HB 467 modifies how Maryland calculates its annual funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It replaces a fixed $167 million appropriation with a formula-based calculation tied to WMATA's operating subsidy allocation, requiring a 3% annual increase after the first year (starting from the 2019 appropriation level). The bill also requires WMATA to submit detailed performance reports and financial data to avoid withholding 35% of funds if it receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan. This funding directly affects Maryland taxpayers and WMATA, as it alters the state's annual contribution to WMATA's capital costs. The bill's implementation depends on Virginia and DC enacting similar legislation.
HB 76 amends Maryland law to expand death benefit eligibility for public safety officers. It specifically adds "9-1-1 specialists" to the list of covered personnel under Section 1(b)(1)(viii), meaning they now qualify for a $125,000 death benefit if killed while performing duties. The bill also modifies definitions of "performance of duties" for firefighters, hazardous material response teams, and other public safety roles. These changes apply to officers serving in Maryland's uniformed services, including those in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts. The bill does not alter benefit amounts but clarifies eligibility criteria for existing benefit programs.
HB 1434 establishes a 13-member Food Deserts Workgroup to study areas in Maryland with limited access to affordable, nutritious food (known as "food deserts"). The Workgroup, including state agency secretaries, county representatives, and community stakeholders, must analyze health and economic impacts of food deserts and assess strategies to attract grocery stores by November 1, 2025. It will produce a report with recommendations for eliminating food deserts, to be submitted to the Governor and relevant legislative committees. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2026, and does not create new funding or regulations - only a study process.
This bill establishes a 1-year-and-1-day deadline for law enforcement agencies to complete misconduct reviews and file administrative charges after becoming aware of an incident. Agencies must file charges within this timeframe for most cases, but if misconduct relates to a criminal investigation, the deadline begins only after criminal proceedings conclude (e.g., after a prosecutor declines charges or a case ends). The law applies to all police misconduct cases requiring administrative review under Maryland law. It aims to streamline accountability processes by setting clear, time-bound requirements for agencies.
HB 130 reclassifies the offense of intercepting, disclosing, or using intercepted wire, oral, or electronic communications from a felony to a misdemeanor. It directly affects individuals who illegally intercept or disclose such communications, changing the penalty to up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine (or both), instead of felony-level sanctions. The bill modifies Maryland’s existing law (Article 10, Section 402 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code) by amending the penalty provisions without altering the core prohibitions. Note: The bill’s title mentions "statute of limitations," but the text does not address this; it solely changes penalty severity. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 234 increases penalties for drivers who cause serious injury or death to vulnerable road users, including pedestrians (especially workers or emergency responders), cyclists, wheelchair users, and others operating bicycles, scooters, farm equipment, or animals on roads. It prohibits driving violations that result in harm to these individuals and mandates that convicted drivers face up to 2 months in jail, a $2,000 fine, or both, plus mandatory safety courses and 150 hours of community service. The law also requires courts to suspend a driver’s license for 7 days to 6 months for such offenses. This bill directly affects drivers who cause harm to these specific groups while on public roads or sidewalks.
HB 332 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Financial Regulation to create consumer protection regulations for domestic electronic funds transfers initiated by financial institutions operating in the state. The regulations must align with federal protections under 15 U.S.C. § 1693(A)(7) for consumers initiating electronic transfers. This bill directly affects all financial institutions operating within Maryland that process such transfers, mandating they comply with these new state regulations. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and automatically ends if courts determine it doesn't apply to federally chartered institutions.
HB 1325 establishes a 5-year pilot program (2026-2030) to create regional pools of substitute child care providers for Maryland child care facilities. The program, administered by a state-selected nonprofit, will recruit and support qualified providers to fill temporary staffing gaps in licensed centers, family homes, or large family child care homes. Key mechanisms include organizing pools across rural, suburban, and urban regions; helping providers meet background checks, training, and credential requirements; and developing a digital matching platform to connect providers with facilities. The program requires annual $350,000 grants to the nonprofit and $375,000 in annual state budget appropriations, with final reporting due to the legislature in 2029.
HB 178 prohibits drivers from stopping, standing, or parking vehicles in bike lanes or bicycle paths in Maryland. It directly affects vehicle operators who might park or stop in designated bicycle infrastructure. The bill amends Maryland’s vehicle laws by adding Section 21-1003(gg) to explicitly ban such parking, defining "bike lane" as roadway sections for single-direction bicycle flow and "bicycle path" as physically separated travelways. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 610 expands expungement eligibility in Maryland by allowing certain criminal charges to be cleared from records when dismissed without a conviction. Specifically, it adds that charges may be expunged if the court issued a "no finding" or terminated the case without a finding - rather than resulting in a conviction. This applies to charges already listed as eligible under current law (such as specific misdemeanors and felonies), without changing the list of offenses. The bill does not alter existing eligibility criteria but broadens the circumstances under which expungement is possible for dismissed cases.
HB 386 prohibits the use of pesticides containing PFAS chemicals (a class of fluorinated chemicals) at specific locations, including schools, healthcare facilities, day cares, residential lawns, and commercial mosquito spraying, beginning June 1, 2026. The Maryland Department of Agriculture must create and maintain a list of all PFAS pesticides by January 1, 2026, and distribute it to certified applicators. The bill also bans new registrations of PFAS pesticides for sale in Maryland starting June 1, 2027, and prohibits all use of these pesticides statewide after June 1, 2028. This directly affects pesticide manufacturers, certified applicators, and entities using pesticides in the specified locations.
HB 830 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, as recommended by healthcare providers and aligned with medical guidelines. It also mandates coverage for follow-up cancer imaging (like mammograms or colonoscopies) if genetic testing indicates increased cancer risk, with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these specific services. The law applies to all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients with cancer risk factors and their insurers.
