Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 312: Constitutional Officers - Salaries

SB 312 increases annual salaries for Maryland's four constitutional officers: the Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The bill raises their base salaries by $10,000-$15,000 starting in 2027, with step increases over each term (e.g., Comptroller's first-year salary rises from $165,000 to $175,000). These changes apply to terms beginning after October 1, 2026, and do not affect current officeholders serving terms that started before this date. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland law to implement these salary adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 149: Fire Prevention - Assistant Fire Marshals, Residential Rental High-Rise Property Fire Safety Equipment, and Fire Alarm System Technicians

HB 149 would establish new requirements for fire safety in Maryland. It creates a process for counties to designate assistant fire marshals (with State Fire Marshal approval) and sets certification standards for these roles. The bill mandates smoke detectors in all residential high-rises by July 2025 and requires sprinklers during major renovations of such buildings starting October 2026. It also requires the State Fire Prevention Commission to adopt certification rules for fire alarm system technicians. These changes directly affect local fire officials, high-rise residential property owners, and fire safety technicians.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 470: Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Task Force - Establishment

HB 470 establishes a 10-member Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Task Force to study blockchain and cryptocurrency in Maryland. The task force, including state agency representatives, industry experts, and academics, will analyze the technology's risks, benefits, economic impact (including revenue and energy use), and potential regulatory needs. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by October 1, 2027, and the task force will automatically expire on June 30, 2028. This bill does not create new regulations but sets up a study group to inform future policy.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 483: Business Regulation - Charitable Organizations - Audit and Review Thresholds

HB 483 increases the income thresholds requiring audits or reviews for Maryland charitable organizations. It raises the audit requirement from $750,000 to $1,000,000 in annual charitable contribution income, and the review requirement from $300,000 to $500,000. Organizations with income below $1 million may now use an affidavit plus supporting documents if their cash receipts from charitable contributions stay under $500,000 and meet specific spending criteria. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting larger charities that previously faced audit mandates at lower income levels.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 451: Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council - Membership, Duties, and Sunset Repeal

HB 451 extends the reporting deadlines and lifespan of Maryland's Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council. It modifies the schedule for the Council's interim reports (now due December 1 annually through 2031, instead of 2024-2025) and moves the final report deadline to June 30, 2031 (from June 30, 2026). The bill also extends the Council's termination date from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2031, keeping it active for five additional years. This procedural change directly affects the Council's operational timeline but does not alter the Council's purpose or policy recommendations.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 461: Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment

HB 461 establishes the Rural Readiness Program, administered by the Rural Maryland Council, to help rural communities improve their capacity for economic development. It also creates a permanent Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to provide grants for planning and capacity-building initiatives. The program assists eligible applicants - including local governments, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and regional planning agencies - with grant applications and project development. Successful participants receive a completion certificate that grants them priority for three specific state grant programs focused on rural economic growth.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 487: Maryland Technology Development Corporation - Investments - Alterations

HB 487 amends Maryland law to give the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) more flexibility regarding investments in businesses that no longer qualify under program rules. Specifically, it changes the requirement that MTDC must divest such investments to an authorization allowing it to choose whether to divest or pursue other remedies (like repayment) when a business no longer meets "qualified business" criteria. The bill also updates procedures for the MTDC's investment committee to consider these remedies. This directly affects MTDC and businesses that previously received MTDC equity investments but no longer qualify under the program.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 607: Constitutional Officers - Salaries

HB 607 increases the annual salaries for Maryland's four constitutional officers: the Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The bill establishes new salary schedules with step increases after each anniversary of an officer's term, raising the first-year salary to $175,000-$185,000 (depending on the office) starting in 2027, with subsequent raises to $180,000-$185,000 in later years. These changes apply only to terms beginning on or after October 1, 2026, and do not affect current officeholders serving terms that started before this date. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland's Annotated Code to implement these salary adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 360: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

SB 360 modifies Maryland's criminal law to specifically protect emergency response animals used by law enforcement. It prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing these animals - such as police dogs, law enforcement horses, or search/rescue dogs - while they are performing official duties. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with penalties including fines up to $15,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, depending on the severity. The law directly affects individuals who target these animals during operations and law enforcement agencies that rely on them. It does not change general animal cruelty laws but adds targeted protections for animals serving in emergency response roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 331: Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration and Renewal Periods for Retired Law Enforcement Officer

SB 331 modifies Maryland's handgun permit rules for retired law enforcement officers. It changes the expiration period from 2 years to 5 years for permits issued to officers who retired in good standing from state or local law enforcement agencies. The bill also extends renewal periods to 5 years (instead of 3) and exempts these officers from paying renewal fees. This policy change applies to all eligible retired officers holding valid permits and takes effect October 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 354: Business Regulation - Charitable Organizations - Audit and Review Thresholds

SB 354 increases the gross income thresholds that require charitable organizations in Maryland to submit an audit or review with their registration. It raises the audit threshold from $750,000 to $1,000,000 in annual charitable contributions and the review threshold from $300,000 to $500,000. The bill also increases the cash receipts limit for which the Secretary of State may accept an affidavit from $300,000 to $500,000 under specific conditions. These changes apply to organizations registering with the Maryland Secretary of State.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 563: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

HB 563 strengthens protections for law enforcement and search/rescue animals by making it a crime to harm them during their duties. The bill prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing emergency response animals (including police dogs, horses used by police, and search/rescue dogs), and adds penalties for these acts. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with fines up to $15,000 or jail terms up to 5 years, depending on the severity. This directly affects anyone who targets these animals while they are performing official law enforcement or rescue tasks. The law replaces an outdated provision that previously allowed intentional harm to such animals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results