SB 82 amends Maryland law to specifically prohibit creating, aiding, or possessing counterfeit leases or rental agreements with fraudulent intent. It directly affects individuals who attempt to defraud landlords or tenants through fake housing documents. The bill adds "lease" and "rental agreement" to the list of forgery targets (alongside checks, deeds, and other documents), making it a felony to create such counterfeits (up to 10 years in prison or $1,000 fine) and a misdemeanor to knowingly possess them (up to 3 years or $1,000 fine). The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 68 requires Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration to add at least five motorcycle safety questions to the driver skills exam for all new or upgraded driver's licenses. These questions will cover specific topics like motorcycle visibility, proper lane positioning, safe following distances, and crash prevention around motorcycles. The bill directly affects every driver's license applicant in Maryland who takes the skills exam, including those seeking motorcycle licenses. It becomes effective on October 1, 2026, without altering existing vision or road test requirements.
HB 94 changes handgun permit renewal rules for retired law enforcement officers in Maryland. It sets a 5-year expiration period (instead of the standard 2 years) and allows 5-year renewals (instead of 3 years) for permits held by officers who retired "in good standing" from state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies. The bill also exempts these officers from renewal fees under Section 5-304(d)(2) of the Maryland Code. These changes apply specifically to retired officers and amend Sections 5-309(d) and (e) of the Public Safety Article.
HB 108 establishes the Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for release. The program allows these individuals to schedule visits to state correctional facilities for support, with schedules requiring written notification to the Division of Correction and public availability. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to specifically cover costs for this program, adding it to the fund's authorized uses. The bill requires the Division of Correction to approve protocols for the program and prohibits denying scheduled visits unless they interfere with facility operations. The program will take effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 61 establishes a Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for reentry. The program allows these individuals to access state correctional facilities to receive assistance with release planning. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to include funding for this program, directing the fund to cover related costs. The bill requires participants to provide written schedules for facility visits, and prohibits denial of access unless it disrupts facility operations.
SB 223 transfers administration of the Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program from the Maryland Energy Administration to the Maryland Clean Energy Center. The bill moves the program’s legal authority to the Maryland Clean Energy Center, repeals the Energy Administration’s regulatory power over the program, and updates reporting requirements for the related Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. The program itself continues to provide low-interest loans to nonprofit organizations, local governments, state agencies, and eligible businesses for energy efficiency projects that reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. This change is purely administrative and does not alter the program’s eligibility criteria, loan terms, or funding mechanisms.
SB 277 changes how Maryland handles probate cases and inheritance tax for people who did not live in Maryland at the time of death. It requires that for inheritance tax purposes, intangible property (like stocks, bank accounts, or investments) is taxed based on the decedent's home state, not where the property is located in Maryland. The bill also repeals an existing exemption that previously allowed nonresident decedents to avoid inheritance tax on personal property passing to heirs. These changes apply retroactively to estates opened before the law took effect.
SB 150 allows Maryland state departments (including Environment, General Services, and Labor) to add a voluntary "veteran status" notation to public profiles for certain licenses and certifications. It requires applicants to provide documentation (like a DD-214 or state certification) and explicitly consent to having the notation displayed and to being contacted about veterans' benefits. The bill applies to business licenses, health occupations credentials, and state-issued identification cards, with departments adding the notation only upon verified veteran status and applicant consent. This policy change does not create new benefits but provides a visible indicator of veteran status on state-issued public profiles.
HB 503 allows full-time sworn deputy sheriffs (at lieutenant rank or below) and court security officers in Baltimore City to collectively bargain over compensation - including salary, wages, and city-managed benefits - as well as leave, hours, working conditions, and job security. It requires these officers to negotiate jointly with both the Sheriff and Baltimore City (not just one entity) for these matters, removing previous restrictions that excluded salary from bargaining. The bill excludes captains, appointed staff, civilian employees, part-timers, and temporary workers from these collective bargaining rights. This changes existing law to expand bargaining scope for eligible officers while specifying the joint negotiation process.
HB 96 modifies the membership of Baltimore County's School Board Nominating Commission by adding three new voting positions: one representing the Greater Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, one from AFSCME Local 3 (a public employee union), and one from the Citizens Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education. The bill increases the commission size from 19 to 21 members and specifies the terms for all members, with some new appointees serving through 2028 or 2030. This change directly affects who nominates candidates for the Baltimore County School Board, ensuring representation from these specific community and labor groups. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 98 modifies the membership of Baltimore County's School Board Nominating Commission to add three new representatives: one from the Greater Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, one from AFSCME Local 3 (a public employee union), and one from the Citizens Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education. This increases the commission's total membership from 19 to 21 members, requiring the Governor and County Executive to appoint these new members per the updated rules. The bill also sets specific term expiration dates for certain existing members, with some terms ending in 2028 and others in 2030. The changes directly affect how school board members are selected by expanding the range of community stakeholders represented on the nominating body. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 313 authorizes the Chief Judge of Maryland's Appellate Court and judges serving as administrative judges in circuit courts or the District Court to receive an annual stipend in addition to their regular salary. The bill amends Maryland's judicial compensation law (Article 1, Section 702) to explicitly allow this supplemental payment. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects these specific judicial roles by adding a fixed stipend to their existing compensation structure. The change is purely procedural, focusing on clarifying and authorizing an existing practice for these administrative judicial positions.
