SB 793 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for employers who provide paid leave for employees donating organs. Qualified employers (those with a written policy paying 100% of wages during organ donation leave) can claim a credit equal to 100% of wages paid during the first 12 weeks of leave. Unused credit can be carried forward for up to three years. This directly affects employers offering this specific benefit and eligible employees who donate organs with physician verification.
SB 826 creates a tax credit for Maryland investors who fund qualified early-stage companies developing emergent technology like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, or cybersecurity. Investors must contribute at least $25,000 in cash to a Maryland company meeting specific criteria, with the credit covering a percentage of that investment. The state establishes an Angel Investor Tax Credit Reserve Fund to manage the program, requiring investors to make qualifying investments within a set timeframe after certification. This credit directly affects individual investors and Maryland-based tech startups in designated fields, aiming to boost local investment in emerging technology sectors.
HB 1253 (Break STRIDE Act) changes how investor-owned gas companies recover costs for infrastructure projects. It repeals current rules allowing companies to add infrastructure costs to customer bills via surcharges and instead requires them to prove projects reduce leaks, improve safety, and are cost-effective before recovering costs. The bill also mandates 6 months' advance written notice to customers affected by construction. These changes apply only to investor-owned gas companies (not cooperatives) and take effect after a specified date.
HB 1295 establishes new rules for fully autonomous vehicles (Level 4/5 systems) operating on Maryland highways without human drivers. It requires these vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" (like safely stopping) if their automated system fails, and mandates compliance with Maryland's vehicle laws unless exempted by regulations. The bill also explicitly states that data collected by these vehicles (e.g., location, sensor data) falls under the state's Online Data Privacy Act, requiring protection similar to other personal information. This directly affects manufacturers, operators, and passengers of fully autonomous vehicles operating in Maryland.
This bill allows the Maryland Transportation Authority to waive unpaid video tolls and associated penalties without recalling the debt from the state's Central Collection Unit. It applies when tolls exceed $300, were assessed within 30 days, or if mitigating circumstances exist. If waived, the Authority must notify the Central Collection Unit to adjust collection fees accordingly. It directly affects drivers who owe video tolls (e.g., from cameras instead of E-ZPass) and streamlines collections for recent or high-value unpaid charges.
HB 1344 requires the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to study all locally operated transit systems across Maryland. The study must examine each system's current local and state cost shares, ridership numbers, and 10-year cost increase trends, while identifying best practices from other states for funding models and governance structures. The MTA must consult with local governments and transit advocates during this process. The findings and recommendations are due to state leaders by December 1, 2026, to inform future policy decisions about these transit systems.
HB 1338 modifies Maryland's driver's license eligibility rules for provisional licenses and first-time applicants. It adjusts minimum ages and waiting periods: applicants under 18 must wait 9 months after getting a learner's permit before testing, while those aged 18-24 now need only 3 months (down from 9 months), and those 25+ require just 45 days. The bill also standardizes driving practice requirements, mandating 60 hours of supervised driving (including 10 nighttime hours) for most applicants, with reduced hours (14 total, 3 nighttime) for those 25+. These changes directly affect new drivers seeking their first license, particularly teenagers and young adults. The bill updates existing provisions in Maryland's transportation code without altering core licensing categories.
HB 1129 requires provider agencies that contract with Maryland's Medicaid program (specifically for services like Community First Choice and Community Personal Assistance) to pay personal care aides a minimum wage of $17 per hour and provide written wage notices. It mandates these agencies to offer 24 hours of paid sick leave annually (or upon hire) and additional paid leave at a rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked after 720 hours in a year. The Maryland Department of Health can enforce compliance through corrective plans, program suspension, or termination for noncompliance. This bill directly affects personal care aides employed by Medicaid-reimbursed agencies, aiming to improve their compensation and leave benefits.
HB 1264 requires Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid for low-income residents) to cover individual and group counseling for tobacco cessation, subject to state budget and federal law limits. It prohibits the program and managed care organizations from demanding prior authorization for any tobacco cessation product or service. This bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries seeking to quit tobacco use and their healthcare providers. The law amends existing Maryland health code sections to implement these coverage requirements and remove authorization barriers.
HB 1106 establishes the Maryland Commission on Women’s Health Advancement to study the feasibility of creating a state women’s hospital in Southern Maryland and a statewide clinical network focused on women’s health across all life stages. The commission, composed of 20 members including legislators, health experts, patient advocates, and representatives addressing racial and socioeconomic health disparities, must analyze healthcare gaps, financial viability, and alternative approaches like hub networks. It is required to submit an initial action plan by January 1, 2027, and annual progress reports through 2032 to the governor and legislature. The bill does not mandate building the hospital but directs the commission to evaluate options for improving access to women’s healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.
HB 1291 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create procedures ensuring seniors aged 65+ who received in-home services within the past six months can temporarily continue care during service lapses caused by departmental errors. The bill mandates that temporary service continuation (up to 52 days or 1,248 hours) begin immediately upon service interruption and cover only previously approved services. It prohibits the department from altering existing appeal rights or billing recipients for services provided during this temporary period. The law applies specifically to seniors facing administrative or technical errors in their Medicaid coverage, ensuring uninterrupted care without financial burden. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1011 establishes a workgroup to study support for transgender and gender diverse students in Maryland public schools. The workgroup includes 12 appointed members representing legislators (rural and urban), education leaders, student and parent advocates, and state officials. It will study ways to support these students and make recommendations on statewide policies by December 1, 2026, after which the workgroup expires. The bill creates a process for gathering input but does not implement new policies itself.
