Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1310: Public High Schools - Student Transcripts - Traumatic Loss Notation

HB 1310 allows high school students in Maryland who experience the death of a parent due to reproductive cancer (breast, cervical, or uterine cancer) to request a standardized notation on their official transcript. This notation, which must use privacy-protective language like "Documented Compelling Personal Circumstance" or "Exceptional Hardship Acknowledgement," explains potential impacts on academic performance, achievement, or attendance. Schools must add the notation upon receiving a written request with proof of the parent’s death (via death certificate or healthcare provider letter), and counselors must inform eligible students and surviving parents about this option. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require schools to disclose the specific nature of the loss.

Topics ✓ Education

Jheanelle Wilkins (D) Stephanie Smith (D) Susan McComas (R) Gabriel Acevero (D) Diana Fennell (D)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1182: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Student Elopement - Locative Devices

HB 1182 allows Maryland public and nonpublic schools to coordinate with students and parents to use locative devices (such as wearable trackers) for monitoring a student's location during elopement (leaving campus without permission) or wandering (leaving classroom area without permission) incidents. This requires documented behavior in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or behavior plan, written parental consent, and limits data collection to what's necessary for addressing the behavior while protecting privacy through safeguards. The State Department of Education must issue guidance on implementation and privacy protections, but the bill does not require schools to provide devices or families to purchase or use them.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1294: Criminal Law - Child Sexual Abuse Material - Artificial Intelligence Software

HB 1294 updates Maryland law to define "child sexual abuse material" (replacing "child pornography") and explicitly includes images created using artificial intelligence software in this definition. The bill modifies legal provisions to prohibit possessing or viewing AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children engaged in sexual conduct or abuse, while excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings. It increases penalties for repeat offenses (up to 10 years in prison) and adds a defense for individuals who promptly destroy such material or report it to authorities. This change directly affects anyone creating, sharing, or accessing AI-generated images that mimic real minors in sexual contexts.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1274: Education - Posthumous Diploma Awards - Established (Eric's Law)

HB 1274 authorizes Maryland public school systems to award three types of diplomas to deceased students: standard diplomas (for students near graduation in 12th grade), posthumous honorary diplomas (for students in 11th/12th grade close to graduation), and in memoriam diplomas (for students in grades K-10 or county residents). To qualify, students must have been enrolled in a Maryland public school, met credit requirements, and been in good standing at the time of death. Schools may only issue these diplomas upon written request from a parent, guardian, or next of kin, and all awarded diplomas are ceremonial with no academic credit or impact on graduation rates. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to establish these specific eligibility criteria and procedures.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1320: Criminal Procedure - Victim Notification - Request at the Time of Charging

HB 1320 requires law enforcement officers and district court commissioners to inform victims or their representatives (such as family members of minors, deceased, or disabled victims) at the time of charging about their right to request notifications regarding a defendant’s custody status and court hearings. The bill mandates that requests be processed through Maryland’s electronic court system (MDEC), ensuring victims receive timely updates without needing to proactively seek them later. It amends existing law to make this notification process automatic upon initial contact in criminal cases, replacing previous procedures that allowed for later requests. This change directly affects victims and their representatives in all criminal cases filed in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 900: Legislative Scholarship Programs - Eligibility and Use - Real Estate Appraisal Program

This bill modifies Maryland's legislative scholarship programs to exempt certain applicants from competitive examination requirements and to allow scholarship funds to be used for real estate appraisal training. Specifically, it removes the exam requirement for students who have completed at least one year at an eligible institution, those who graduated high school five years prior, applicants to approved private career colleges, and community college students. Additionally, it authorizes senatorial and Delegate scholarships to cover expenses for completing the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria program. The changes apply to both new scholarship applications and the existing scholarship programs, affecting current and future recipients who meet the specified eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 922: Behavioral Health Administration - Behavioral Health Program Relocation - Regulations

HB 922 requires the Behavioral Health Administration to update regulations to simplify the relocation process for existing behavioral health programs seeking to move to new locations. The bill adds specific provisions including an expedited approval process separate from new program applications, allowing programs to reuse unchanged prior documentation, and permitting temporary practice at a new site once life safety standards are met. It also mandates the Administration to consider a program’s past regulatory compliance to streamline reviews and establish clear timelines for relocation approvals. This change directly affects behavioral health programs needing to relocate and the Behavioral Health Administration, which must implement these rules by October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1144: Child Support - Adjusted Actual Income - Definition

HB 1144 modifies Maryland's child support guidelines by revising the definition of "adjusted actual income" to include a new deduction for parents supporting children who live with them part-time. Specifically, it allows subtracting an allowance for each child residing in the parent's home for at least 92 nights annually (25% of the year), calculated as 75% of the basic support amount for that child. This change directly affects parents paying child support who have children living with them for significant periods, altering how courts calculate their adjusted income. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and aims to better reflect the financial impact of shared custody arrangements on support obligations.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 875: Public Safety - Distribution of Literature to Purchasers of Firearms and Ammunition

HB 875 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and distribute literature on firearm safety, training, suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and conflict resolution to all county health departments. County health departments must then provide this literature to all firearm and ammunition sellers within their jurisdiction. Sellers must display the materials visibly at point-of-sale and distribute them to every customer purchasing firearms or ammunition. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 for first offenses and $1,000 for repeat offenses, with the law taking effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 986: Nurse Licensure - Educational Requirements - Enforcement

HB 986 requires nursing license applicants (both new and those seeking endorsement) to provide evidence that their nursing education meets Maryland's standards, including official transcripts. It directly affects registered nurses and licensed practical nurses applying for or renewing licenses in Maryland. The bill adds a new provision (§ 8-316(a)(37)) allowing the State Board of Nursing to take disciplinary action - such as reprimands, probation, suspension, or revocation - against licensees who fail to complete required educational standards. This clarifies the Board’s authority to enforce education requirements, including investigating applicants' qualifications and taking disciplinary steps for non-compliance. The bill amends existing sections of Maryland’s Health Occupations law and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1169: Howard County - Highways - Speed Limits Ho. Co. 8-26

Howard County would gain authority to lower speed limits on county highways to a minimum of 15 mph after conducting a traffic and engineering study. The bill prohibits Howard County from implementing new speed monitoring systems (like cameras) to enforce these reduced limits on affected highways. This specifically applies to Howard County highways where speed limits were decreased under this law, with no changes to existing limits for other jurisdictions. The bill modifies Maryland’s transportation code to establish these requirements for Howard County only.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1004: Public Health - Prohibited Ingredients in Food

HB 1004 prohibits the manufacture, sale, delivery, holding, or offering for sale in Maryland of food containing specific ingredients, including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red 3 dye. It also bans any food ingredient prohibited by federal law under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. The law applies directly to food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating in Maryland. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties of up to $10,000 or one year in jail for first offenses, with higher penalties for repeat violations. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results