Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 1352: Sickle Cell Disease - Institutions of Higher Education - Policies, Procedures, and Educational Campaigns

HB 1352 prohibits Maryland institutions of higher education from denying students access to facilities or services due to sickle cell disease diagnosis and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations. The bill mandates the Maryland Department of Health to develop an education campaign for campuses about sickle cell disease challenges, create uniform procedures with the Maryland Higher Education Commission for supporting affected students, and compile training materials for faculty and staff. Institutions must also establish clear reporting procedures for violations and publicly share accommodation policies. These requirements take effect October 1, 2025, directly impacting all Maryland colleges and universities and students with sickle cell disease.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Jamila Woods (D) Jon Cardin (D) Susan McComas (R) Jeff Long (D) Ric Metzgar (R)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 771: Student Health - Program for Student Dental Health - Established

HB 771 requires all public elementary and secondary students in Maryland to submit a certificate of dental health to their school starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The Maryland Department of Health must establish a program creating standardized dental exam requirements, a uniform certificate form, and resources for parents and students - including insurance guidance, dentist directories, and information on dental health’s connection to overall well-being. The program will be implemented to allow schools to collect these certificates beginning in 2027-2028. The law directly affects every student enrolled in Maryland’s public schools and mandates specific administrative steps for the health department.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 986: Primary and Secondary Education - New Teachers - Retention Program

HB 986 requires every Maryland county school district to create a new teacher retention program for educators with fewer than two full years of experience. The program must include cohort-based support groups, assign each new teacher a mentor (including retired teachers), survey teachers on challenges, and provide principals with resources to support new teachers. Counties must prioritize support for new teachers from diverse backgrounds and those in schools with high teacher turnover rates, and must compensate mentors and program overseers through additional pay or leave. This bill directly affects new teachers, school principals, and county school districts across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 65: Community Health Worker Appreciation Day

HB 65 designates May 8 as Community Health Worker Appreciation Day in Maryland. The bill requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation on this date, urging educational and cultural organizations to host programs recognizing community health workers. This bill directly affects community health workers across Maryland, who provide critical health services in underserved communities. It is a procedural measure with no new funding or policy changes, simply establishing an annual recognition day.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 899: General Provisions - Commemorative Months - Muslim American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage Months

HB 899 requires Maryland's Governor to annually proclaim January as Muslim American Heritage Month and May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The bill mandates these proclamations to recognize the contributions of Maryland's Muslim and Jewish communities, respectively, and urges educational and cultural organizations to host programs during these months. This procedural bill does not create new funding or obligations but establishes a formal recognition process for these heritage months, effective October 1, 2025.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 1427: Maryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council - Revisions

HB 1427 amends Maryland’s Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council by adding the Secretary of State Police (or their designee) to its membership and requiring the council to study safety design elements and reliability of public charging stations. The bill does not change the council’s existing duties - such as developing infrastructure plans, streamlining permitting, or promoting EV adoption - but adds this specific safety and reliability focus to its recommendations. The council, which includes state agency leaders, industry representatives, and community stakeholders, will now evaluate how charging stations are designed and function to ensure public safety and consistent service. This directly affects electric vehicle charging station operators, state agencies managing infrastructure, and EV users relying on public charging networks.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 1091: Baltimore City Sheriff's Office - Collective Bargaining - Compensation

HB 1091 allows full-time sworn law enforcement officers (deputy sheriffs at lieutenant rank or below) and court security officers in Baltimore City to collectively bargain over salary, wages, and City-managed benefits. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly include these compensation elements in bargaining discussions, which were previously excluded. It excludes higher-ranking officers (captains+), appointed staff, civilians, part-time employees, and other categories listed in the bill. The policy change takes effect June 1, 2025, directly affecting these specific sheriff’s office employees regarding their pay and benefits negotiations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 1419: Electric Distribution System Support Services - Energy Storage and Data Use

HB 1419 modifies how Maryland utilities recover costs for electric distribution system programs. It requires the Public Service Commission to approve a special accounting method for utilities to recover costs related to distributed energy resource programs and incentives, if the Commission determines these costs align with program goals. The bill also explicitly states that existing law cannot block utilities or other entities from offering residential energy storage services separately from pilot programs. This directly affects investor-owned utilities (like gas and electric companies) and residential customers who may gain more options for home energy storage systems.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 992: Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act)

HB 992, the "Franchise Reform Act," amends Maryland's Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law to directly affect franchisors, franchisees, and the Securities Commissioner. Key changes include extending the time the Commissioner can act on violations from 3 to 5 years, requiring franchise registration exemptions to adjust for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, and prohibiting franchisors from blocking franchisees’ right to form associations. The bill also creates a pilot program to waive registration renewal fees for qualifying businesses and extends the deadline for franchise-related lawsuits. These updates aim to modernize franchise oversight while balancing enforcement timelines and cost adjustments.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 1277: Department of Natural Resources - Savage River Lodge - Hotel Rental Surcharge

HB 1277 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to collect an 8% surcharge on hotel rentals at Savage River Lodge in Garrett County. The proceeds must be sent to the state Comptroller for distribution to Garrett County. Garrett County must use 6% of the surcharge for county promotion and the remaining portion for its general fund. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting lodge guests, the DNR, and Garrett County's budget allocation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 829: Public Utilities - Transmission Lines - Advanced Transmission Technologies

HB 829 amends Maryland's public utilities law to address overhead transmission line projects. It requires applicants seeking construction permits to include specific environmental and technical analyses, and directs the Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives (like advanced transmission technologies) before approving projects. The bill defines "advanced transmission technologies" as grid-enhancing tools, high-performance conductors, or storage used for transmission, and mandates annual reports from transmission line owners to the Commission. These changes directly affect utility companies applying for line construction permits and the Commission’s review process. The bill focuses on improving transparency and evaluating modern infrastructure options during project approvals.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

HB 1229: Montgomery County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Health and Safety MC 21-25

HB 1229 requires Montgomery County's Board of License Commissioners to adopt regulations collecting data on the number and location of retail stores selling alcohol for off-premises consumption (like takeout). The board must use this density data when deciding whether to approve new licenses or renew existing ones for these stores. The bill also mandates that the board consider public testimony about health and safety impacts related to license density during these decisions. This law specifically applies to Montgomery County and amends Maryland's Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis code (Sections 25-102, 25-207, and 25-1501).

Bill results