Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1593: Community Pathways Waiver - Adoption of Regulations

HB 1593 requires Maryland's Deputy Secretary for Developmental Disabilities to provide public notice before changing the Self-Directed Services Manual, which governs waiver program services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill mandates a 90-day public comment period for proposed changes and prohibits adopting any revisions until this period ends. It directly affects individuals and families using self-directed services - where participants control their own care choices, staffing, and budget management - and ensures their input is considered before policy changes take effect. This procedural bill amends Maryland’s health code to formalize transparency and public engagement in updating the manual (effective October 1, 2026).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Deni Taveras (D) Teresa Woorman (D) Nic Kipke (R) Heather Bagnall Tudball (D) Lesley Lopez (D)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 954: State Finance and Procurement - Retention Proceeds

HB 954 requires state agencies and contractors to pay undisputed retention proceeds within 90 days after a construction project reaches "substantial completion." This directly affects state contractors and subcontractors working on government construction projects who hold retention payments. The bill amends Maryland's procurement law (Section 13-225) to establish this 90-day deadline, clarifying that retainage (typically up to 5% of contract value) must be released promptly without dispute. It also ensures escrowed retainage includes pro-rata interest earned during the holding period. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1480: Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards

HB 1480 strengthens child labor protections by prohibiting minors from working in specific hazardous occupations (like manufacturing hazardous substances, construction, or operating machinery) and imposing civil penalties of up to $10,000 for employers who violate these rules. It also creates a new process allowing private sector employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board to resolve workplace disputes, while banning employers from supporting organizations exempt from federal labor law (like the National Labor Relations Act). Additionally, the bill prohibits state agencies in the Executive Branch from seeking federal waivers of the Fair Labor Standards Act. These changes directly affect employers, private employees, and state government entities in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 520: Property Tax - Charter Counties - Application of County Tax Limitation on Public Safety Budget

SB 520 allows charter counties in Maryland to set property tax rates above their charter limits - via simple majority vote - to fund public safety budgets (like police and fire services). It requires that any excess tax revenue collected beyond the charter limit must be allocated solely to public safety, not other county programs. The bill applies only to charter counties (e.g., Baltimore County) and mandates annual reporting to the Governor and legislature on tax rates and revenue usage. This changes existing tax rules by creating a specific exemption for public safety funding while maintaining other budget constraints.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1048: Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons and Disclosure and Notice

HB 1048 requires Maryland chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to display warning icons next to menu items containing high sodium (1,150mg+ per serving) or high added sugars (25mg+ per serving) starting January 1, 2028. The Maryland Department of Health must adopt regulations by January 2027 establishing the icon designs, minimum sizes, and accompanying text. The bill also mandates a 2027 public education campaign to help restaurants comply with the new requirements. This directly affects large chain restaurants operating in Maryland, aiming to increase consumer awareness of nutritional content in menu items.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 893: Business Regulation - Abandoned Cemeteries - Acquisition and Disposition

HB 893 authorizes Maryland government units to acquire property containing abandoned cemeteries through condemnation for transfer to descendants of those buried there, descendant community organizations, or qualifying nonprofits. It requires governments to make reasonable efforts to contact descendants after acquisition and allows affected groups to petition courts to request property transfers. The bill also mandates that any entity receiving the property must maintain and preserve the cemetery, while governments must preserve the site until transfer occurs or facilitate reinterment if transfer isn't possible within a reasonable time. This applies to cemeteries meeting specific criteria, such as having no active operator, unclaimed ownership, or no identifiable responsible party.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 912: Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)

HB 912 (Ash’s Law) clarifies that people caring for free-roaming cats under a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program are not violating animal abandonment laws. It requires local governments to adopt TNR policies that: prohibit requiring caregiver registration, mandate shelters to return eartipped cats (identified by a clipped ear) to their original location, and make TNR the preferred option for impounded cats. The bill also overrides local laws restricting TNR and applies to all Maryland counties and municipalities. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 837: Education - Student Athletic Activities - Cardiovascular Prescreening

HB 837 requires all Maryland public and nonpublic schools with athletic programs to include a cardiovascular prescreening as part of the standard physical examination for students participating in interscholastic sports, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This prescreening - based on family history, personal symptoms, and evidence-based guidelines - must be conducted no earlier than 90 days before the school year begins. If a positive finding occurs, healthcare providers must refer students to a cardiologist for further evaluation. Schools must report annual data on screenings and referrals to county health departments, with the Maryland Department of Health publishing public reports analyzing outcomes. The bill directly affects student athletes, schools, and healthcare providers conducting sports physicals.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1070: Department of Social and Economic Mobility - Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund

HB 1070 establishes the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and a dedicated Workforce Opportunities Grant Fund within Maryland's Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The program provides competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, local workforce boards, and employer-community partnerships to plan and host job fairs and workforce events connecting job seekers with employers across the state. The fund, which earns interest credited back to it, is a special nonlapsing account to support these grants. The bill modifies state finance and government codes to create this program and requires the Department to administer it, focusing on expanding job opportunities for residents.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 764: Education - Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals - Report on Estimated Cost

SB 764 establishes a minimum wage of $25.00 per hour for education support professionals in Maryland public schools, effective July 1, 2028. It directly affects county boards of education (which must pay this wage) and noncertificated school staff in non-supervisory bargaining units, such as aides, secretaries, and maintenance workers. The bill requires the State Department of Education to report by December 1, 2026, on the cost of implementing this wage, broken down by school system. It does not change current wages but mandates a new hourly rate for these positions starting in 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 952: Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation

HB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 97: State Designations - State Shark - Megalodon

HB 97 designates the extinct megalodon shark (Otodus megalodon) as Maryland's official state shark, symbolically recognizing its fossil history in the state. The bill amends Maryland law to state: "THE MEGALODON (OTODUS MEGALODON) IS THE STATE SHARK," referencing fossil evidence found in counties like Calvert and the Calvert Marine Museum's collection of over 1,700 megalodon teeth. It has no practical effect on living sharks, conservation, or state policy - only serving as a ceremonial designation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, after legislative approval. This is a purely symbolic measure with no direct impact on residents or regulations.

Bill results