Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 15, 2025

HB 1429: Youth Services Bureaus - Criminal History Records Checks - Employees, Volunteers, and Interns

HB 1429 authorizes Maryland's youth services bureaus (community-based organizations providing youth prevention programs) to conduct criminal history checks on their employees, volunteers, and interns. The bill requires bureaus to submit fingerprints, federal processing fees, and state access fees to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository. It mandates that results remain confidential, cannot be shared outside the hiring context, and must be provided directly to both the bureau and the individual. The law also establishes procedures for contesting results and updating records if new information emerges after the initial check.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 15, 2025

SB 414: Income Tax Credit - Parent of Stillborn Child

This bill creates a $1,000 refundable state income tax credit for Maryland parents who experience a stillbirth. It directly affects parents who receive a certificate of stillbirth (per Maryland Health-General Article § 4-213.1 or equivalent from another state) for a birth that results in stillbirth. The credit can be claimed only in the tax year the stillbirth occurred, and if the credit exceeds the parent's state income tax liability for that year, they receive a refund for the excess amount. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 15, 2025

SB 698: Washington County - Sales and Use Tax Exemption - Target Redevelopment Area

SB 698 exempts sales and use tax on construction materials and warehousing equipment purchased for use in Washington County's Mount Aetna Technology Park redevelopment area. This directly affects businesses buying such materials or equipment for projects within the defined zone (accessible from Robinwood Drive, Mount Aetna Road, and Yale Drive, in an office/research/industry zoning district). To qualify, buyers must provide the Comptroller with eligibility evidence before purchase. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2025, and expires June 30, 2035, without further legislative action.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 15, 2025

SB 648: Correctional Services - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment

SB 648 repeals the requirement for the Governor to approve medical parole decisions for incarcerated individuals serving life sentences. It removes a provision that previously allowed the Governor to disapprove such decisions within 180 days of receiving the Parole Commission's recommendation. The bill maintains existing medical parole criteria (e.g., chronic debilitation, no public safety risk) and all other procedural requirements, including medical evaluations, community support planning, and victim notification. This change directly affects life-sentence inmates who qualify for medical parole by streamlining the process to eliminate gubernatorial review. The bill focuses on policy implementation rather than outcome speculation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 15, 2025

SB 105: Green and Renewable Energy for Nonprofit Organizations Loan Program and Fund

SB 105 establishes a no-interest loan program administered by the Maryland Energy Administration to help 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations install renewable energy systems like solar panels or geothermal heating. The bill creates a dedicated Green and Renewable Energy for Nonprofit Organizations Loan Fund, which will be partially funded by redirecting money from the existing Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. Nonprofits can use these loans for planning, purchasing, and installing qualifying energy systems that generate on-site electricity or thermal energy while supporting Maryland's environmental goals. The program requires nonprofits to apply through the Administration and will be managed under new sections of state law.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

HB 493: Public Schools - Commemorative Day - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

HB 493 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in Maryland public schools to commemorate Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white New Orleans elementary school. It requires each county board of education to create annual educational programs for this day, including symbolic walks, civil rights history lessons, and discussions on racial equality. The State Department of Education must also develop model educational resources, like lesson plans and discussion guides, to support schools in implementing these programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects all Maryland public schools and their students.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

HB 184: Nonpublic Schools - Transcripts - Prohibition on Punitive Measures Related to Student Debt

HB 184 prohibits nonpublic schools participating in state-funded education programs from denying or delaying student transcripts (or taking other punitive actions) because a student owes money to the school. It specifically bans schools from refusing transcripts, conditioning issuance on debt payment, charging extra fees for transcripts due to debt, or using transcripts as a debt collection tool. The law applies to all current and former students and their parents/guardians, while clarifying that transcript fees themselves are not considered "debt" under this bill. This ensures students can access transcripts regardless of unpaid school debts.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

HB 763: Education - Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program - Human and Sex Trafficking

HB 763 requires Maryland public and qualifying nonpublic schools to include age-appropriate material about human and sex trafficking awareness and prevention in health curricula for students in grades 6 through 8. This amendment to existing education law builds upon current sexual abuse and assault prevention programs by adding specific content about trafficking. The law mandates that this material be taught by trained instructors and integrated into standard health education. The policy change applies to all schools participating in the Nonpublic Schools Textbook and Technology Grants Program, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

HB 980: Higher Education - Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program - Eligibility

HB 980 expands eligibility for Maryland's Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to include military dependents (sons, daughters, stepchildren, or surviving spouses) who are eligible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Chapter 35 Survivors' Dependents' Educational Assistance. The bill simplifies verification by allowing applicants to submit a Chapter 35 eligibility certificate, or if unavailable, have a school official verify their eligibility instead. This change directly affects military families who previously faced barriers in proving Chapter 35 eligibility for the scholarship. The bill modifies Maryland's Education Article sections 18-601(c)(1), (d)(2)(vii), and (f)(1) to implement these changes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2025

HB 468: Petitions for Emergency Evaluation (Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act)

HB 468 establishes a 5-day initial limit for emergency mental health evaluation petitions in Maryland, allowing courts to extend them in 5-day increments (up to a 30-day total) for "good cause." It requires courts to include expiration dates on petitions and clarifies when peace officers may use reasonable force to execute them. The bill directly affects individuals seeking emergency evaluations, courts issuing petitions, and law enforcement officers carrying out the process. Key changes standardize timeframes, mandate expiration dates, and specify extension procedures for mental health emergencies.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2025

HB 194: Consumer Protection - Retail Sales - Payment or Reimbursement of Shipping Costs

HB 194 requires merchants to refund consumers' full shipping costs within 30 days if a customer receives an incorrect item during a retail sale. This applies to any merchant selling consumer goods directly to a buyer for personal use, not for resale. Violating this rule would be treated as an unfair or deceptive trade practice under Maryland's existing consumer protection law, subject to enforcement and penalties. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2025

HB 385: Consumer Protection - Automatic Tip Prompt Screen - Requirements

HB 385 requires businesses in Maryland using digital point-of-sale systems that automatically prompt customers to leave a tip to: (1) clearly disclose who receives the tip (e.g., employees or the business), and (2) set the default tip amount to $0. This applies to restaurants, bars, and similar service businesses processing card payments. Violating these requirements would be considered an unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practice under Maryland law, subject to enforcement by the Division of Consumer Protection. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with the new requirements applying starting January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results