Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1042: Health Occupations - Structural Racism Training - Funding Sources

HB 1042 requires structural racism training for health occupations (like nurses) to be funded through external sources, such as grants, so the state does not bear the cost. It specifically references a grant from the American Nurses Association to the Maryland Nurses Association as an example funding source. The bill clarifies that this training must be offered at no cost to the state, amending prior law to emphasize external funding. The requirement takes effect June 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 931: Health Care Facilities - Nursing Homes - Medical Director Requirements

HB 931 requires nursing homes in Maryland to designate physicians as medical directors who either hold a specific certification (CMD from PALTMED) or are actively working toward it. The bill directly affects nursing homes (which must comply with the certification requirement) and physicians serving in medical director roles (who must meet the certification standard). Key provisions include mandating the Maryland Department of Health to create a public online directory listing all nursing home medical directors with their credentials and certification status, and setting a deadline of September 30, 2028, for current medical directors to obtain certification. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1485: Public Health - Crisis Response System - Resources for Family Members and Trauma-Informed Care Training (Tiarra's Law)

HB 1485, known as Tiarra's Law, requires Maryland's Department of Health to create a pamphlet listing state and national crisis support resources for families affected by overdose deaths. Healthcare providers and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner must provide this pamphlet to families during specific circumstances, such as after an overdose-related death. The bill also mandates the Department to review trauma-informed care training for first responders and behavioral health staff. These changes aim to improve support for grieving families and address gaps highlighted in cases like Tiarra Brown's 2020 overdose death, where families received no resources or guidance. The law amends existing health and public safety codes to integrate these requirements into Maryland's crisis response system.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1112: Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission - Study on Individual and Group Health Insurance Market Stability

HB 1112 requires Maryland's Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission to study and recommend actions to stabilize individual and group health insurance markets. The Commission must examine specific areas including comparing Medicaid and commercial rates for potential premium savings, exploring regulatory changes for managed care organizations, merging insurance markets, and evaluating interstate purchasing pools. It also directs the Commission to assess prescription drug cost controls, support for health centers, reinsurance funds, and the potential reinstatement of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. This bill does not create new laws or directly affect residents - it mandates a study to inform future policy decisions. The findings will be reported to the General Assembly by December 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 80: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Fee Disclosures

HB 80 requires landlords managing four or more rental units to provide prospective tenants with a clear, written list of all fees (including mandatory and optional fees like parking or pet charges) before signing a lease. It prohibits landlords from charging any mandatory fee that wasn’t disclosed in advance and makes lease terms violating this rule unenforceable. Tenants can sue landlords for violations occurring after February 2027, potentially recovering triple damages plus attorney fees. The law excludes utility charges, security deposits, and fees tied to tenant actions (like replacement keys), and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 53: Criminal Law – Nondomesticated Animal Prohibitions – Alterations

HB 53 bans the import, sale, trade, possession, breeding, or exchange of specific wild animals in Maryland, including foxes, bears, alligators, non-domestic cats/dogs, primates, poisonous snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, and zebras. It directly affects owners of these animals, with exceptions for research facilities, licensed animal exhibitors, nonprofit sanctuaries meeting strict criteria, veterinarians, and short-term travelers. Existing owners of most banned animals may continue possession if they notify local authorities by August 1, 2006, while kangaroo/zebra owners have until December 1, 2026. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and modifies existing criminal prohibitions without creating new penalties.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 194: Incarcerated Individual Apprenticeship Pilot Program

HB 194, the Incarcerated Job Training Act, requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to create a paid apprenticeship program for incarcerated individuals in skilled trades. The bill mandates that participants earn at least the state minimum wage, with earnings deposited into their personal accounts for use after release. Employers - such as state agencies, local governments, or private businesses - can participate, but may reject assignments or withdraw from the program. Successful completers receive a certificate within 30 days of release, and the program must prioritize developing marketable job skills. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 505: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Student School Transfers - Academic Records Documentation

HB 505 requires public and nonpublic Maryland schools to accept specific unofficial documents as proof of academic records when a student transfers, *only* if the sending school denies an official transcript due to a dispute between the school and the student. The bill specifies that receiving schools must accept: unofficial transcripts, student-provided report cards, standardized test scores, copies of awards, or unofficial AP/IB results. This directly affects transferring students facing transcript denial, sending schools involved in disputes, and receiving schools that must follow these documentation rules. The policy change aims to prevent educational disruption during transfers by providing alternative verification methods.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 431: Real Property - Recordation and Printing of Subdivision Plats - Alterations

HB 431 updates Maryland's rules for recording subdivision plats (maps showing how land is divided into lots). It increases the fee for printing a set of plats from $5 to $25 per page, except for plats related to state highway projects. The bill also sets new requirements for plats, including standardized formatting, coordinate markers for surveying, and clear north arrows to ensure accuracy. These changes directly affect land developers, surveyors, and property owners who need to record subdivision maps with county clerks.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 373: State Board of Dental Examiners - Disciplinary Action and Unannounced Inspections

HB 373 allows Maryland's State Board of Dental Examiners to conduct unannounced inspections of non-hospital dental offices to verify compliance with CDC infection control guidelines. It updates disciplinary rules for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants by adding failure to follow these guidelines as grounds for license denial, suspension, or revocation. The bill also requires certified expanded function dental assistants to be properly trained and supervised, and prohibits employers from using uncertified assistants or violating specific practice standards. These changes directly affect dental professionals and their practices across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 166: State Government - Henrietta Lacks Commission - Establishment (Henrietta Lacks Commission of Maryland Act of 2026)

HB 166 establishes the Henrietta Lacks Commission in Maryland to address the legacy of Henrietta Lacks and the ethical use of HeLa cells. The commission, composed of appointed state officials and representatives from health, tourism, and economic development agencies, will review medical research ethics, promote education about Lacks' story, curate tributes to her, integrate her legacy into tourism, and support economic development in Dundalk's Turner Station community. It must submit annual reports to the governor and legislature starting in 2027. This bill creates a procedural framework for oversight and commemoration but does not enact new regulations or funding.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 536: Employment Discrimination - Reasonable Accommodations - Disabilities Due to Childbirth, Menopause, and Related Medical Conditions

HB 536 expands Maryland's employment discrimination protections to require reasonable accommodations for temporary disabilities related to childbirth, menopause, and lactation. It classifies these conditions as temporary disabilities under existing leave and benefits policies, mandating that employers treat them the same as other temporary disabilities for leave, seniority, and reinstatement. The bill requires employers to explore specific accommodations like modified duties, flexible hours, or transfers to less strenuous roles when requested. It also mandates employers to provide clear information about these rights to employees and allows health care provider certifications for accommodations, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results