HB 164 makes it a misdemeanor to fraudulently claim or possess residential property you don’t legally own or possess, targeting individuals who intend to defraud property owners. It establishes penalties of up to 90 days in jail or $500 for a first offense, increasing to 1 year or $2,500 for repeat violations within 2 years. Property owners can submit a sworn affidavit to a sheriff, who must then remove occupants found to be fraudulently occupying the property unless the occupant proves lawful possession. The bill explicitly states it does not affect existing civil wrongful detainer lawsuits under Maryland law. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 110 changes Maryland law to require the Child Support Enforcement Administration to provide written notice and make reasonable attempts to contact parents with overdue child support payments *before* suspending their driver's license. The bill adds a process where parents can request an investigation into claims of inaccurate debt, employment impact, or disability before suspension, and allows for work-restricted licenses during this review. It specifically requires written notice of the proposed suspension, including the right to challenge it, and mandates the Administration to consider these requests before notifying the Motor Vehicle Administration. This bill directly affects parents who owe child support and have not paid for 60+ days (non-commercial licenses) or 120+ days (commercial licenses), altering the suspension process to include more safeguards.
HB 1001 designates "The Original Maryland Orange Crush" as Maryland's official state cocktail, recognizing its origin at Ocean City's Harborside Bar and Grill. The bill amends Maryland law by adding Section 7-313 to the Annotated Code, formally naming the cocktail in state statutes. This is a symbolic designation with no regulatory or financial impact on businesses, consumers, or state operations. It affects Maryland's official state symbols but does not change any existing laws governing alcohol or cocktails. The change takes effect June 1, 2025.
HB 1391 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to develop and update guidelines for safe, ethical AI use in K-12 classrooms by August 2026, emphasizing student and teacher-centered approaches. It mandates annual lists of approved AI tools (with privacy safeguards), requires each county school board to designate an AI facilitator, and establishes an AI needs assessment to identify support gaps for school systems. The bill also requires county boards to report annually on AI tool usage, student performance impacts, and compliance with data privacy laws. Additionally, it directs the Career and Technical Education Committee to integrate AI literacy into workforce preparation and funds professional development for teachers on AI tools and training. The legislation creates a Task Force on AI in K-12 Education to guide implementation.
HB 1106 requires travel service providers in Maryland (called "Sellers of Travel" or "Independent Agents") to prove financial security annually to the Department of Labor. Providers must file a surety bond, certificate of deposit, insurance, or cash deposit based on their annual gross income in Maryland, ranging from $10,000 for businesses under $200,000 in revenue to $50,000 for those over $1 million. The annual filing fee is $300, and providers cannot accept payments from customers unless they meet this requirement. The law aims to protect consumers by ensuring travel businesses can cover financial losses if they fail or violate regulations.
SB 1021 requires cemetery owners (including those previously exempt from registration) to obtain approval from the Cemetery Oversight Director before selling or transferring a cemetery. Owners must submit an application with details about the cemetery, potential buyers, and a preservation plan identifying descendants, plot buyers, and maintenance groups. They must also provide public notice through newspaper ads, physical signage, and a public meeting. The bill also allows governments to acquire abandoned cemeteries under specific conditions.
HB 210, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," prohibits the theft of mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or commercial carriers. It defines "mail or package" as tangible items left for delivery and makes knowingly taking such items without the recipient's permission a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The bill also allows courts to offer diversion programs for third or subsequent violations instead of jail time. This law directly affects individuals who steal mail or packages, aiming to criminalize what is commonly called "porch piracy." The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 1023 prohibits employers from taking discriminatory actions (like termination or denial of employment) against fire and rescue public safety employees who use medical cannabis, provided they have a valid certification from a licensed healthcare provider. The bill amends Maryland law to clarify that medical cannabis use, when certified by a qualifying provider under state medical cannabis regulations, is protected under disability discrimination laws. It specifically applies to fire and rescue employees (not all public safety workers) and requires that their use complies with the state’s medical cannabis program. The law does not permit cannabis use on duty but prevents employment discrimination based on off-duty medical cannabis use.
HB 42 establishes two grant programs to reduce food waste and promote organics recycling in Maryland. It creates a surcharge on the final disposal of solid waste collected from waste disposal operators, with funds deposited into a dedicated "Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund" to support these programs. The On-Farm Organics Grant Program (managed by the Department of Agriculture) provides grants to farmers, urban farmers, soil conservation districts, and related entities for composting, food rescue, and waste prevention on agricultural operations. The Wasted Food Reduction Grant Program (managed by the Department of the Environment) funds community projects - like infrastructure, education, and food rescue initiatives - that prevent, rescue, and divert wasted food across the state.
HB 615 clarifies procedures for condominium associations and homeowners associations in Maryland. It requires condominium associations to adopt budgets at open meetings and share the adopted budget with unit owners within 30 days via email, website, or newsletter. For homeowners associations, it specifies that owners can petition the local circuit court to appoint a receiver when vacancies prevent a quorum, and clarifies the court location for such petitions. The bill directly affects condominium and homeowners associations managing their finances and governance, with changes taking effect October 1, 2025.
HB 1130 requires Baltimore City to notify Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) when a vehicle owner or driver accumulates over $250 in unpaid or overdue citations from speed monitoring systems on Interstate 83 within Baltimore City. It authorizes Baltimore City to immobilize vehicles meeting this threshold and mandates that the fifth citation notice include a warning about potential registration suspension or transfer refusal. The bill also requires that future notices for I-83 speed violations explicitly state that unpaid fines exceeding $250 may lead to registration denial or new owner liability. This directly affects vehicle owners with repeated unpaid speed violations recorded by I-83 cameras in Baltimore City.
HB 960, the "Ratepayer Freedom Act," prohibits investor-owned electric, gas, and combined gas/electric utilities in Maryland from recovering certain costs through customer rates. It bans cost recovery for lobbying or political activities (including trade association dues, policy research, and advertising to attract new customers), executive travel, entertainment, and investor relations expenses - unless specific public interest criteria are met. Utilities must now report all costs tied to these prohibited activities in annual filings to the Public Service Commission, including itemized expenses, employee roles, and hours spent. This directly affects major utility companies like Baltimore Gas and Electric or Potomac Edison, aiming to prevent ratepayers from funding activities unrelated to core service delivery. The bill focuses on transparency and cost accountability, requiring detailed disclosures without altering utility service standards.
