SB 848 requires Maryland municipalities to submit specific election information to the State Board of Elections by set deadlines. Municipalities must provide candidate qualification requirements 6 months before candidate filing, then submit a list of qualified candidates and voting procedures/locations (including how/where to vote) one week after filing closes. The State Board must immediately post all submitted information on its website upon receipt. This bill directly affects all Maryland municipalities holding elections and aims to increase voter access to timely election details.
SB 920, the "Small Business Increased Access to Capital Act," authorizes eligible fund managers (entities managing capital for small, minority, and women-owned businesses) to charge management fees of 1.5% to 3% on the principal of loans made through these accounts. The Department of Commerce must set an annual cap on total management fees paid to each fund manager. These fees, paid from the account funds, cover administrative costs related to lending activities. The bill directly affects fund managers and the small, minority, and women-owned businesses accessing capital through these programs.
HB 1165 requires contractors working on certain state procurement contracts (called "covered procurements") to use apprenticeship programs with a minimum 25% completion rate, as determined by the Maryland Department of Labor. This applies to state contracts meeting specific criteria established by the Chief Procurement Officer. Contractors must provide written verification of program compliance before receiving a contract. The bill aims to ensure apprenticeship programs meet quality standards for state-funded projects.
SB 822 requires the Maryland Parole Commission to include race-disaggregated data in its annual report, detailing parole grants, denials (with reasons), administrative releases, hearing purposes, and parole-eligible individuals not granted parole. It mandates that the Commission provide incarcerated individuals with copies of all documents used in parole decisions *before* hearings (instead of allowing on-request examination), and requires the Commission to document reasons for denials and make hearing recordings publicly available after redaction. The bill also prohibits the Commission from permanently denying parole and requires it to hold subsequent parole hearings for eligible individuals after a set timeframe. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland and the Parole Commission’s operational transparency.
HB 850 requires home builders to disclose to prospective buyers that sales representatives work for the builder, not the buyer. Specifically, it mandates that home builders display a clear notice at open houses stating the sales rep’s loyalty is to the builder and buyers have the right to independent representation. The notice must use a 1/2-inch minimum font, be unobstructed, and appear prominently. Additionally, written disclosures in 12-point bold must accompany all buyer materials and the first agreement signed. This directly affects home builders holding open houses and new home buyers in Maryland.
HB 1156 increases death and burial benefits for Calvert County fire and rescue volunteers with long service. It raises the benefit for volunteers with 25+ years of certified service from $10,000 to $14,000 upon death, and increases the per-year benefit for ongoing beneficiaries from $336 to $560 per year of service. The bill amends Calvert County's existing Length of Service Award Program under Maryland law, directly affecting certified fire and rescue volunteers who qualify under these service thresholds. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
SB 820 prohibits retailers (including stores, restaurants, hotels, and food companies) from selling, advertising, or displaying "unauthorized consumable products," specifically tianeptine products and certain kratom products under defined restrictions. The bill expands the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission’s enforcement authority to seize, confiscate, or destroy these products and requires the Maryland Department of Health to report related changes to the Commission. Key provisions clarify that retailers cannot promote or handle these products in prohibited ways, as defined in existing health laws. The bill updates enforcement mechanisms without creating new taxes or fees, focusing on compliance and product safety.
SB 594 modifies Maryland's cannabis advertising rules to update restrictions on signage and audience targeting. It repeals the previous ban on building-side advertising, allowing standard dispensaries to display limited exterior signage (max 900 sq in per sign, 1,200 sq in total) for identifying the business, providing contact information, poison center details, and emergency guidance. The bill requires the Maryland Cannabis Administration to accept recent audience composition data from ad platforms for digital/online ads and establish an alternative verification method by January 2027. These changes directly affect licensed cannabis businesses, particularly dispensaries, by clarifying permitted advertising methods while maintaining prohibitions on targeting minors or using child-oriented imagery.
HB 1514 increases annual salaries for Calvert County officials, including the Board of County Commissioners (president from $50,500 to $58,000, members from $48,000 to $53,000), the Board of Education president ($6,500 to $8,500 for 2027+), and members ($5,500 to $7,500 for 2027+). It also doubles the County Treasurer’s salary from $57,500 to $115,000 and updates retirement benefits, including requiring future treasurers to receive the same pension as county employees starting in 2027. The bill explicitly excludes current officials from these changes and modifies health benefits and retirement provisions for commissioners after 10 years of service. These adjustments apply only to future appointments, not current officeholders.
SB 741 amends Maryland's financial laws to clarify regulations for virtual currency kiosks. It expands the definition of "virtual currency kiosk operator" to include software providers enabling devices to offer virtual currency services, while explicitly excluding cash transactions tied to bank accounts (like credit or deposit services) from the definition of "virtual currency services." The bill also requires kiosks to operate solely for virtual currency transactions and prohibits them from duplicating Automated Teller Machine (ATM) functions. These changes directly affect businesses operating or enabling virtual currency kiosks, taking effect October 1, 2026.
SB 949 requires Maryland's State Administrator of Elections to create a uniform policy for counting absentee ballots in federal elections if a federal court order overrides state rules about ballot deadlines. This policy ensures votes for state and local contests on absentee ballots mailed by election day (with a postmark) and received on time will still be counted, even if federal court action changes deadlines for federal contests. The bill also mandates that voters receive clear notices about both federal and state ballot deadline requirements through multiple channels (like mail, social media, and ads), encouraging them to return ballots at least one week before election day or use official drop boxes. The law applies only to the 2026 and 2028 primary and general elections.
HB 1100 requires junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers in Maryland to register with local law enforcement when purchasing telecommunications equipment and provide specific details like the seller's address and vehicle license number. It prohibits these dealers from buying such equipment except by mailing a check to the seller's address and bans selling or disposing of the equipment for 30 days after purchase. The bill also prohibits reckless or malicious damage to telecommunications infrastructure - including cell towers, fiber cables, and antennas - with violations punishable as felonies carrying up to six months in prison or $5,000 fines. These provisions directly affect businesses handling telecom equipment and aim to protect critical infrastructure from theft or destruction.
