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Maryland Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 26,430 Active 0 In committee 1,368 Passed 3,332 Signed 7,901 Failed 2,336

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 410: Public Health - Food Labeling - Requirements

HB 410 requires food manufacturers, processors, and retailers in Maryland to use standardized date labels on packaged food starting July 1, 2027. It mandates replacing "Sell By" with "Best If Used By" for quality dates and "Use By" for safety dates, while prohibiting the sale of items labeled with "Sell By" after that date. The bill also requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and post educational materials about these labels online by July 2027. This affects all food businesses selling packaged products to consumers, excluding infant formula, beer, and malt beverages.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 490: Education - The Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Revisions

HB 490 revises provisions of Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future education reform. It repeals an annual requirement for county boards to submit technology spending reports, extends the timeline for calculating compensatory education enrollment, and removes a termination date for Concentration of Poverty Grant funds. The bill also adjusts teacher certification rules, extends deadlines for National Board Certified teachers to become licensed principals, and updates definitions for wraparound services in community schools. These changes primarily affect school districts, educators, and state agencies administering education funding and programs under the Blueprint framework.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 435: Places of Public Accommodation - Open Movie Captioning

HB 435 modifies Maryland's requirements for movie captioning in theaters. It lowers the threshold from eight to four or more screens for theaters to provide open movie captioning (text displayed on screen that cannot be turned off) for at least two weekly screenings after a movie's premiere. The bill applies to theaters operating four or more screens in Maryland and changes the timeline: open captioning must be provided for the first three weeks of a film's release, then only with reasonable notice afterward. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 688: Intercepted Communications - Penalty

HB 688 would reclassify violations of Maryland's law against intercepting or disclosing wire, oral, or electronic communications from a felony to a misdemeanor. This affects anyone who unlawfully intercepts, discloses, or uses the contents of such communications in violation of the law. The bill amends Section 10-402(b) of Maryland's Courts and Judicial Proceedings code to change the penalty level, though it maintains the same maximum fine ($10,000) and potential imprisonment (up to 5 years) for the offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 941: Public Health - Public Buildings - Hygiene Products

HB 941 requires public restrooms in state and local government buildings, public transportation facilities (like stations), and public parks or recreation centers to provide specific hygiene products. It mandates an adequate supply of hand soap, toilet paper, towels or drying devices, water, waste containers, and menstrual hygiene products (such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and pads). The bill applies to all "public buildings" as defined - excluding schools - but covers facilities owned, leased, or operated by the state or political subdivisions. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, ensuring consistent access to essential hygiene items in publicly accessible spaces.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1263: Public Health - Workgroup on Postoperative Cosmetic Care

HB 1263 establishes a workgroup to study the regulation of postoperative cosmetic care provided by non-physician practitioners (such as estheticians or massage therapists), focusing on patient safety, consumer protection, and access to qualified providers. The workgroup, composed of health officials, patient advocates, and care providers, will examine current rules, identify gaps in care access, review risks from unregulated services, and evaluate best practices from other states. It must submit interim and final reports by December 2026 and 2027, respectively, and cannot recommend new licensing without legislative approval. The workgroup expires on June 30, 2028, unless extended.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1068: Health Insurance - Special Enrollment Period for Newly Hired Employees of Small Businesses

HB 1068 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to provide a 60-day special enrollment period for individuals who become newly hired by small businesses that do not offer employer-sponsored health plans. This applies to people purchasing coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace (Individual Exchange) or outside it. The special enrollment period begins on the first day of employment and allows new hires to enroll in health insurance without waiting for the standard open enrollment period. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly benefiting newly employed workers at small businesses without health benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 324: Family Law - Child Support - Assignment of Rights

HB 324 modifies Maryland's child support laws to streamline support collection for foster children. It authorizes the Child Support Administration to secure state assignment of child support rights for children receiving foster care maintenance payments, and requires courts to automatically terminate existing child support orders for these children upon the state's request - without needing to prove a new change in circumstances. This affects foster children (who receive maintenance payments), their parents (whose support obligations may end), and the state (which gains authority to collect support). The bill updates specific sections of Maryland's Family Law code to implement these changes, effective October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 599: Health - Licensure of Hospitals - Ownership Requirements

HB 599 requires hospitals seeking a new license or undergoing ownership changes after October 1, 2026, to be federally recognized nonprofit organizations registered with the state. Specifically, it mandates that hospitals qualifying for licensure on or after that date must operate as nonprofits under federal law and maintain that status as a condition of their license. The bill also prohibits transferring ownership of any licensed hospital after October 1, 2026, to any entity other than another nonprofit organization. This directly affects hospitals seeking new licenses, renewing licenses, or changing ownership in Maryland after the effective date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 917: Health Occupations - Practice of Audiology - Definition

SB 917 clarifies the scope of practice for audiologists in Maryland by updating the legal definition of "practice audiology." It directly affects licensed audiologists by explicitly including the ordering and performing of in-office, non-radiographic scanning or imaging of the ear for auditory or vestibular conditions. The bill adds this specific imaging authority to existing duties like diagnosing ear conditions and fitting hearing aids, while clarifying that audiologists cannot perform surgeries, cochlear implant procedures, or prepare radiographic imaging. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, and aims to align legal definitions with current clinical practices.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

HB 543: Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Family Child Care Homes

HB 543 allows landlords to charge up to two months' rent as a security deposit if a tenant operates a family child care home (defined as caring for up to eight children in a residence). It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes on single-family rental properties and shields landlords from civil liability related to the child care operation. Tenants must provide written notice 60 days before starting, share their child care registration, and supply insurance naming the landlord and property owners as additional insureds. The bill also requires tenants to notify landlords immediately if they stop operating the home and permits landlords to mandate $1 million liability insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 25: Income Tax - Cybersecurity Technology and Service Tax Credit - Alterations

SB 25 creates the "Buy Maryland Cybersecurity Tax Credit," allowing Maryland businesses to claim a 50% tax credit (up to $50,000 annually) for purchasing cybersecurity technology or services from Maryland-based cybersecurity companies meeting specific criteria. The credit is refundable (businesses can get cash if the credit exceeds taxes owed) and requires sellers to be Maryland-headquartered, small businesses (under $10 million revenue), and/or owned by minorities, women, veterans, or located in designated business zones. It limits total credits per seller to $1 million annually and ends all new credits after 2030. This directly affects Maryland businesses buying cybersecurity and qualifying Maryland cybersecurity firms.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology ✓ Veterans