. The exemption applies to public higher education institutions statewide and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 474: Vehicle Laws - Dangerous Accumulations of Snow and Ice - Removal From Exposed Vehicle Surfaces (Clear Before You Drive Act)

HB 474, the "Clear Before You Drive Act," prohibits drivers in Maryland from operating or towing vehicles with accumulated snow or ice on exposed surfaces - including windshields, roofs, windows, and truck trailers - that poses a safety threat. It directly affects all vehicle operators, requiring snow/ice removal before driving, with fines starting at $25 for first-time noncommercial vehicle violations and escalating to $200 for repeated offenses. The bill also imposes higher penalties - $200-$1,000 for noncommercial or $500-$1,500 for commercial vehicles - if snow/ice contributes to accidents causing property damage, injury, or death. Key provisions mandate pre-drive snow removal and establish tiered fines based on vehicle type and offense history.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 42: Reduction Facilities and Veterans Service Organizations - Hydrolyzed and Soil Remains - Immunity

SB 42 protects registered reduction operators (who process human remains into soil via natural organic reduction) and veterans service organizations from civil liability when transferring or receiving unclaimed hydrolyzed or soil remains of veterans or their eligible dependents, as long as they act in good faith. It amends Maryland law to clarify that these entities are not legally responsible for handling such remains for disposition purposes. The bill specifically replaces the term "cremated remains" with "hydrolyzed or soil remains" in relevant legal sections to align with new processing methods. This change directly affects veterans' remains management without altering existing disposition procedures or creating new requirements.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 405: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Governing Documents - Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment

HB 405 prevents condo and HOA governing bodies from unreasonably blocking electric vehicle (EV) charger installations in common or limited common use parking areas. It requires boards to follow regular budget processes and confirm sufficient parking availability before installing chargers. The law also allows boards to grant 3-year renewable licenses for necessary common elements (like electrical supply) for EV equipment. This applies retroactively to existing restrictions and takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting condo/HOA communities and their residents.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 319: County Boards of Education - Student Transportation - Sunset Repeal and Study

HB 319 repeals the expiration date (sunset) for two 2021 laws that allow county boards of education to use non-standard vehicles for student transportation under specific circumstances. This bill permanently extends the existing authority, meaning county school systems can continue using these alternative transportation methods without needing new legislation. The change directly affects county boards of education and the students they transport, particularly in situations where standard school buses aren't feasible. The policy remains unchanged - it only removes the June 30, 2026, deadline that would have ended the provision automatically.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 399: Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Class C Per Diem License Fees

SB 399 adjusts the fee structure for temporary alcohol licenses (Class C per diem) used by event organizers in Anne Arundel County. It sets $25 per day for beer/wine licenses and $50 per day for full liquor licenses at events with fewer than 500 attendees. For events of 500+ people, fees increase to $25 per serving location per day for beer/wine licenses and $50 per serving location per day for full liquor licenses. The bill affects event vendors, venues, and organizers needing temporary alcohol permits in Anne Arundel County, effective July 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 398: Anne Arundel County - Board of License Commissioners - Alterations

SB 398 increases the Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners from three to five members. It requires the Governor to appoint members from a list recommended by the county’s state legislative delegations, revises eligibility rules (limiting same-party members to three and same-district residents to two), and mandates the board adopt a published ethics policy on conflicts of interest. The bill directly affects how the county’s alcohol and cannabis licensing board is structured and staffed. It takes effect July 1, 2026, with new terms beginning May 2, 2027.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 400: Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Entertainment Permits

SB 400 updates Anne Arundel County's rules for entertainment permits at businesses serving alcohol. It creates three permit types: "Background" (allowing only background music/TV), "General" (adding live music with ≤4 musicians and karaoke), and "Full" (permitting dancing, stages, and floor shows). The bill requires outdoor events under any permit to stay at least 100 feet from residential zones, and "Full" permits near schools/worship sites must maintain a 1,000-foot buffer. Annual fees range from $100 (Background) to $400 (Full for beer/wine/liquor licenses), effective July 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 430: Family Child Care Providers - Reserve Component Members - Substitute Provider

HB 430 requires family child care providers who are members of the National Guard or military reserves to designate a substitute provider when they are away for required training or active duty. This applies specifically to providers operating registered family child care homes, which care for up to eight children in a home setting. The law limits substitute care to no more than 45 working days per year. The bill amends Maryland's child care licensing laws (adding Section 9.5-305.1) to establish this requirement, effective July 1, 2026.

Bill results