Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 28, 2025

SB 485: Prince George's County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 210

SB 485 increases civil penalties for speeding violations recorded by speed monitoring systems on Maryland Route 210 (Piscataway Highway) in Prince George’s County. It sets specific fines based on how much a driver exceeds the speed limit: $60 for 12-15 mph over, $80 for 16-19 mph over, $140 for 20-29 mph over, $270 for 30-39 mph over, and $500 for 40+ mph over. The bill repeals a previous sunset provision that would have ended the speed monitoring program on this route after 2028, making it permanent. This directly affects drivers who exceed speed limits on this specific highway segment without receiving an officer-cited ticket.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 28, 2025

SB 941: Transportation-Related Tolls - Installment Payment Plans

SB 941 creates income-based installment payment plans for individuals who owe at least $250 in unpaid video tolls and civil penalties. The Maryland Transportation Authority and Department of Transportation must establish these programs with income eligibility requirements, multiple payment options, and an application process. Participants who miss payments may have their debt referred to a central collection unit. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland's transportation code to implement these changes.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 885: Carroll County Board of Education - Vacancy Procedures - Alterations

SB 885 amends Carroll County Board of Education vacancy procedures in Maryland law. It changes how the county commissioners fill empty seats: if a vacancy occurs within 30 days of the primary election filing deadline (for the second year of a term), commissioners appoint a replacement to serve until the next election; if the vacancy happens more than 30 days before that deadline, commissioners appoint a replacement who serves until the next general election fills the seat. The bill directly affects Carroll County Board members, county commissioners, and voters in county elections. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and replaces prior rules about gubernatorial appointments for vacancies.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 342: Voting Rights Act of 2025 - Counties and Municipal Corporations

SB 342, the "Voting Rights Act of 2025," prohibits counties and municipalities from using election methods that dilute or abridge voting rights for protected classes (defined as racial, color, or language minority groups under federal law). It directly affects voters in these local jurisdictions by requiring election systems to allow members of protected classes to elect candidates of their choice. The key mechanism establishes that a violation occurs if elections show "polarized voting" (where voting patterns differ between protected classes and the broader electorate) and the election method dilutes their voting strength. Courts must evaluate this using federal methodologies for enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, applying only to local county and municipal elections - not statewide contests.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 472: Property Tax - Property Adjacent to Rail Stations - Subclasses and Special Rates

SB 472 allows Baltimore City or Maryland counties to establish a special property tax rate for improvements on land within 1 mile of a rail station (including MARC, Metro, or Light Rail stations). This special rate must be lower than or equal to the standard county tax rate and applies only to properties near rail infrastructure. Property owners in these designated areas would pay this reduced rate, while a 50% tax penalty on the special rate's total liability would fund the Transportation Trust Fund. The bill also requires annual reports on the tax rate's impact, including revenue changes and property reuse plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 929: Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility

SB 929 creates a Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility to study and improve mail-in voting processes, specifically focusing on accessibility for voters with disabilities. The Workgroup includes state officials, disability advocacy representatives, and experts in accessibility, election security, and cybersecurity, and will examine current ballot return procedures, assess the impact of paper-only requirements, and evaluate accessible alternatives from other states. It must submit findings and recommendations - including potential policy changes - to the Governor and legislature by December 31, 2025. The bill takes effect June 1, 2025, and expires June 30, 2026, without requiring further legislative action.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 439: Higher Education - High Impact Economic Development Activities - Alterations

SB 439 modifies Maryland's definition of "high impact economic development activity" for the University System of Maryland, explicitly excluding cost savings from staff reductions. It requires the Board of Regents to annually report details like funds used, financial impact, and whether each activity benefits the state. The bill also makes entities supporting these activities subject to state procurement rules and removes authorization for university employees to hold dual roles in such entities. These changes directly affect the University System of Maryland, its institutions, and entities collaborating on economic development initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 136: Education - Safe Schools Fund - Grant Allocations

SB 136 modifies Maryland's Safe Schools Fund grant rules to allow unused funds to be reallocated within the same fiscal year to local school systems that have fully spent their initial allocation but still have unmet safety needs. It specifically permits the reallocation of funds to schools demonstrating ongoing requirements, rather than letting unused grants expire. The bill amends existing law to clarify that grant allocations may be redirected to these schools while maintaining the annual $10 million funding level. This change ensures more flexible use of resources for school safety without requiring new budget appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 652: Local Government – Local Personnel – Leave With Pay

SB 652 establishes paid disaster service leave for county and municipal employees in Maryland under specific conditions. Employees certified by the American Red Cross during Level II+ disasters or serving in designated volunteer groups (like Civil Air Patrol, fire/rescue departments, or emergency medical services) may qualify. The bill limits this leave to 15 days per year with prior approval, but allows governments to waive requirements or increase days during prolonged disasters if it benefits citizens. It also codifies existing paid leave types for jury duty, military service, and other circumstances under Section 1-208. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 615: Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures

SB 615 requires that petitions seeking to place ballot questions and the ballot questions themselves include summaries written in plain language, avoiding legal jargon, passive voice, and double negatives. It mandates that petition signature pages and ballot questions feature a clear, concise summary of the proposal’s purpose and a statement explaining the practical outcome of each voting choice. The bill also sets new deadlines for ballot question preparation, requires the State Board of Elections to post relevant information for public comment before elections, and demands that all such summaries meet specific readability standards. This directly affects petition sponsors, voters, and election officials by changing how ballot measures are presented and verified.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2025

HB 80: Land Use - Transit-Oriented Development - Alterations

HB 80 modifies Maryland's land use rules to support transit-oriented development (TOD) near rail stations. It directly affects local governments and developers by removing minimum off-street parking requirements for residential or mixed-use projects within 0.5 miles of rail transit stations. The bill also exempts TOD-related special taxes from county tax limits, waives certain state procurement rules for TOD projects, and creates new funding mechanisms including a Transit-Oriented Development Capital Grant Fund. These changes aim to streamline development near transit by adjusting zoning, tax, and procurement rules while expanding how state funds can support TOD planning and financing.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 770: Public Schools and Youth Services - Crisis Support and Assistance and Workgroup Study

SB 770 requires child care centers, schools, and youth-serving organizations (like after-school programs and sports leagues) to verify applicants for roles involving direct contact with minors. It mandates applicants to provide contact information for recent employers (including those where they worked with minors), obtain written consent to release records about past investigations, and disclose any history of boundary-violating behavior (such as inappropriate physical contact or emotional manipulation) unless the investigation was deemed unfounded. County boards of education must annually report this data to the State Department of Education, which will compile and submit an annual report to the General Assembly. The bill aims to strengthen background checks for positions with vulnerable youth, directly affecting hiring practices for over 1,000 Maryland organizations and their applicants.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results