Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1396: Commission on Blueprint Fiscal Sustainability and Student Achievement - Establishment

HB 1396 establishes a 18-member Commission to study and recommend improvements for Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. The Commission includes diverse stakeholders like legislative leaders, education officials, county representatives, teachers, advocates, parents, and students. It will specifically examine school funding formulas (including rural/urban poverty differences), statutory staffing ratios, and educator career ladder impacts. The Commission’s findings will inform future policy decisions but will not change current law directly. This is a study commission focused on long-term fiscal sustainability and student achievement implementation.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1409: Gaming - Problem Gambling - Prevalence Study and Fund Revenue

HB 1409 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct studies measuring problem and pathological gambling rates for both in-person and mobile gambling, with the mobile gambling study due by July 2031. The bill redirects 1% of proceeds from fantasy sports competitions and 1% of sports wagering revenue to the Problem Gambling Fund, altering prior distribution rules that directed most funds to education. These funds will support treatment and prevention services for problem gamblers, including inpatient care, outpatient services, and educational programs. The legislation amends Maryland law to mandate these studies and fund allocations, directly affecting the Department of Health and the Problem Gambling Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1146: Crime of Violence - Medical Facilities and Places of Worship - Penalty (Sacred Places Safety Act)

HB 1146, the "Sacred Places Safety Act," prohibits committing any crime of violence (as defined in Maryland law) within medical facilities or places of worship. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts in these locations, which include hospitals, clinics, and nonresidential religious gathering spaces. The bill increases penalties by making such violations a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in addition to penalties for the underlying violent crime. This law takes effect June 1, 2026, and applies to all relevant locations statewide.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1406: Criminal Law - Self-Defense - Prior Acts by Victim

HB 1406 amends Maryland's self-defense law to allow defendants charged with murder, manslaughter, or specific crimes under Title 3 to claim self-defense without proving the danger was imminent. It directly affects individuals facing these charges who can now assert self-defense if the victim previously committed an assault (any degree) or sexually assaultive behavior against them. The key change removes the requirement that defendants prove they believed danger was immediate, based solely on the victim's prior acts. This applies only to cases where the victim's prior conduct matches the specified offenses in the bill. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1077: Education - Career and Technical Education - Workgroup to Study Tiered Stackable Credentials Framework

HB 1077 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Career and Technical Education Committee to form a workgroup by July 2026 to study how high school students can earn portable, industry-recognized credentials that build toward college degrees. The workgroup will review models from South Carolina and Arkansas, examine student planning tools starting in 8th grade, and explore flexible credit systems allowing course substitutions for graduation requirements. It will also analyze credential portability across schools and propose a standardized "list of valuable credentials" for high-demand fields, with a final report due December 2026. This bill does not enact changes but studies potential reforms to align with Maryland's existing education framework.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1359: Police Pursuits of Fleeing Suspects - Standards (Dimeka Thornton Act)

HB 1359, the "Dimeka Thornton Act," requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to annually submit their current policies on police pursuits of fleeing suspects to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission by January 1, starting in 2027. The Commission must then annually report detailed data on pursuits - including reasons, outcomes, injuries, and termination reasons - to the Governor and General Assembly by June 1, starting in 2027. By January 1, 2028, the Commission must develop a model policy prioritizing officer and bystander safety, which all agencies must adopt by July 1, 2028, or exceed. This bill directly affects every law enforcement agency in Maryland, establishing standardized reporting and policy requirements for police pursuits.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1115: Education - Career Ladder - National Board Certification Associated Salary Increases

HB 1115 clarifies that Maryland public school teachers holding a National Board Certification (NBC) with a 10-year award period (awarded by December 31, 2021) are eligible for specific salary increases tied to the career ladder. The bill establishes a $10,000 salary increase for becoming an NBC teacher and an additional $7,000 for teaching at a low-performing school, applying retroactively to eligible teachers. It also sets a minimum teacher salary of $60,000 starting July 1, 2026, and specifies that teachers meeting multiple criteria receive all applicable increases. This bill directly affects certified public school teachers in Maryland who hold qualifying NBC credentials.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1202: Public Schools – Content Standards, Curriculum, and Bullying Policies – Culture and History of Palestine

HB 1202 requires Maryland's State Board of Education to develop content standards on Palestinian culture and history for inclusion in social studies curriculum standards by December 2026. These standards must cover historical presence, cultural traditions, impacts of displacement, and Palestinian identity as a distinct ethnic group, while emphasizing factual, nonpartisan teaching and critical thinking. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all public schools must integrate this content into social studies. The bill also updates bullying policies to explicitly prohibit anti-Palestinian bias and mandates county boards to create age-appropriate curriculum guides in collaboration with educators and community stakeholders.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1174: Howard County - Board of Education - Mandatory School Holidays Ho. Co. 11-26

HB 1174 requires Howard County public schools to close for student attendance on specific holidays beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The bill mandates closures for the first day of Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, and Rosh Hashanah, plus full closures for Yom Kippur and Juneteenth. This directly affects Howard County students and public schools by adding these observances to the required holiday schedule. The law amends existing Maryland education code to specify these holidays as mandatory school closures, replacing prior county discretion for these dates. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1580: Economic Development - Maryland Enhanced Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts

HB 1580 creates a new category of "Maryland Enhanced TIF Districts" for large-scale development projects. It allows the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to issue bonds for districts meeting specific criteria: projects must cost over $500 million, include a convention center, or be within ½ mile of a transit station, and require local government approval for tax increment financing. The bill modifies existing law to authorize the state to pledge certain revenues to support these districts, subject to MEDC recommendations and Board of Public Works approval. This primarily affects developers of major commercial or infrastructure projects and local jurisdictions managing tax increment financing.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1583: Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance - Fairness and Affordability Study

HB 1583 requires the Maryland Insurance Administration to form a workgroup to study how to create a low-cost auto insurance program or economic relief credit for low-income drivers. The workgroup, including insurance officials, lawmakers, and representatives from insurers and consumer groups, must examine eligibility criteria (like income thresholds and driving records), program funding options, and administration structures. They must report findings to the Governor and General Assembly by January 1, 2027, with the bill itself expiring after one year on June 30, 2027. The bill does not create a new program but mandates a study to inform future legislative action on insurance affordability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1571: Real Property - Access to Counsel in Evictions Program and Mobile Home Parks

HB 1571 expands legal aid access for mobile home park residents facing eviction by including them in Maryland's Access to Counsel in Evictions Program. It directly affects low-income mobile home residents (earning ≤50% of median income) and mobile home park owners. Key provisions require park owners to establish pet policies by a set date, ensure safe water access, prohibit fee-based penalties for nonpayment, and provide a 14-day period to cure rent arrears. The bill also prohibits denying park privileges due to nonpayment or resident characteristics, and clarifies eviction procedures for subtenants.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results