Maryland Bills

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 254: Individuals Experiencing Homelessness - Address Requirements - Prohibition

HB 254 prohibits public libraries, housing grant recipients, public housing agencies, and local governments from requiring individuals experiencing homelessness to provide a current address for library cards, housing applications, or housing assistance. It amends Maryland law to ensure these entities cannot make address verification a condition of eligibility under specific programs. The bill defines "individual experiencing homelessness" as "homeless individual" under federal law and applies to programs funded through the Department of Housing and Community Development. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 242: Discrimination in Housing - Consumer Credit History

HB 242 prohibits landlords in Maryland from using consumer credit history (including credit reports and scores) in reusable tenant screening reports. This directly affects landlords who screen applicants and prospective renters whose credit history would no longer be considered during rental applications. The bill requires landlords to disclose their screening policy (e.g., via rental listings) and bans fees for accessing reusable tenant screening reports, which must instead include criminal history, eviction records, employment verification, and rental history. It amends Maryland law to replace credit-based screening with these alternative checks for rental applications.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 294: Task Force on Common Ownership Communities

HB 294 establishes a 17-member Task Force on Common Ownership Communities to study issues affecting condos, co-ops, and homeowner associations (HOAs) in Maryland. The Task Force will examine education needs for board members and residents, the feasibility of statewide dispute resolution services, potential licensing for community managers, and best practices for governance and elections. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2026, before the bill expires on June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects common ownership community boards, residents, and managers by initiating a formal review of their operational challenges.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 213: Public Utilities - Natural Gas Energy Generation - Authorization and Limitation

HB 213 authorizes the construction, permitting, and operation of natural gas energy generation systems in Maryland until the state meets its goal of 100% renewable energy (including nuclear) for all energy needs. It requires new natural gas plants to obtain approvals from the Department of the Environment, which must review environmental impact and necessity, and submit a transition plan for decommissioning or shifting to renewable energy. The bill mandates that all natural gas plants must be decommissioned or transition to renewable energy within 10 years after the 100% renewable goal is achieved. The Department of the Environment and energy commissions must submit annual progress reports to the legislature on renewable energy goals and natural gas' role in the energy mix.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 568: Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Issuance of License Near a Place of Worship or School

HB 568 modifies Dorchester County's alcohol licensing rules to allow new licenses for establishments within 300 feet of a place of worship or school, provided the affected institution provides written consent. The bill amends Maryland law to add an exception (Section 19-1601(b)(4)) to the existing 300-foot restriction, requiring written consent from all nearby places of worship or schools before a license can be issued. This directly affects new businesses seeking alcohol licenses in Dorchester County near religious or educational facilities. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not apply to pre-existing licenses or temporary permits.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 758: Motor Vehicles - Speed Monitoring Systems - Stolen Vehicles or Registration Plates

HB 758 requires local automated speed enforcement programs (like camera systems) to cancel citations if the vehicle or its license plates were stolen at the time of the alleged speeding violation. It prohibits issuing citations until verifying the vehicle or plates weren’t reported stolen, and allows drivers to present stolen vehicle evidence as a defense in court. This directly affects drivers who unknowingly operated stolen vehicles and local governments running automated enforcement programs. The bill updates Maryland’s traffic code to prevent unjust fines for victims of vehicle theft.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 264: Business Occupational and Professional Licenses - Suspension and Revocation for Workplace Fraud

HB 264 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Labor to notify licensing authorities when a licensed employer (e.g., plumbers, electricians, home improvement contractors) violates workplace fraud laws (like misclassifying workers) and fails to pay penalties or restitution within 45 days. Licensing authorities must then suspend or revoke the license, but must first send written notice allowing the licensee to contest identity errors. The bill also establishes procedures for license reinstatement once penalties/restitution are paid in full, and extends disciplinary actions to successors or managers who knew about the violation. This directly affects licensed businesses in regulated professions who commit workplace fraud.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 162: Maryland Horse Industry Board - Breeding Stables and Horse Establishments - Definitions

HB 162 clarifies definitions for Maryland's horse industry licensing system. It explicitly defines a "breeding stable" as an establishment selling horses for breeding or as breeding products and adds breeding stables to the definition of "horse establishment" requiring Board licensing. This change directly affects breeding operations that sell horses, bringing them under the same licensing, inspection, and regulatory requirements as boarding, lesson, and rescue stables. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland law (2-701, 2-710, 2-713, 2-714, 2-715) to ensure consistent oversight. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 173: Baltimore County - Deer Management Program - Establishment

HB 173 requires Baltimore County's Department of Recreation and Parks to establish a deer management program specifically for managing deer populations on county parklands. The bill directly affects Baltimore County parklands and the department responsible for managing them. It creates a formal program to address deer population control within these public spaces, with no other specified provisions or affected groups. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 965: Transportation - Locally Operated Transit System Grant Program - Equitable Distribution of Funds

HB 965 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create a fair method for distributing transit grant funds to counties starting in fiscal year 2027. It mandates that funding be based primarily on each county's population (from the U.S. Census) or another equitable metric the department determines, while also allowing for growth of local transit systems. This bill directly affects all Maryland counties receiving funds through the Locally Operated Transit System Grant Program. The new distribution method replaces the previous approach and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 464: Special Education - Individualized Education Program Meetings - Secondary Transition Planning Materials

HB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2025

HB 329: Sign Language Interpreters – Licensing Requirement

HB 329 requires all sign language interpreters providing services in Maryland to obtain a state license starting July 1, 2026. It directly affects interpreters who work in the state, including those who use titles like "sign language interpreter" or advertise their services publicly. The bill changes the effective date from 2025 to 2026 and mandates that interpreters meet licensing requirements before offering services or making public representations about their qualifications. Current members of the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters may use existing certifications until the new date instead of obtaining a full license immediately.

Bill results