HB 715 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund as a special, nonlapsing state fund to address harms linked to social media algorithms affecting children. The fund is financed by civil penalties from settlements/judgments about social media-related harm to youth, state budget appropriations, and interest earnings. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to use these resources exclusively for evidence-based prevention, intervention, and treatment services - including school education programs on digital literacy, mental health support for issues like depression and anxiety, and research - prioritizing youth mental health outcomes. The fund cannot replace existing state funding for these services.
HB 1386, "Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law," makes it a felony for repeat drug distributors to provide heroin, fentanyl, or similar drugs when that distribution causes death or serious injury to another person. It applies only to individuals with prior convictions for distributing controlled substances under Maryland law. The law holds every person who transferred the drugs before the harm occurred liable, mandates a maximum 20-year prison sentence (served consecutively to other sentences), and clarifies that the law covers cases where drugs were mixed with other substances or distributed directly to the victim. This bill directly affects repeat drug distributors whose actions result in fatal or severe injuries, not general users or first-time offenders.
HB 1427 modifies Maryland's Renters' Tax Credit, Homeowners' Tax Credit, and Homestead Tax Credit by adjusting income thresholds, calculation formulas, and maximum credit amounts. It increases the maximum annual credit for renters from $1,200 (2027) to $2,000 (2029+), and for homeowners from $1,500 (2028) to $2,000 (2029+), while raising income thresholds for eligibility. The bill specifies phased-in income percentages (e.g., 0% on first $16,000 of income for renters in 2029+) and adds a $200,000 net worth limit for renters. It directly affects low-to-moderate-income renters (including seniors/disabled individuals) and homeowners meeting revised income criteria. These changes apply to tax years beginning July 1, 2027, and subsequent years.
HB 1518 changes Maryland's property tax assessment cycle from every three years to every five years for most real property. This affects all Maryland property owners by reducing how frequently their property values are reassessed for tax purposes. The bill maintains that revaluation is still required if specific events occur, such as zoning changes, major improvements adding $100,000+ in value, or errors in calculation. It also preserves property owners' rights to appeal assessments and request re-inspections during the five-year cycle. The bill amends multiple sections of Maryland's tax code to implement this extended cycle.
HB 1131 (Pregnancy Outcome Protection Act) prohibits law enforcement and agencies from investigating, prosecuting, or imposing civil liability on individuals who experienced pregnancy loss (including miscarriage, stillbirth, or self-managed abortion), except when independent evidence of unrelated criminal conduct exists or the individual consents. It protects healthcare providers from liability for supporting patients during or after pregnancy loss and restricts disclosure of medical records related to pregnancy loss without evidence of abuse, unrelated criminal conduct, or patient consent. The bill creates a private right to sue for violations and establishes misdemeanor penalties for knowingly violating its provisions. These changes apply to all Maryland residents and healthcare providers within the state’s health system.
HB 1121 requires health occupations boards to grant at least 2 hours of continuing education credit for every hour of training on perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal evaluation and treatment. This directly affects healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, and specialists) who must complete continuing education to renew their licenses. The bill also adds a specialized representative with expertise in these conditions to the State Advisory Council on Health and Wellness. Additionally, it directs three state agencies - the Maryland Health Care Commission, Maryland Commission for Women, and Maryland Department of Health - to take specific actions related to these health conditions. The law focuses on improving provider knowledge and resources through mandatory education credits and advisory input.
HB 1060 requires Maryland public and nonpublic schools to track and report petitions for emergency student evaluations (e.g., for mental health crises) using a standardized system. Schools must collect specific data including student demographics (age, race, gender), whether the student has an IEP or 504 plan, the reason for the petition, if handcuffs were used, and outcomes like hospitalization. County boards and certain schools must submit these reports to the State Department of Education by monthly or annual deadlines, which the Department will verify and compile. The Department must then annually report disaggregated data (by school, student characteristics, and petition reasons) to the legislature and post it publicly, while also convening a workgroup to study these petitions. This bill directly affects all Maryland primary and secondary schools and their staff who initiate such evaluations.
HB 1319 restricts the Governor of Maryland from ordering the National Guard or militia members into active duty combat (defined as participation in armed conflict, hazardous foreign service related to conflict, or war-related duties) unless the U.S. Congress has officially declared war or taken specific action under Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 of the U.S. Constitution. The bill directly affects the Governor's authority to deploy state military forces for combat operations. It preserves the Governor's ability to deploy forces for non-combat purposes like disaster response (under existing State active duty provisions) or under Title 32 for domestic support. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly states it does not limit Title 32 deployments within the U.S.
HB 1521 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for individuals and businesses that support at-risk youth through donations, volunteering, or hiring. It allows a 50% credit on contributions to certified organizations (max $5,000 for individuals, $100,000 for businesses), $25 per volunteer day at schools/recreation centers (max $500 annually), and $1,000 per hired at-risk youth (max $5,000 annually). The credit applies only to youth aged 12-25 facing challenges like homelessness, foster care aging out, or living in designated high-poverty areas. Taxpayers must apply for certification through the Department of Commerce, with a $10 million annual cap on total credits.
HB 1484 prohibits prosecutors from entering plea agreements that dismiss charges for offenses against minors (Section 3-1104). It also bans individuals convicted of offenses against minors requiring sex offender registration from knowingly operating or entering "places for children" like playgrounds, theme parks, or children's museums (Section 11-722.1). This directly affects prosecutors who can no longer dismiss such charges and convicted sex offenders who target minors. Violating the place restriction is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1392, the Community-Oriented Policing Act, prohibits Maryland law enforcement agencies from setting or requiring officers to meet arrest or citation targets (quotas) and bans using such targets for evaluations, pay, discipline, or promotions. The bill allows agencies to use quantitative data for legitimate management or compliance checks but explicitly forbids quotas as a performance metric. Officers can report suspected quota violations to the Attorney General’s Office via an online form, which must investigate within one year and order agencies to stop if violations are confirmed. This law directly affects all Maryland law enforcement agencies and their officers, aiming to prevent pressure to meet arbitrary arrest numbers.
HB 1528 would allow Maryland public schools to permit homeschool students to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities (like sports or clubs) under specific conditions. It requires homeschool students to follow Maryland’s COMAR guidelines for home instruction and gives public school students priority over homeschoolers if spaces are limited. The bill does not require schools to offer participation but establishes clear rules for when it may occur. This directly affects homeschool families seeking access to public school activities and public school administrators managing program enrollment.
