Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 339: Real Property - Residential Rental Apartments - Air-Conditioning Requirements

HB 339 requires landlords of non-historic residential rental apartments in Maryland to provide air-conditioning starting June 1, 2025 for new units and October 1, 2025 for units with qualifying HVAC system upgrades. Landlords must maintain temperatures within specific ranges during June-September: 90% of ASHRAE Standard 55 thresholds normally, and 80% thresholds if daily highs exceed 92.3°F. The law applies only to apartment buildings (excluding National Register historic properties) and distinguishes between landlord-controlled and tenant-controlled AC systems. It does not affect buildings with permits issued before the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Housing

Dana Stein (D) Mary Lehman (D) Kevin Harris (D) Jamila Woods (D) Deni Taveras (D)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 1541: Condominiums - Mandatory Insurance Coverage

HB 1541 requires residential condominium unit owners in Maryland to maintain specific insurance coverage for their units. The policy must include key provisions like waiver of subrogation against the condominium council, $500,000 personal liability coverage, 12 months of loss-of-use coverage, and dwelling coverage for owner improvements. Unit owners must provide annual proof of this insurance to the condominium council. If a unit owner fails to comply, the council may purchase the required insurance and charge the cost as an assessment, effective October 1, 2025.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 321: Pharmacy Benefits Managers – Definition of Purchaser and Alteration of Application of Law

HB 321 amends Maryland law to change the definition of "purchaser" for pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) regulations, specifically excluding certain nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from this definition. This removes restrictions that previously limited how certain insurance laws applied to PBMs working on behalf of carriers. The bill directly affects nonprofit HMOs that operate internal pharmacies and PBMs managing prescription drug coverage for them. These changes clarify regulatory scope without altering core PBM oversight requirements.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 306: Workers' Compensation - Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical Services - Reimbursements

SB 306 requires Maryland's Workers' Compensation Commission to regulate how prescription drugs and pharmacy services are reimbursed under workers' compensation. It limits reimbursements to a cost index based on the drug's acquisition price per unit at dispensing time, plus reasonable dispensing fees. This affects injured workers needing medication, healthcare providers billing for these services, and the Commission that enforces the rules. The bill aims to cap payments at community-standard rates for similar care, effective October 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 1420: Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives - Noncitizens

HB 1420 requires each county and Baltimore City Register of Wills to develop a method for people without government-issued ID (like a driver's license or passport) to prove their identity as heirs or beneficiaries when claiming inheritance. This directly affects individuals who lack standard identification but need to access estate assets through probate. The bill mandates that Registers work with the Maryland Registers of Wills Association to create these verification methods. The law takes effect October 1, 2025. (Note: The bill title mentions "noncitizens," but the actual text focuses on identity verification regardless of citizenship status.)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 915: Motor Vehicles - Out-of-State Drivers - Automated Enforcement (Out-of-State Driver Accountability Act)

HB 915 requires Maryland counties and municipalities with automated traffic enforcement programs to submit quarterly reports to the Vision Zero coordinator detailing citations issued to vehicles registered in other states (including registration number, payment status, and overdue status). It authorizes Maryland’s Attorney General or local prosecutors to sue drivers or vehicle owners (specifically District of Columbia residents or vehicles registered in the District) for unpaid and overdue traffic fines. The bill responds to the District of Columbia’s STEER Act, which allows DC to pursue similar actions against Maryland drivers. This aims to improve enforcement of traffic laws against out-of-state drivers and support Maryland’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2030.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 303: Real Property - Regulation of Common Ownership Community Managers

HB 303 creates a State Board of Common Ownership Community Managers within the Maryland Department of Labor to license and regulate professionals managing residential common ownership communities (like condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations). It requires community managers to hold licenses, mandates that communities register with the Board under certain conditions, and requires contracts for management services to include specific provisions. The bill also imposes duties on contracting parties to maintain fidelity bonds or theft insurance and establishes a special fund to cover the Board’s operational costs. These changes directly affect community managers, property owners, and management companies operating in Maryland’s residential common ownership communities.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 219: Vehicle Laws - Out-of-State Vehicles - Improper Registration

HB 219 allows Baltimore City to tow, remove, or impound vehicles owned by new Maryland residents who fail to register with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and display valid Maryland license plates within 60 days of moving to the city. It directly affects new residents who do not comply with the existing 60-day registration grace period for out-of-state vehicles. The bill amends Maryland law to specifically authorize Baltimore City to enforce this requirement through towing or impoundment, rather than relying on general vehicle parking regulations. This change clarifies Baltimore City's authority to act during the 60-day registration window, aligning with current state law but specifying the city's enforcement power.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 623: Estates and Trusts - Estate Administration - Publication of Notice

HB 623 requires Maryland counties and Baltimore City to create a centralized website where registers of wills will publish estate-related notices instead of using newspapers. This affects personal representatives (both domestic and foreign), heirs, and creditors who must receive notices about estate appointments, probate requests, and claims deadlines. The bill replaces old newspaper publication rules with website notices, mandating specific content like the foreign representative’s details and claim deadlines, and eliminates the need for foreign representatives to record certifications with the register. It directly changes how notices are delivered, shifting from physical newspapers to a single online platform for all counties.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 74: Legal Advertisement or Legal Notice - Publication in Newspaper or Newspaper in General Circulation - Digital Newspapers

HB 74 updates Maryland law to clarify which digital publications can legally publish court orders, property notices, and other official legal notices. The bill requires digital newspapers to maintain a public archive of all published legal notices and employ at least one staff member focused on local news. It defines "newspaper in general circulation" to include digital publications meeting specific criteria (e.g., regular local content, weekly publication, postal service eligibility), replacing older print-only standards. This affects counties and municipalities that mandate legal notices in publications, with special provisions for Prince George’s and Dorchester counties. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 1147: Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission - Improvements in Transparency and Equity

HB 1147 requires the Maryland Parole Commission to improve transparency and equity in parole decisions. It mandates annual reports that break down parole outcomes by race, requires the Commission to provide incarcerated individuals with key documents in advance (not just on request), and prohibits permanent parole denials. The bill also requires the Commission to publicly share hearing transcripts (after redaction), state reasons for denials, and document all decisions on the record. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland seeking parole and the Commission's operational procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2025

HB 1480: Child Advocacy Centers - Continuity of Care Standards for Health Care Professionals and Reports of Violations

HB 1480 requires healthcare professionals providing medical or mental health services at Maryland child advocacy centers to hold valid licenses or certifications and work within their scope of practice. It mandates that each center create a continuity of care plan to ensure smooth transitions when providers change, including written notifications to families about new providers and contingency plans if contacting parents could endanger the child. The bill also requires centers to report certain violations to health boards or the Department of Human Services and directs the Department to publish annual information about centers on its website. This law directly affects child advocacy centers, healthcare staff, and the children receiving services through these centers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results