This bill requires Maryland colleges and universities to provide reasonable accommodations to students with sickle cell disease and prohibits denying them access to facilities or services based on their diagnosis. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to create an education campaign for campus staff, develop guidelines for supporting students with sickle cell disease, and compile training materials for faculty and administrators. The law directly affects students with sickle cell disease at public and private institutions of higher education in Maryland, as well as campus staff responsible for implementing these policies. The requirements take effect October 1, 2026, with institutions needing to establish clear reporting procedures for violations.
HB 1 limits how investor-owned electric, gas, and combined gas/electric utility companies in Maryland can pass certain costs to customers through their rates. It prohibits rate recovery for most employee bonuses (except for pre-2025 contracts or union-covered employees) and caps supervisor compensation above 110% of the Public Service Commission Chair’s annual salary. The bill also requires utility boards to adopt written policies limiting spending on entertainment, office renovations, transportation (including private jets), and performance incentives, with policies submitted to the Public Service Commission for review. These rules apply specifically to investor-owned utility companies and aim to prevent ratepayers from funding certain executive or operational costs.
SB 93 updates Maryland law to replace gendered and narrow terms like "clergyman" with "member of the clergy" and "churches" with "faith institutions and places of worship" across multiple legal sections. It specifically revises terminology in laws covering alcohol permits, cemetery ownership, professional services, retirement communities, and religious corporations. The bill affects how Maryland statutes reference religious entities, ensuring consistent language that better reflects diverse faith groups. This is a terminology update only, not a change to religious rights or policies. The bill passed all legislative readings in early 2026.
HB 488 establishes the geographic boundaries for Maryland's eight congressional districts for the 2026 elections. It specifies exact county and election district portions, using census tract data to define district lines where precincts are split, based on boundaries as they existed on January 13, 2026. This bill directly affects voters in Maryland's congressional districts by determining which communities are grouped together for electing U.S. Representatives. It replaces previous election law sections (8-702 through 8-709) and clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative districts, not congressional ones.
HB 788 establishes a process for temporary appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, which handles cases involving judges' fitness to serve. The bill directly affects the commission and the judicial system by clarifying how temporary members can be appointed during vacancies. Key provisions require the governor to make temporary appointments within 30 days of a vacancy, ensuring continuity in reviewing judicial disability cases. The bill was enacted on May 25, 2025 (Chapter 848), pending approval from a constitutional referendum.
SB 619 authorizes the Commission on Judicial Disabilities to make temporary appointments for vacant judicial positions. This ensures court operations continue without interruption during vacancies, avoiding delays in judicial proceedings. The bill directly affects the Commission's procedures and the state judiciary's staffing processes.
HB 1063 repeals a $2 million spending limit that previously restricted the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) from using design/build contracts for water and sewer infrastructure projects. The bill authorizes WSSC to adopt regulations allowing alternative project delivery and solicitation methods, giving the Commission more flexibility in contracting for construction work. This directly affects WSSC, which manages water and sanitation systems across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter existing requirements for public hearings or bid advertising for smaller projects.
SB 101 prohibits individuals from standing in roadways, median dividers, or intersections in Wicomico County to solicit money or donations from vehicle occupants. This bill amends Maryland’s vehicle laws (Section 21-507(c)) to explicitly include Wicomico County in the existing prohibition, which previously applied to Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Harford, and Washington counties. The law directly affects people attempting to solicit funds from drivers at road intersections or along roadways in Wicomico County. The prohibition will take effect on October 1, 2025.
This Maryland bill establishes a minimum annual fee of $2.30 per ton for generators of coal combustion by-products, while exempting those that beneficially reuse the material or use it for coal mine reclamation. It creates a new Statewide Coal Combustion By-Products Coordinating Committee composed of state officials, technical experts, community representatives, and local government members to monitor sites and share information. The Department of the Environment must adopt regulations by a specified date to align with federal guidelines and must reduce fees in future years if collected revenue exceeds program operating costs.
This bill creates an exception to Maryland's armed trespass law for retired law enforcement officials who meet specific conditions. It allows retired officers (from federal, state, or local agencies in good standing) to carry concealed firearms without violating trespass laws if they: (1) display their badge or credential, (2) keep the firearm concealed under clothing, and (3) legally possess a handgun under state or federal law. The exception applies only when entering dwellings or property where permission is required under existing law. It directly affects retired law enforcement personnel seeking to carry concealed firearms in public spaces.
HB 1241 establishes new procedures for seizing electronic smoking devices and other tobacco products sold in violation of Maryland law, allowing the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission Executive Director or peace officers to seize such items without a warrant. It requires wholesalers of electronic smoking devices to obtain a specific license and maintain detailed records of their inventory and sales. The bill mandates that seized items must be documented with descriptions, quantities, reasons for seizure, and destruction methods, and it gives owners 30 days to claim property before forfeiture. These provisions directly affect wholesalers, retailers, and sellers of electronic smoking devices who violate tobacco product regulations.
This Maryland bill, known as the Stop Scam PACs Act, requires certain political organizations to include clear disclaimers on donation requests to inform donors about the nature of their contributions. The law mandates that solicitations using a candidate's name or image must state that the candidate did not authorize the request, while charity-themed solicitations must clarify that donations are not necessarily used for charitable purposes and are not tax-deductible. The State Administrator of Elections is authorized to investigate violations and may issue subpoenas to gather evidence, with the State Board empowered to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 or temporarily ban violators from soliciting funds. This legislation applies specifically to independent political action committees and other entities required to file campaign finance reports, excluding political parties and candidate campaign committees. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
