SB 409 amends Maryland law to expand the powers and naming options for county and municipal economic development authorities. It allows these authorities to issue certain bonds under new requirements and broadens how they can use tax increment funds (revenue from increased property values in redevelopment zones). The bill directly affects local economic development agencies, enabling them to finance projects like infrastructure or affordable housing with more flexible funding tools. Key changes include updating naming conventions, clarifying bond issuance rules, and expanding permitted uses of development funds without altering the core purpose of economic growth.
SB 629 authorizes Maryland's Appellate Court to hold sessions at various secondary and postsecondary educational institutions across the state, not just the University of Maryland and University of Baltimore law schools as previously allowed. This directly affects the Appellate Court (via its Chief Judge) and educational institutions that may host sessions. The key provision expands the court's ability to hold sessions at designated schools, requiring the Chief Judge to coordinate with school administrators for approval. The bill amends existing law and takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 860 prohibits the operation, promotion, or support of online sweepstakes games in Maryland that simulate casino games, lotteries, or sports betting where players can exchange points for cash or prizes. It directly affects game operators, payment processors, and affiliates who facilitate these games. The bill requires license applicants and holders to disclose if they accepted revenue from jurisdictions where interactive gaming is banned, and authorizes the State Lottery Commission to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for violations. Violators face fines up to $100,000 or up to 3 years in jail, with license consequences for non-compliance. The law aims to block revenue from illegal gaming markets by restricting licensing for entities connected to prohibited jurisdictions.
SB 706 requires the Maryland Department of Health to conduct prevalence studies measuring problem and pathological gambling rates for both in-person and mobile gambling, with the initial in-person study due by July 1, 2009 (likely a typo in the bill text), and the initial mobile study due by July 1, 2030. The bill modifies how gambling proceeds are distributed, directing 6.25% of the state's share (after operators retain 84%) to the Problem Gambling Fund for treatment and prevention programs, while 93.75% goes to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. It mandates annual reports to the General Assembly on fund expenditures and requires replication studies every five years to track trends. This bill directly affects gambling operators, the Problem Gambling Fund, and Maryland residents seeking gambling treatment services.
SB 107 allows fair housing testers working for approved organizations (like government agencies, local governments, or specific nonprofits with 2+ years of experience) to legally intercept oral communications during testing. It requires testers to be a party to the conversation and limits intercepted evidence to enforcement of federal, state, or local fair housing laws. The bill modifies Maryland’s evidence code to create this exception, ensuring intercepted conversations can only be used for fair housing investigations - not in other legal cases. It directly affects fair housing testing programs and their personnel conducting discrimination tests. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 237 establishes new rules for how Maryland political party central committees (county or state level) fill vacancies in the General Assembly when a Senator or Delegate position becomes empty. It requires committees to: publicly advertise the vacancy for at least 7 days with specific details (time, place, process), hold open public meetings for candidate interviews 3 days after notice, post all applications online until 30 days after voting, and prohibit committee members who applied from participating in the selection process. These changes apply directly to party committees handling vacancies, ensuring greater transparency and public access during the selection process. The bill does not change who can run for the position or the constitutional basis for filling vacancies.
HB 592 prohibits individuals under a court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment program from possessing regulated firearms, rifles, or shotguns. It directly affects people subject to such court orders under Maryland's Health-General Article. The bill requires courts to report these cases through a secure data portal to the FBI's NICS background check system. This adds a new category to existing firearm prohibitions, aligning court-ordered treatment with background check requirements.
HB 596 requires Maryland county superintendents to allow advance enrollment for dependent children of active-duty service members relocating due to military orders, using a remote registration process without fees or in-person requirements. It mandates school systems to coordinate with parents and the sending state to prevent delays in enrolling children with disabilities who receive special education services. The bill also requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to publish clear information about enrollment procedures and available support services. This applies to all public schools and specifically benefits military-connected families facing frequent relocations.
HB 1181 establishes a 17-member task force to study the feasibility of creating a Maryland state park dedicated to veterans' care in Washington County. The task force, including veterans' agency representatives, county officials, and a landowner, will analyze costs, recommend park services (like recreation and therapy), and propose funding models for both startup and ongoing operations. It must report findings to the Governor and relevant committees by December 1, 2026, and the bill expires June 30, 2027, without creating the park itself. This bill directly affects veterans seeking therapeutic services and Washington County residents involved in the proposed park location. The task force’s work is strictly advisory, with no immediate policy changes or funding allocated.
HB 694 requires Maryland county school boards to annually report (starting September 1, 2025) the number of public school main entrances not accessible for people with disabilities and not meeting federal ADA standards, publishing this data on their websites. It also mandates that local school systems send their updated emergency plans to the state Department of Education by September 1 each year (starting 2025), with the department analyzing these plans and reporting compliance status to the legislature by December 1 annually. The bill further ensures that students with disabilities have emergency evacuation plans included in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans. These provisions directly affect all Maryland public school systems and county boards of education.
HB 684 modifies Maryland's State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund to focus exclusively on Deep Creek Lake and extends its expiration date from 2025 to 2027. The bill requires an annual $1 million appropriation for the fund starting in fiscal year 2027, to be used for specific restoration activities including sediment removal, invasive species prevention, and ecological improvements. The fund is structured as a nonlapsing special fund, meaning it can accumulate money without annual renewal, and must be administered by the Secretary of Natural Resources. This change ensures continued, dedicated funding for Deep Creek Lake's protection beyond the original 2025 deadline.
SB 576, the Maryland Worker Freedom Act, prohibits employers from firing, disciplining, or refusing to hire employees or applicants who decline to attend or participate in mandatory employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political topics (like election views or religious practices). The law specifically protects workers who refuse to engage in such meetings where the employer shares its own opinions on these matters. Religious employers and voluntary meetings about these topics are exempt from the law. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025, and directly affects most Maryland workers and job applicants in covered workplaces.
