Maryland Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1117: Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council and the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs - Recommendations for Elopement Response Devices

HB 1117 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain insurers to cover approved "elopement response devices" for specific individuals. These devices - such as door sensors, wearable location trackers, or alert systems - prevent people with cognitive, developmental, or neurological conditions from wandering unsafely (e.g., leaving a supervised area without the ability to return safely). Coverage is mandated when ordered by a qualified healthcare provider and documented in a qualifying plan (like an individualized education plan or dementia care plan) for eligible recipients: those under 21 with early screening eligibility, on home-based waiver programs, or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/dementia. The bill defines these devices as medical equipment or assistive technology under state programs, ensuring coverage without regard to when the program was established.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1574: Child Care Providers - Licensing and Registration Alterations

HB 1574 modifies Maryland's child care licensing rules to require the State Department of Education to issue warnings for first-time violations of new regulations instead of immediate penalties, with potential fines for repeat offenses. It creates a dedicated unit to process and manage criminal background checks for child care staff, ensuring applicants receive timely updates on their check status. The bill also mandates that the State Superintendent list individuals prohibited from child care employment due to supervision failures and establishes a workgroup to study illegal child care operations. These changes directly affect licensed child care centers, registered family child care homes, and all applicants seeking positions involving direct child contact.

passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 907: Criminal Law - Third-Degree Assault

This bill creates a new misdemeanor offense called third-degree assault in Maryland, which prohibits intentionally causing offensive contact, attempting to cause such contact, or engaging in conduct meant to make someone fear offensive contact. The law defines offensive contact as nonconsensual physical contact that a reasonable person would find offensive, but explicitly excludes contact that causes physical injury, creates a risk of serious injury, or involves domestic or sexual crimes. People convicted of this offense could face up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. The bill also updates legal procedures by clarifying how third-degree assault charges must be written in court documents and ensures that physical injury from a third-degree assault cannot be used as a defense against that charge. Additionally, it adjusts jurisdiction rules so that District Courts handle third-degree assault cases exclusively.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1132: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Resale Contracts - Notice Requirements (Keeping Affordable Housing Affordable Act)

HB 1132 (Keeping Affordable Housing Affordable Act) requires sellers of condominium units or homeowners association properties to provide buyers with specific financial disclosures 20 calendar days before closing - extending the prior 15-day deadline. It mandates written notice of any mandatory fee or payment increases exceeding 10% (or other major changes) after the seller learns of them. The bill affects condo/HOA sellers and buyers by ensuring transparency about future costs like maintenance fees, assessments, and reserve funds. Key provisions include standardized disclosure forms covering current budgets, outstanding dues, insurance, and facility details to help buyers understand long-term housing expenses.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1292: Child Advocacy Centers - Continuity of Care Standards for Health Care Professionals and Reports of Violations

HB 1292 requires child advocacy centers in Maryland to ensure all health care professionals providing medical or mental health services are properly licensed or certified and work within their scope of practice. It mandates that centers establish a "continuity of care plan" to notify families when providers change, including contact information for both new and former providers, and allows former providers to assist with care transitions per professional standards. Centers must report specific violations to health occupations boards or the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, and the Governor’s Office must publish annual data about child advocacy centers online. This bill directly affects child advocacy centers, their health care staff, and the children and families receiving services at these centers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 918: Baltimore City - Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products, and Electronic Smoking Devices - Enforcement and Licensure

HB 918 authorizes Baltimore City to create and enforce local laws that are stricter than state rules for regulating the sale and distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices. It allows the Baltimore City Council and Mayor to implement these stricter local rules, while still requiring compliance with state licensing and tax laws under Title 12 of Maryland’s Tax-General Article. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects Baltimore City’s ability to tailor tobacco and e-cigarette regulations to local needs.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 915: Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care

HB 915 establishes a workgroup focused on youth transitioning out of foster care in Maryland. The workgroup includes state agency representatives and 15 youth aged 18-25 who have aged out of foster care, along with advocates from relevant organizations. It must identify current resources for housing, education, health, and other needs; assess service effectiveness; and find successful programs by June 1, 2027. The workgroup's report will inform future policy, but the bill itself creates no new laws or funding.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1311: Higher Education – Student Financial Assistance for Incarcerated Individuals – Alterations

HB 1311 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety to help incarcerated individuals access federal Pell Grants and state student financial aid. It mandates that correctional facilities assist eligible incarcerated people in applying for these funds and explicitly states that financial aid established under Maryland law must be available to those meeting eligibility criteria. The bill affects incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities, directing the Department to collaborate with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and specific higher education institutions to facilitate access. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, without creating new funding but altering access procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1020: State Police Retirement System - Mandatory Retirement Age - Alteration

HB 1020 raises the mandatory retirement age for Maryland State Police members from 60 to 62 years old. It modifies the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) to allow certain members, under specific limits, to extend their participation in the program. The bill directly affects current and future members of the State Police Retirement System who are nearing retirement age. Key changes include updating eligibility requirements for normal retirement and DROP participation based on the new age threshold.

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 551: Health Insurance - Ovarian Cancer Prevention With Salpingectomy - Required Coverage and Prohibited Cost Sharing

This bill requires health insurers and health plans in Maryland to cover salpingectomy (surgery to remove fallopian tubes) specifically for ovarian cancer prevention as a standard benefit, with no out-of-pocket costs like copays or deductibles for patients. It applies to all health insurance policies issued in Maryland after January 1, 2027, directly affecting women who might choose this preventive surgery and the insurers providing coverage. The key provision bans cost-sharing for this procedure, except when an individual is enrolled in a high-deductible health plan meeting federal criteria. This ensures access to a proven preventive measure without financial barriers for most patients.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 618: Public Ethics - Members of the General Assembly - State and Local Government Employment Exemption

SB 618 amends Maryland's ethics law to allow members of the General Assembly, candidates for the Assembly, and newly elected members (member-elects) to earn income from specific state or local government jobs under limited conditions. It creates four exemptions: educational instruction, merit-system positions, human services roles, and career progression from pre-existing government employment relationships. The Joint Ethics Committee must approve these exemptions, but the bill explicitly excludes law enforcement, fire/rescue jobs, and relationships established before candidacy. This change directly affects legislators and candidates seeking income from government employment while serving. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 797: Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis

HB 797 prohibits employers from discriminating against fire and rescue public safety employees who use medical cannabis, provided they have a valid written certification from a licensed healthcare provider under Maryland's medical cannabis program. The bill modifies existing law to clarify that an employer cannot take adverse employment actions (like termination or denial of promotion) solely due to medical cannabis use, as long as the employee meets the state's certification requirements. It updates definitions in Maryland law to ensure fire and rescue employees qualify for the same protections as other medical cannabis patients under the existing program. The law does not override workplace safety rules or require employers to accommodate cannabis use during work hours.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment