SB 884 would authorize Maryland’s State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses for regulated internet skill-based gaming operations (not traditional poker). It creates a new regulatory framework under "Subtitle 1F" defining key terms, requiring licenses for operators, and directing proceeds to existing state funds like the Economic Development Account and Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. The bill specifies that licensees must operate in "economically disadvantaged areas" meeting specific income, unemployment, or poverty criteria. This legislation directly affects the Commission, qualified gaming operators, and state funds receiving new revenue streams.
HB 1464 requires health insurance companies (referred to as "carriers" or "third-party administrators") to create a simple, timely process for healthcare providers to verify if a patient is eligible for covered services before treatment. If a provider uses this process and receives confirmation of eligibility, the insurer cannot later retroactively deny payment for that service, even if the patient was ultimately ineligible. The bill also sets strict time limits for retroactive denials (6 months for most cases, 18 months for coordination with other insurers) and mandates written explanations for denials. This directly affects healthcare providers (like clinics and hospitals) and insurers in Maryland by reducing billing disputes and payment delays.
HB 1440 prevents Medicaid plans and certain health insurers from requiring extra approval steps (like prior authorization) or limiting coverage for prescription drugs reviewed by Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). It specifically applies when the PDAB hasn't determined a drug causes cost concerns, has made a policy recommendation, or set a payment limit for the drug. This directly affects patients using these medications by reducing barriers to accessing covered drugs. The bill updates Maryland's health insurance and Medicaid laws to enforce these restrictions on managed care organizations and insurers.
HB 1487 establishes the "MomMobile" pilot program within Maryland’s Department of Health to deliver mobile postpartum care in Baltimore City. It directly affects residents in underserved Baltimore neighborhoods by providing on-site checkups, mental health screenings, and culturally competent care from midwives and doulas via mobile health units. The bill requires the Secretary to collaborate with Baltimore City Health Department to determine operating neighborhoods, funding partnerships, staffing, and evaluation metrics. Annual reports on program implementation must be submitted to the Governor and legislative committees starting in 2027. The program aims to reduce transportation barriers, improve visit attendance, and identify metrics for maternal health outcomes.
HB 983 modifies Maryland's tax credit programs and exemptions. It terminates the Enterprise Zone Program and the One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit Program on specific dates, ending eligibility for related tax benefits. The bill also limits annual claims for enterprise zone tax credits, restricts carryforwards for film production tax credits, and repeals sales tax exemptions for concrete, telecom equipment, and construction materials. Additionally, it alters eligibility rules for certain vehicle tax credits and ends property tax credits tied to enterprise zones.
HB 1493 requires the Charles County Board of Education to provide written notice and hold a public hearing before displacing a company currently providing student bus transportation in the county. Specifically, the board must send 45-day written notice via first-class mail to affected companies and hold a public hearing with two weeks of newspaper notice. The bill also mandates that the board provide written notice of displacement by registered mail within one year of the hearing, with a minimum 2-year buffer before displacement, unless the board compensates the displaced company for two years of gross receipts or reaches an agreement with them. This bill directly affects student bus transportation providers in Charles County and the county school board.
SB 565 prohibits the Maryland Stadium Authority from selling Shamrock Farms (a specific property at 4926 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD 21797) except under defined conditions. It authorizes Carroll County Commissioners to purchase the property for $4,480,000 (adjusted for inflation) by July 1, 2029, with payment allowed in five annual installments using county funds or donations. The bill requires Carroll County to notify the Authority of its purchase intent by July 1, 2029, and transfers all rights and zoning authority over the property to Carroll County upon sale. This directly affects the Maryland Stadium Authority and Carroll County, setting specific terms for the property transfer.
SB 761 would allow Maryland to expand commercial gaming to include internet gaming, but only after voters approve it in a November 2026 referendum. The bill restricts internet gaming licenses to existing video lottery operators and their contracted entities, requiring new implementation laws to set application criteria and gaming rules. If approved by voters, revenues from internet gaming must fund public education. The bill mandates a voter referendum on the question "Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize Internet gaming for dedicated purposes including the funding of public education?" before any licensing can occur.
HB 296 revises Maryland’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) structure by repealing the CTE Skills Standards Advisory Committee and updating the CTE Committee’s composition and duties. The bill requires state agencies and workforce programs to use a state-approved list of occupations for career pathway planning, aligning CTE programs with job market needs. It modifies the CTE Committee to include seven members (adding an employer representative role) and directs it to coordinate statewide CTE systems, develop career pathway standards, and work with businesses. This affects Maryland public schools, postsecondary institutions, and workforce development programs that deliver CTE pathways to students. The changes aim to streamline CTE program alignment with industry credentials and workforce demands.
HB 1328 transfers oversight of Maryland's school emergency response mapping program from its current location to the Department of State Police. It requires public safety agencies producing school mapping data to meet specific standards, including compatibility with emergency software, true north orientation, aerial imagery overlays, and detailed labeling of hazards, utilities, and emergency equipment. The bill allows the School Safety Subcabinet to fund this work using the Safe Schools Fund, replacing prior funding mechanisms. This directly affects local school systems and public safety agencies responsible for creating and maintaining these emergency response maps for all public schools.
HB 1124 establishes new rules for healthcare financing in Maryland, directly affecting healthcare providers (like clinics and doctors' offices) and patients. It requires providers to give clear written disclosures about payment plans before discussing them and prohibits providers from applying for financing on a patient's behalf or promoting payment options during certain treatments (like under anesthesia). The bill also mandates full refunds within 15 days if services aren't provided and bans billing third-party financiers more than 30 days before a procedure. Providers may only offer payment plans for out-of-pocket costs like copays when insurance covers the main service.
HB 555 is a procedural bill that reorganizes the legal text of Maryland's Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program. It renumbers existing sections of the law (moving sections 18-1503 through 18-1506 to 18-1506 through 18-1509) and clarifies eligibility language without changing who qualifies or the program's benefits. The program directly assists Maryland graduates (including veterans, mental health counselors, veterinarians, and education professionals) who work in state service or high-need areas by helping repay their higher education loans. This bill only updates how the rules are written in state law, with no new eligibility criteria or funding changes.
