Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 708: State Lottery - Courier Services - Licensure

SB 708 creates a licensing system for couriers who deliver lottery tickets to customers in Maryland. It allows the State Lottery Agency Director to issue licenses to couriers, enabling them to operate online systems where customers purchase tickets through the courier's app or website. Key provisions include permitting couriers to charge a transparent service fee (displayed before purchase and requiring customer consent), requiring secure handling of customer data and ticket verification, and exempting courier-agency contracts from public disclosure under Maryland's Public Information Act. This directly affects licensed couriers, lottery sales agents, and customers who use these delivery services for purchasing and claiming lottery tickets.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 943: State Procurement - Competitive Sealed Bids and Proposals - In-State Evaluation Preference (Buy Maryland, Buy Local Act)

SB 943 (the "Buy Maryland, Buy Local Act") requires Maryland state agencies to prioritize in-state businesses when awarding procurement contracts. It mandates that bidding documents include standardized evaluation criteria focused on local economic impact, and requires bidders to submit a State and local economic impact statement detailing how their proposal benefits Maryland. Contracts must now be awarded based on these criteria - evaluating factors like job creation and local spending - not solely on the lowest price. This applies to all state procurement processes governed by Maryland’s Annotated Code (Article 13, Sections 103-104), directly affecting state agencies and businesses competing for government contracts.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 571: Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act)

SB 571 requires large broadband providers (serving 10,000+ customers) in Maryland to establish a low-cost broadband program for eligible low-income residents by December 1, 2026. The program must offer at least 100 Mbps download speed (200 Mbps for households of three or more), 1.2 terabytes of data, and limit annual network outages to an average of 48 hours. Eligibility is defined by income (at or below 350% of federal poverty guidelines) or participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or free school meals. Providers may adjust prices every three years by up to 2% or the Consumer Price Index change, with 30 days' notice to customers.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 882: Income Tax - Credit for Student Loan Debt of Educators Working in Public Schools

SB 882 creates a state income tax credit for educators working full-time in Maryland public primary or secondary schools who have outstanding student loan debt. Eligible individuals must participate in the state's Career Ladder teaching program and certify they will use the credit for student loan repayment. The credit is claimed annually through the Maryland Higher Education Commission, with a $5 million annual cap, and paid out over five years (one-fifth each year). Recipients must verify continued employment in public schools and use the credit for loan repayment within three years, or repay the amount to the state if they fail to comply.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 570: Public Health - Baby Food Testing - Definition of Baby Food

SB 570 amends Maryland’s definition of "baby food" to explicitly include infant formula and infant cereal (previously excluded), affecting all baby food manufacturers in the state. It requires manufacturers to test each batch of baby food for toxic heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) starting January 1, 2025, using accredited labs at least monthly. Manufacturers must publicly post test results online and include QR codes on labels linking to FDA safety information for each product sold in Maryland. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, with compliance for labeling and transparency requirements beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 930: State Police Retirement System - Special Disability Retirement

SB 930 allows certain Maryland State Police retirees who participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) to apply for special disability retirement benefits if they became totally and permanently disabled due to a work-related injury while enrolled in DROP. It specifically targets DROP participants who: enrolled after July 1, 2020; had a work-related accident before enrolling; and stopped participating in DROP before July 1, 2026. These retirees must submit an application by December 31, 2026, to qualify for disability benefits calculated based on their final compensation date. The bill modifies existing retirement rules to create this eligibility window without changing the medical requirements for disability certification.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 885: Internet Gaming and Online Bingo - Authorization and Implementation

SB 885 authorizes Maryland's State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses for online gaming and bingo operations, while establishing new regulations for these activities. It directly affects former video lottery facility employees through a new "Video Lottery Facility Employee Displacement Fund" to support them, and impacts school funding by requiring counties to use revenue from online gaming to offset local education tax calculations starting in fiscal year 2028. Key provisions include mandating that counties subtract gaming revenue from their education funding calculations and instead appropriate that revenue directly to school budgets, as specified in revised sections of Maryland law. The bill also requires the Commission to regulate online gaming operations and submit the law to a voter referendum.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 1114: HIV Prevention Drugs - Prescribing, Dispensing, and Insurance Coverage

HB 1114 allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense HIV prevention drugs (PrEP) to patients under specific guidelines, expanding access beyond traditional doctor visits. It requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) to cover FDA-approved HIV prevention drugs, including PrEP and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), starting January 1, 2027. The bill also prohibits insurers and managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or cost-sharing for these medications. This directly affects pharmacists, Medicaid recipients, and health insurers by removing financial and administrative barriers to HIV prevention care. The policy aligns with CDC guidelines for PrEP and PEP use, ensuring coverage for medically appropriate HIV prevention drugs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 780: Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - BURDEN Analysis (CHERISH Our Communities Act)

SB 780 (CHERISH Our Communities Act) requires applicants for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new or modified power plants to submit a "BURDEN report" analyzing environmental and public health burdens in the surrounding area. This applies specifically to projects located in "at-risk census tracts," defined as areas meeting certain thresholds for pollution exposure, health indicators (like asthma ER visits), or proximity to hazardous sites (e.g., power plants, landfills). The bill mandates the Public Service Commission to deny applications if issuing the certificate would worsen environmental or public health stressors in these overburdened communities. The report must include baseline data on disparities and environmental needs, using Maryland’s EJ Score and mapping tool to identify affected areas.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 1092: Maryland Department of Health - Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Beds - Capacity in Prince George's County and Report

HB 1092 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to ensure at least 24 licensed adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds are operational in Prince George’s County by December 2028. The department must achieve this through expanding existing facilities, contracting with private/nonprofit operators, or creating public-private partnerships, prioritizing solutions that reduce emergency department boarding and ensure insurance-neutral access. It also mandates a competitive grant program for capital costs (like construction or safety upgrades) and annual reports to the Governor and legislature on bed capacity, staffing barriers, and recommendations for maintaining sufficient service. This bill directly affects adolescents aged 12-16 in Prince George’s County who need inpatient psychiatric care, aiming to address recent capacity reductions in the county.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 1136: Nonprofit Hospitals - Community Benefits

HB 1136 requires most nonprofit hospitals in Maryland to provide annual community benefits equal to either 100% of their tax-exempt value or 5% of net patient revenue (if charity care meets a 4% minimum). Hospitals must report their compliance to the Health Services Cost Review Commission within 120 days after their fiscal year ends. Starting in 2028, the Commission will annually report non-compliant hospitals to the Attorney General and Comptroller, who can revoke a hospital’s tax-exempt status for the next tax year if it fails to meet requirements. Hospitals may correct unintentional errors by providing the missing benefits. This applies to all nonprofit hospitals except those in counties with fewer than 50,000 residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 945: Admissions and Amusement Tax and Sales and Use Tax - University of Maryland, College Park Athletic Competitions and Game Day Surcharge

SB 945 imposes a 3% admissions tax on tickets for University of Maryland, College Park athletic events and a game-day surcharge on food, alcohol, and accommodations sold near the stadium on event days. The revenue from both taxes will fund a new University of Maryland Athletic Department Support Fund, a dedicated account that cannot expire and will provide ongoing financial support for the university's athletic programs. This bill amends Maryland's tax code to create these specific taxes and redirect the revenue to the fund, replacing prior tax distribution rules for similar revenue streams. The bill does not affect general public sales or taxes outside these targeted events and locations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results