Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1455: State Retirement and Pension System - Divestment From Israel

HB 1455 requires Maryland's State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees to review all investment holdings and divest from specific "Israel-restricted investments," defined as holdings in the Government of Israel, its agencies, or associated entities like the Development Corporation for Israel. The bill prohibits the Board from making new investments in these restricted assets using net new funds and mandates annual reports to legislative committees detailing divestment actions and ineligible investments. It includes provisions requiring the Board to act in good faith while complying with fiduciary duties and applicable human rights law, with limited exceptions for investments that cannot be sold at fair market value. The bill directly affects Maryland's public employee pension funds, which hold billions in assets managed by the Board. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 934: Education - Public School Construction - Funding

SB 934 increases Maryland's annual funding goal for public school construction from $450 million to $550 million, effective starting in fiscal year 2027. This change applies directly to public school construction projects funded through the state's Capital Improvement Program, aiming to maintain a stable number of funded projects. The bill clarifies that the $550 million annual goal does not include funds provided via the Built to Learn Program. It also requires the funding level to be recalculated before the Public School Facilities Priority Fund is funded.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1277: Education - Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity - Establishment

HB 1277 establishes the Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity as a partnership between the University of Maryland, College Park, and Morgan State University. The bill requires the Governor to fund the Institute with $3 million in fiscal year 2028 (split between the two universities), increasing to $6 million annually starting in 2031. The Institute must conduct research, provide training for educators and literacy professionals, and offer technical assistance to school districts to improve reading instruction and outcomes - particularly for students in underserved communities. This directly affects Maryland students, school districts, and literacy professionals by creating a state-funded resource to address declining reading scores and equity gaps.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1399: Consumer Protection - Consumer Reporting Agencies - Use of Algorithmic Systems

HB 1399 requires credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies in Maryland to meet strict standards when using algorithms to evaluate credit data. It mandates that agencies explain algorithmic decisions in plain language (meeting an 8.0 Flesch-Kincaid readability score), maintain public algorithm registries, and achieve error rates below 0.5% and discriminatory bias below 0.1% when compared to human reviews. Agencies must also conduct quarterly bias audits by independent third parties, implement data governance with minimum data point requirements (1,000-10,000 per category), and require human review within 24 hours before final credit decisions. This bill directly affects agencies that compile credit reports for lenders, insurers, or employers, aiming to ensure transparency and fairness in automated credit evaluations.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1299: Real Property - Residential Sales - Communications During Appraisal Process

HB 1299 requires appraisers to notify buyers, sellers, or their designated point of contact if an appraisal value may be below the contract price or refinance estimate. Interested parties (like lenders or real estate agents) can then submit verified sales data or pending sale documentation within 48 hours for the appraiser to consider. The final appraisal report must include an addendum detailing the notification, submitted data, and whether the additional information changed the valuation. This applies to residential property transactions in Maryland and aims to standardize communication during the appraisal process.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1371: Maryland-Africa and the Caribbean Investment and Development Program - Establishment

HB 1371 establishes the Maryland-Africa and the Caribbean Investment and Development Program within the Department of Commerce to study and promote trade and investment between Maryland's African diaspora communities and Africa/Caribbean nations. The program creates an Advisory Board (with members from diaspora businesses, community groups, academic institutions, labor, and finance) to study trade opportunities and recommend actions to the Department. It also creates the Maryland African Diaspora Investment and Development Fund, a permanent fund providing grants, low-interest loans, and business support services to diaspora-owned businesses for expansion, startup capital, and job creation - particularly focusing on Northeast Baltimore communities. The bill directly affects businesses owned by Maryland residents of African or Caribbean descent, defined as first-generation immigrants and their descendants.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1502: Consumer and Display Fireworks - Regulation and Tax

HB 1502 regulates the sale and possession of consumer fireworks in Maryland while establishing a new sales tax. It defines specific safety standards for "consumer fireworks" (like small firecrackers meeting federal safety rules) and separates these from professional "display fireworks." The bill creates a new sales tax rate for qualifying fireworks, directs the revenue to state funds, and allows counties to opt out of certain local sales regulations. This directly affects consumers buying fireworks, retailers selling them, and local governments managing enforcement. The law updates existing safety and tax codes to standardize rules and generate dedicated funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1503: Carroll County - District Planning Commission - Authorized

HB 1503 authorizes Carroll County Commissioners to divide the county into planning districts and establish district planning commissions to manage local land use. These commissions would develop zoning and development plans, hold public hearings, and submit proposals to county commissioners for approval, mirroring the authority of the county-wide planning commission. The bill requires district zoning regulations to follow the same administrative procedures as county-wide land use rules, unless otherwise specified in the regulations. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 823: State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Blockchain-Based Real Property Title Pilot Program - Establishment

HB 823 establishes a two-year pilot program in Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to test blockchain technology for recording real property ownership. The program allows property owners in up to three selected counties to opt into having their titles represented as secure digital records on a blockchain registry, which law enforcement and courts could use to verify ownership and resolve disputes involving squatting. Key provisions include creating a secure blockchain registry, developing real-time validation tools for authorities, testing smart contracts for title transfers, and requiring coordination with courts and police. The pilot begins January 1, 2027, with a final report due December 2028 assessing the system's potential for broader use. This affects participating property owners, local law enforcement, and courts in pilot jurisdictions, but does not change existing property laws.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1301: Land Use - Historic Preservation Commission - Right of Appeal

HB 1301 modifies Maryland's historic preservation law to give local jurisdictions the option of allowing people who disagree with a historic preservation commission's decision to appeal directly to their local board of appeals or circuit court (in addition to the existing appeal route). This bill directly affects property owners, developers, or residents challenging preservation rulings. The key provision (added via Section 8-308(B)) authorizes local governments to create this new appeal pathway, though it does not require them to do so. Local jurisdictions would decide whether to implement this option for appeals. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 630: Overhead Transmission Lines and Eminent Domain - Property Value - Damages

This bill allows homeowners whose property value decreases due to an overhead transmission line built within 300 feet of their residence to sue for damages. It specifically permits property owners to recover attorney fees if they win their case and requires utilities or government entities to pay the homeowner's legal costs if a court later finds the property was overvalued during condemnation. These provisions apply to transmission line projects under Maryland's condemnation laws, amending Sections 12-104, 12-105, and 12-107 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The law aims to address compensation gaps for residential property owners affected by utility infrastructure projects.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1606: Credit Regulation - Maximum Interest Rate for Active Service Members (Service Members Civil Relief Act)

HB 1606 limits the maximum annual interest rate creditors can charge on loans held by active-duty service members or jointly with their spouses to 6%. It requires service members to provide military orders and written notice to creditors within 180 days of leaving active duty to qualify for the rate cap. The bill forgives interest above 6% and recalculates payments during active duty, while allowing courts to override the cap if a service member’s ability to pay isn’t affected by deployment. This amendment to Maryland’s Commercial Law (Sections 12-102.1 and 12-107) takes effect July 1, 2026.

Bill results