SB 388, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and adjust eligibility for tax incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the Strategic Closing Fund within the Department of Commerce, alters how video lottery proceeds are distributed, and modifies rules for several tax credits - including Job Creation, Research and Development, and film production credits - to expand access for businesses and investors. Key changes include allowing pass-through entities to allocate biotechnology tax credits differently, enabling film producers to amend credit applications, and extending the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill directly affects businesses seeking economic development tax credits and state agencies managing these programs.
HB 625 shifts responsibility for collecting fees from research facilities to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, replacing the current system under the Department of Health. It requires facilities submitting USDA Form 7023 (for animal testing) to pay annual contributions based on animal count: $5,000 for ≤100 animals, $10,000 for 101-500, $55,000 for 501-5,000, and $75,000 for over 5,000. Funds collected will support the Human-Relevant Research Fund established under Maryland’s Economic Development Article. The bill repeals existing health code provisions and creates new agriculture code sections for this fee structure, effective October 2026.
SB 29 requires that all petition signature pages and ballot questions include summaries written in plain, clear language that voters can easily understand - prohibiting legal jargon, double negatives, and passive voice. It mandates that petition sponsors provide a concise summary of the proposal’s policy change and practical outcomes of voting choices, alongside the full text of the proposal. The bill also sets new deadlines (by July 1 before general elections) for election officials to prepare and certify ballot language, adds a 15-day public comment period for proposed ballot descriptions, and requires officials to post key information online for voters. This directly affects petition organizers, voters, and election boards by standardizing how ballot initiatives are explained. The law aims to increase transparency and accessibility in the ballot initiative process.
SB 141 creates a public reporting system for election-related false information (including deepfakes) and requires the State Administrator of Elections to issue corrective information when credible reports are received. It prohibits knowingly creating or spreading deepfakes intended to mislead voters about election processes, results, or voter rights, with violations punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. The bill allows the State Board of Elections to file civil lawsuits against entities spreading false election information and exempts satire, news coverage with clear disclosures, and media outlets that label deceptive content. It directly affects anyone creating or distributing election-related misinformation or deepfakes with intent to influence voter decisions. The law takes effect June 1, 2026.
HB 622 increases the maximum number of employees allowed for micro dispensaries from 10 to 20, directly affecting micro dispensary licensees. It revises training requirements for cannabis agents (including employees and volunteers) to mandate annual training covering public health and safety standards specific to each license type, alongside existing topics like regulatory compliance. The training must be at least two hours long and meet minimum standards set by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. These changes amend multiple sections of Maryland's cannabis laws and take effect July 1, 2026.
HB 135 allows local governments in Maryland to designate *noncontiguous* areas as development districts for tax increment financing (TIF). This means political subdivisions (like counties or cities) can now create TIF zones that include separate, disconnected parcels of land - not just connected areas - under new provisions in Section 12-201(i)(1). The bill modifies existing law to explicitly permit this by redefining "development district" to include noncontiguous areas and updating related sections (e.g., 12-203). It directly affects local governments seeking to use TIF for economic development projects across multiple, non-adjacent sites. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 661 designates January as Muslim American Heritage Month and May as Jewish American Heritage Month in Maryland. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation for each month, recognizing the contributions of Muslim and Jewish Marylanders to the state's cultural, business, and public life. The proclamation also urges educational and cultural organizations to host programs and activities during these months. This is a commemorative measure with no new funding or mandatory requirements for individuals or entities.
SB 437 clarifies how gift card value is determined in theft and fraud cases and prohibits tampering with gift cards to defraud others. It defines "closed-loop" (single merchant) and "open-loop" (multi-merchant network) gift cards, setting their value as the highest of: face value, what the defendant claimed, or actual loss incurred. The bill creates a new misdemeanor offense for altering gift cards or packaging with fraudulent intent, punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $500 fine. This directly affects individuals committing gift card fraud and businesses handling gift card transactions in Maryland.
HB 635 requires all individuals seeking positions involving direct contact with children in Maryland child care facilities - including staff and volunteers - to undergo a criminal history background check. It creates a centralized unit within the State Department of Education to process these checks, with strict timelines (10 days for initial status, 45 days for final eligibility) and strict confidentiality rules prohibiting unauthorized sharing of results. The bill directly affects child care facilities, their employees, and volunteers by mandating these checks and establishing a standardized process for handling them. It also updates existing licensing rules to align with this new requirement, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 475 (the PACE Act) protects artists' creative works - like music, dance, visual art, poetry, and film - from being used as evidence against them in criminal or juvenile court. It prohibits such "creative expression" from being admitted unless a court finds by a preponderance of evidence that: (1) the artist intended it literally (not figuratively), (2) it directly references the specific crime facts, and (3) it’s relevant to a disputed fact. The bill explicitly excludes juvenile cases where creative expression is used to evaluate mental health or diversion programs. It applies directly to defendants and juvenile respondents whose artistic work might otherwise be introduced against them. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 668 prohibits people from standing in roadways, shoulders, median dividers, or intersections in St. Mary’s County that are officially designated as "inherently dangerous" (meaning they pose a serious, unmitigable injury risk to pedestrians or drivers). It specifically requires county or municipal authorities to identify such locations and install required warning signs meeting state traffic control standards before police can issue citations for violations. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to St. Mary’s County. It does not create new penalties but limits enforcement to areas with proper signage.
HB 732 legalizes the 2025 Edition of the Baltimore County Code of Public Local Laws and its supplements, confirming they are officially recognized as evidence of Maryland General Assembly-enacted laws. This procedural bill affects Baltimore County courts and officials, who must treat the code as binding law for all local legal matters. It does not change existing policies or create new regulations - only formally recognizes the already-enacted 2025 code. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
