HB 270, the Military Family Inclusion Act, adds specific military family representation requirements to four Maryland state boards and commissions. It modifies the Maryland Commission on Caregiving to require one "family caregiver of a service-disabled veteran" as a member, and amends the Maryland Veterans Commission to add "an organization representing military families" as a designated appointee. The bill also updates the Maryland Trust Fund Board to include an appointed representative from a military family organization and adjusts the Youth Advisory Council to include a service member appointed by the Department of Veterans and Military Families. These changes directly affect how these bodies are composed, ensuring military family perspectives are formally included in their governance structures. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 21 modifies Maryland's Golden Age Pass program to provide free day-use entry at all state parks with service fees for residents aged 62+ who hold the pass. It also allows pass holders to launch boats at any state park without fees and extends free entry to all passengers in their vehicle when a per-vehicle fee applies. The bill changes overnight camping discounts to apply Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays), replacing the previous Sunday-Thursday schedule. The changes will take effect October 1, 2026, and directly affect eligible seniors visiting Maryland state parks.
SB 298 expands the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police (part of the Department of General Services) to cover state-owned or leased buildings and grounds within 2,000 feet of their boundaries - up from the previous 1,000-foot radius. The bill grants Capitol Police statewide authority to enforce criminal, parking, and motor vehicle laws on these properties and requires them to notify local law enforcement (e.g., county police chiefs, Baltimore City officials) when investigating outside their typical jurisdiction. It directly affects Capitol Police officers, who gain broader enforcement powers, and local agencies, which must be informed of Capitol Police operations in their areas. The changes amend Maryland’s State Finance and Procurement Code (Sections 4-601 and 4-605) to formalize this expanded scope.
HB 342 modifies Maryland's forestry licensing requirements by adding new educational accreditation standards. It requires applicants to graduate from a forestry program approved by the Board *and* accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) or an equivalent accrediting body. This directly affects individuals seeking forestry licenses in Maryland, as it replaces previous curriculum approval requirements. The bill maintains the existing 2-year forestry experience requirement but adds this dual accreditation condition for educational institutions. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.
HB 281 requires background checks for individuals working with children in specific settings. It mandates licensed child care centers, family child care homes, foster care facilities, schools, camps, and similar organizations to obtain national and state criminal history checks for all employees, volunteers, and certain caregivers - including neighbors or friends providing sudden care due to a primary caretaker's unavailability. Facilities must submit fingerprints and pay a fee to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository. The bill directly affects providers serving minors and expands background check requirements to include new categories like "sudden caregivers" and individuals residing in homes where informal child care occurs.
HB 272 permits certain food establishments, including agritourism businesses, Class 4 wineries, and Class 8 farm breweries, to use portable chemical toilets meeting specific standards (placed at least 25 feet from wells) to comply with sanitation requirements. It sets a maximum $100 fee for on-farm food service facility licenses, determined by the Maryland Department of Health based on anticipated costs of licensing and regulation. The bill requires the Department to develop new regulations for these facilities - covering water access, wastewater management, outdoor cooking, and toilet facilities - in consultation with the Departments of Environment and Agriculture. These changes clarify licensing rules and health standards for temporary farm-based food services operating on farms.
HB 363 authorizes Maryland counties to create a local child tax credit against county income tax for low-income families with children. It allows counties to provide a $500 credit per qualified child for taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income below $15,000, reduced by $50 for every $1,000 over that threshold. To qualify, both the taxpayer and child must be residents of the county (either domiciled there or maintaining a principal residence). Counties must formally adopt the credit by July 1 prior to implementation and notify the Comptroller, but the credit is optional for counties to implement.
SB 166 authorizes Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to suspend or revoke shellfish aquaculture harvest permits or registration cards for specific violations, directly affecting commercial shellfish harvesters. Key violations include harvesting in closed areas, exceeding time restrictions for oyster harvesting, or harvesting without proper authorization. For a first violation, permits may be suspended for up to 5 years; repeat violations result in permanent revocation. The bill also prohibits anyone with a suspended or revoked permit from working in any aquaculture activity during the penalty period. This legislation takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 96 updates terminology in Maryland's Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program by removing the word "active" before "service member" throughout the law. This change clarifies that the program serves all service members (including those not currently on active duty), veterans, and their families, without altering eligibility criteria or funding. The bill specifically revises definitions in Section 7.5-210(a)(2)(i), (b)(2), and (e)(1)(ii) to replace "active service member" with "service member." It does not create new benefits or change who qualifies for grants, only how the program describes its target population. The change aims to align the law with the program's actual scope and improve clarity.
SB 37 revises the rules allowing nonprofit training entities to disqualify participants from Maryland's Children's Service Animal Program and Veterans Service Animal Program. It clarifies the specific circumstances under which disqualification is permitted, such as when a participant poses a direct threat to others, the animal's well-being, or fails to meet training requirements. The bill does not change eligibility criteria for participants (children with specific health needs or veterans/family members) or alter program funding. It updates the legal language in existing statutes (Health-General §13-4104 and State Government §9-957(e)) to make disqualification standards clearer and more consistent. The changes will take effect October 1, 2026.
SB 266 authorizes Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local ordinances regulating the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), a nonnative tree that spreads aggressively and harms native ecosystems. The bill allows local governments to ban selling, planting, or allowing the tree to grow on property, require containment if it's present, and impose civil fines for violations. It also permits communities to create bounty programs incentivizing residents to remove the tree. This directly affects property owners who may have the tree and local governments seeking to manage its spread.
SB 280 updates Maryland law to replace "historical" with "historical" in park terminology and requires the Department of Natural Resources to coordinate with specific commissions (like the Commission on African American History and the Commission on Indian Affairs) when establishing parks preserving African American, Asian, Indigenous, or Hispanic/Latino history. It mandates the creation of "Freedman’s State Historical Park" in Montgomery County as a partnership park, managed with local stakeholders, and requires a stakeholder advisory committee reflecting community diversity. The bill also revises the state’s strategic park plan to include new parks for these communities, workforce programs with historically Black colleges, and details on volunteer management and transportation access. Additionally, it requires a 2023 report to the General Assembly on property suitable for the new park and associated funding needs.
