Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 564: Pet Cremation and Burial Services - Requirements (Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act)

HB 564, the Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act, requires businesses that provide pet cremation services to give pet owners a written description of available services. This applies specifically to registered cemeterians, cemetery operators, and permit holders selling or offering pet cremation services for pet remains. The written description must be provided to the owner of a deceased pet or their agent when arranging for cremation. The bill aims to increase transparency and ensure pet owners receive clear information about service options before making arrangements.

Jon Cardin (D) Harry Bhandari (D) Deni Taveras (D) Teresa Woorman (D) Nic Kipke (R)

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 345: Vehicle Manufacturers and Dealers - Dealer and Manufacturer Associations - Administrative Hearings

SB 345 amends Maryland law to allow vehicle dealer associations (businesses primarily owned by or representing dealers) to request administrative hearings on disputes with manufacturers, distributors, or factory branches. It revises Section 15-214 of the Maryland Transportation Code to explicitly include "dealer associations" as eligible to request hearings, alongside individual dealers or groups. This change expands the ability of dealer associations to resolve conflicts over franchise agreements or interpret provisions in the law. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects dealers, dealer associations, and vehicle manufacturers operating in Maryland.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 346: Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)

SB 346, titled "Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)," creates a new legal pathway in Maryland for individuals to sue government officials who violate constitutional rights under "color of law." The bill allows plaintiffs to seek damages, injunctions, and attorney fees for deprivations of rights secured by the U.S. Constitution, Maryland Declaration of Rights, or Maryland Constitution. Key provisions include a 3-year statute of limitations for filing claims, protections for judicial officers (limiting injunctive relief unless a declaratory judgment is violated), and restrictions on awarding fees against judges acting within their authority. This law directly affects government officials and citizens who experience constitutional violations during official actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 608: Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Employees - Compensation

HB 608 would authorize the Chief Judge of Maryland's Appellate Court and administrative judges in circuit or district courts to receive an annual stipend in addition to their regular salary. This bill amends Maryland's judicial compensation law to specifically add this stipend provision for these roles. The stipend would be paid on top of existing salaries, with no change to base pay rates. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 357: St. Mary's County - Gaming by Qualified Organization - Permit Required

SB 357 requires qualified organizations in St. Mary’s County - including volunteer fire companies, religious groups, fraternal organizations, and charitable groups - to obtain a gaming license for certain activities like bingo, carnival games, or raffles. The bill defines "gaming" to exclude slot machines but includes devices like paddle wheels and stamp machines. County commissioners must adopt regulations for enforcement and designate a person to administer license issuance. This law amends Maryland’s Criminal Law to mandate licensing for these activities, effective October 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 587: Procurement - Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority Contracts - Board of Public Works Contract Authority - Study and Report

HB 587 raises the threshold requiring Board of Public Works approval for certain transportation contracts from $500,000 to $1 million. It directly affects the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority when procuring construction, related services, or land for state roads, bridges, or highways. The key change modifies existing law to exempt smaller transportation contracts ($1 million or less) from Board oversight, allowing these agencies to manage them internally without prior Board approval. This streamlines procurement for routine transportation projects while maintaining Board review for larger contracts.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 423: Prince George's County - Public High Schools - Drug Detection Products PG 501-26

HB 423 requires Prince George’s County public high schools to provide free drink spiking detection products (for GHB/ketamine) and fentanyl detection strips to all students starting the 2026-2027 school year. These products must be available at no cost in school health clinics or libraries. Each school must also report annually (by October 1) to Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response the quantity distributed during the prior school year. The bill applies exclusively to Prince George’s County schools and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 610: St. Mary's County - Gaming by Qualified Organization - Permit Required

HB 610 requires qualified organizations in St. Mary’s County - such as volunteer fire companies, religious groups, charities, and veterans’ organizations - to obtain a gaming license for certain activities like bingo or raffles. It exempts events where no individual benefits financially from the gaming (e.g., purely non-profit fundraisers). The bill also mandates that St. Mary’s County Commissioners adopt regulations for enforcement and designate a person to manage license issuance. This applies specifically to gaming events or devices not involving personal financial gain by organizers, effective October 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 250: Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act

SB 250 updates Maryland's estate law to clarify rules for cases where two or more people die simultaneously with no clear evidence of who died first. It establishes a 120-hour rule: if evidence doesn't show one person survived the other by at least 120 hours (5 days), the survivor is deemed to have predeceased the other for inheritance purposes. This affects heirs, beneficiaries, life insurers, and courts handling disputed property, joint accounts, or life insurance payouts. The bill renumbers existing sections and adds clear procedures to prevent inheritance disputes when death timing is uncertain. It does not change existing estate plans but provides a default rule for unresolved cases.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 601: Montgomery County - Stop Sign Monitoring Systems Pilot Program - Gaithersburg and Rockville MC 5-26

HB 601 authorizes the use of stop sign monitoring systems in school zones within the City of Gaithersburg and the City of Rockville, expanding a pilot program previously allowed in Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, and Takoma Park. The bill requires local governments to approve these systems through local law after public hearings and mandates clear signage and public notice before implementation. It specifically limits the systems to school zones on local highways (for cities) or state highways (for the State Highway Administration), and defines "violation" as failing to stop completely at a stop sign. The policy change directly affects drivers navigating stop signs in school zones within these two cities during the pilot period.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 38: Financial Institutions - Licensing of Affiliated Insurance Producer-Mortgage Loan Originators - Alterations

HB 38 creates a new licensing pathway for mortgage loan originators affiliated with insurance producers who work exclusively for a single financial institution or mortgage lender. It requires the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to approve eligible entities - based on regulatory standing and compliance with laws - allowing them to originate mortgages under this specific category. The bill restricts these originators to working only for their sponsoring institution, prohibits handling borrower funds, and mandates that the sponsoring institution supervise them and share liability for their activities. This affects mortgage lenders and financial institutions seeking streamlined licensing while maintaining consumer safeguards.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 233: Business Regulation - Cemeteries and Abandoned Cemeteries - Sale, Transfer, or Government Acquisition and Disposition

SB 233 allows "Descendant Community Organizations" (groups with cultural ties or ancestors buried in a cemetery) to legally challenge proposals to sell, transfer, or repurpose cemetery land. The bill requires courts to consider the cemetery's role as a permanent sacred space for honoring the dead and preserving community history when reviewing such proposals. It amends Maryland law to clarify who can bring these legal actions and what courts must evaluate. The bill directly affects cemetery owners proposing land changes and descendant groups seeking to protect burial sites. It does not change burial practices or fees but adds a legal safeguard for cemeteries facing potential sale or redevelopment.

Bill results