Maryland Bills

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

HB 1613: Caroline County - Alcoholic Beverages - Inspector

HB 1613 updates Caroline County's local laws governing alcoholic beverages by specifying that the inspector for the Board of License Commissioners must be either the county codes administrator or an individual appointed by the Board. It amends two sections of Maryland's Annotated Code (15-102 and 15-206) to clarify this role, including the inspector's duties in enforcing local alcohol laws and salary being set by the county budget. The bill directly affects Caroline County's Board of License Commissioners and county staff responsible for alcohol licensing oversight. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

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

HB 1610: Education - School Bus - Fire Safety Standards

HB 1610 removes a requirement that Maryland school buses must be constructed with materials meeting specific fire safety tests outlined in National School Transportation standards. Instead, it directs the Motor Vehicle Administration (with input from the Department) to develop new fire safety regulations for school buses. This bill directly affects all Maryland public school buses and their manufacturers by changing the compliance standard from a fixed national test to a new regulatory process. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Education

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

HB 1228: Insurance - Premium Receipts Tax - Exemption for Captive Insurance Procured by Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Care Systems

HB 1228 exempts premiums paid by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems in Maryland for their own captive insurance (insurance they set up themselves) from the state's 3% premium receipts tax. This applies to all entities within the system, including parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliated providers. The bill removes the tax obligation for these organizations on qualifying captive insurance premiums and prohibits the state from collecting past-due taxes, fees, or penalties related to this tax before the law takes effect. It directly affects nonprofit health care providers across Maryland by reducing their insurance-related costs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

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

HB 1240: Sports Wagering - Wagers on Historical Horse Races - Authorization

HB 1240 would update Maryland law to allow licensed sports wagering facilities to accept bets on historical horse races (races that have already occurred). The bill amends the definition of "sporting event" to include historical horse races and sets specific rules for accepting such wagers. It requires that proceeds from these wagers be distributed according to existing law and mandates that the bill be submitted to a statewide voter referendum. This change directly affects licensed sports wagering operators and their ability to offer a new type of bet, while maintaining existing regulatory frameworks.

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

HB 1547: Environment - Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing - Modified Risk Reduction Standard

HB 1547 modifies Maryland's lead risk reduction requirements for property owners in housing. It requires owners to complete specific lead hazard reduction measures - such as inspecting paint, repairing peeling paint, covering lead-based paint on windows, and cleaning after repairs - within 30 days of receiving written notice about a person at risk (e.g., a child with elevated blood lead levels) or a reported defect. The bill updates the timeline for compliance, adjusting the conditions under which the "modified risk reduction standard" must be met based on the date of blood lead testing or defect notification. This affects owners of housing properties where lead hazards are present and a person at risk is identified.

Topics ✓ Housing

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

HB 1549: Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing - Rental Dwelling Unit - Definition

HB 1549 amends Maryland law to clarify the definition of "rental dwelling unit" under lead risk reduction regulations. It specifies that a rental unit must have permanent access to living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities - removing the previous term "independent" from the definition. The bill excludes unfinished basements, hotel/motel units, inaccessible areas, and units not offered for rent from this definition. This change directly affects landlords and tenants in rental properties covered by Maryland's lead safety laws, ensuring clearer application of existing lead risk reduction requirements. The amendment takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

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

HB 346: Workers' Compensation - Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Retroactive Compensation

HB 346 requires Maryland employers or insurers to pay retroactive temporary disability compensation to covered workers who reached "maximum medical improvement" but didn't receive compensation during the gap between that point and when vocational rehabilitation services began. This applies only if the worker later started vocational rehab services and was not compensated for the period between medical stabilization and rehab initiation. The bill caps retroactive payments at 60 days and mandates they be paid in addition to ongoing compensation under existing law. It directly affects injured workers in Maryland whose rehabilitation services started after their medical recovery stabilized but before they received temporary disability pay. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies prospectively only.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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

HB 366: Workers' Compensation - Exemption From Exclusivity of Remedy - Action for Wrongful Death by Nondependent Child

HB 366 allows a nondependent child (such as an adult child or a child not financially supported by the parent) of a covered worker to file a wrongful death lawsuit against an employer following a work-related death. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly state that the workers' compensation exclusivity rule - typically preventing other lawsuits - does not apply to nondependent children in these cases. This change directly affects nondependent children who would otherwise be barred from seeking damages beyond workers' compensation. The bill does not alter the general rule that workers' compensation remains the primary remedy for most workplace injuries and deaths.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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

HB 614: Education - School Building Energy Usage - Monthly Report

HB 614 requires every county board of education in Maryland to collect monthly data on energy usage in school buildings and submit it to the Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Commission must then create rules specifying exactly what data to collect and how often to report it. After gathering this data, the Commission must analyze it and provide specific recommendations to county boards for improving school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school districts and the state Commission, aiming to standardize energy reporting and drive efficiency improvements in public schools.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

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

HB 609: State Transfer Tax - Land Preservation Special Fund - Revenue Allocation

HB 609 repeals a requirement that $25 million of State Transfer Tax revenue be allocated to the General Fund for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. Instead, the bill redirects this funding to remain in the Land Preservation Special Fund, increasing resources for conservation programs. The fund's revenue is allocated as follows: 75.15% for Program Open Space land acquisition, 17.05% for Agricultural Land Preservation, 5% for Rural Legacy, and 1.8% for Heritage Conservation. This change directly affects state land conservation efforts by ensuring more funds stay dedicated to these programs during the specified years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

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

HB 683: Real Property - Implied Warranties - Missing or Incomplete Improvements

HB 683 modifies Maryland's real property law to clarify that implied warranties (warranties that a property is built properly and fit for use) do not apply to improvements that were incomplete or missing at the time a homebuyer receives the deed. This directly affects homebuyers purchasing properties where construction was unfinished at closing, as they cannot later claim the seller breached warranty for missing elements. The bill explicitly adds that such warranties "do not apply" to incomplete or missing improvements, removing ambiguity in current law. The change takes effect October 1, 2026.

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

HB 696: State Prescription Drug Benefits - Retirees

HB 696 modifies prescription drug coverage for Maryland state retirees based on their hire date. It continues drug benefits for retirees who began state service before July 1, 2011, while ending these benefits for retirees (and their Medicare-eligible spouses/children) who started on or after that date. The bill replaces three existing retiree drug programs with a new reimbursement program covering out-of-pocket costs for eligible retirees who qualify for partial subsidies. It also removes reporting requirements related to Medicare-eligible retirees’ access to services.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results