Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 597: Montgomery County - Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Program - Alterations MC 17-26

HB 597 extends Montgomery County's Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Pilot Program from a 7-year to a 9-year duration. It changes the program's end date to 9 years after its start (instead of 7) and updates key reporting deadlines: progress reports must now be submitted by April 1, 2035, and the final study report by December 31, 2035. The bill directly affects Montgomery County residents participating in the CCA program and the Public Service Commission, which must submit these reports. This is a technical adjustment to existing law, modifying timelines without changing program rules or eligibility.

Topics ✓ Energy

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 613: Department of the Environment - Waivers for Living Shorelines and Nonstructural Shoreline Stabilization Measures - Regulations and Scoring System

HB 613 requires property owners in Calvert and St. Mary's Counties to use natural erosion control methods (like marsh creation, native plants, and oyster reefs) instead of hard structures (such as seawalls) for shoreline stabilization. It exempts these counties from general state requirements for nonstructural measures and creates a new waiver process where owners must demonstrate to the Department of Natural Resources that natural methods are not feasible due to factors like extreme erosion or narrow shorelines. The bill defines "living shorelines" as projects using natural materials and ecological principles to absorb wave energy and restore habitats, while still allowing structural measures in specific high-energy areas. This directly affects property owners along navigable waters in those two counties, changing how they must address shoreline erosion.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 600: St. Mary's County - Metropolitan Commission

HB 600 amends St. Mary's County's Metropolitan Commission laws. It increases the required bond amount for the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurers from $25,000 to $250,000. The bill changes the Commission's obligation to conduct certain studies from mandatory to optional and raises criminal penalties for violations from $100 to $1,000 per offense. These changes directly affect county financial officers, the Metropolitan Commission, and anyone violating the Commission's regulations.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 595: Income Tax - Credit for Physician Preceptors in Areas With Health Care Workforce Shortages - Alterations

HB 595 modifies Maryland's income tax credit for physicians mentoring medical students in underserved areas. It removes a requirement that students must be enrolled in a Maryland medical school or training program and reduces the required hours per preceptor rotation from 100 to 90 for community-based clinical training. Licensed physicians serving as preceptors in designated healthcare shortage areas may claim a $1,000 tax credit per qualifying student rotation, capped at $10,000 annually per physician and $100,000 statewide. The bill aims to expand access to physician mentorship by broadening eligibility for the credit, directly benefiting doctors and medical training programs in regions facing healthcare workforce shortages.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 83: Health Occupations - Grounds for Discipline - Federal and Court Actions

SB 83 expands disciplinary grounds for Maryland's health occupations boards by adding two new criteria: being disciplined by any branch of the uniformed services or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and being convicted or disciplined by a court in any state or country (specifically for naturopathic doctors). The bill amends multiple sections across Maryland's health licensing laws, including those governing dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, and physical therapists. It directly affects licensed health professionals whose disciplinary actions occur outside Maryland, including federal military or court rulings. The policy change requires Maryland boards to consider these external disciplinary actions when evaluating license eligibility or discipline. This update aligns disciplinary standards with broader professional conduct oversight.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 395: Water Pollution Control - Discharge Permits - Animal Feeding Operations

HB 395 repeals a requirement that new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) must obtain a general discharge permit from Maryland's Department of the Environment before beginning construction. This directly affects developers and operators planning new CAFO facilities by removing a pre-construction permitting step. The bill modifies Maryland's Environment Article by deleting Section 9-323(a)(2), which previously mandated this permit for new CAFO construction. The change only applies to the construction phase, not to operating permits or existing CAFOs.

Topics ✗ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 261: State Procurement - Competitive Proof of Concept Procurement

HB 261 establishes "competitive proof of concept procurement" as a new method for Maryland state agencies to test innovative products, services, or technologies before full implementation. It requires agencies to obtain prior approval from the Chief Procurement Officer (or IT Secretary for technology projects) and mandates that all solicitations be posted on eMaryland Marketplace Advantage. The bill also sets mandatory participation goals for minority business enterprises and veteran-owned small businesses in these procurements, while allowing exemptions for small business reserves under specific circumstances. This change directly affects all state agencies conducting technology or service pilots, streamlining the process for evaluating new solutions through structured, competitive testing phases.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 399: State Retirement and Pension System - Transfers Between Systems - Workgroup - Extension

HB 399 extends the deadline for a workgroup studying retirement system transfers and prolongs the workgroup's operation. It delays the reporting date for the State Retirement Agency's findings from December 1, 2025, to October 1, 2026, and extends the workgroup's active period until June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects the State Retirement Agency, stakeholders studying transfers between state/local retirement systems, and specified legislative committees (Senate Budget, House Appropriations, and Joint Committee on Pensions) that receive the final report. This is a procedural adjustment to existing law, not a new policy.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 338: State Retirement and Pension System - Transfers Between Systems - Workgroup - Extension

SB 338 extends the timeline for a workgroup studying retirement system transfers. It pushes the report deadline from December 1, 2025, to October 1, 2026, and extends the workgroup's operational period to 2 years and 1 month (ending June 30, 2027). The workgroup, convened by the State Retirement Agency, examines processes for transferring member service between state and local retirement systems. Its findings will be submitted to specific legislative committees as required by law.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 338: Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

HB 338 expands the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police (a unit within the Department of General Services) to cover all state-owned or leased buildings and the surrounding area up to 2,000 feet (previously 1,000 feet). It grants the Capitol Police statewide authority to enforce criminal laws and traffic regulations, with a requirement to notify specific local law enforcement agencies after enforcement actions. This change directly affects the Capitol Police by broadening their operational scope and impacts local police departments that must receive notifications. The bill does not alter the Capitol Police's structure or staffing but clarifies their jurisdictional boundaries under state law.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 557: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process

HB 557 creates a pre-approval review process for individuals with non-violent criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (e.g., cosmetology, contracting, healthcare roles) in Maryland. It requires state departments (excluding Public Safety and Correctional Services) to provide a binding determination on whether an applicant’s criminal history would block their license *before* they formally apply, based on specific criteria like the nature of the offense, time since conviction, and rehabilitation evidence. The bill prohibits denial solely for past non-violent convictions unless a direct relationship to the job or safety risk exists, and establishes a $100 fee (waivable for low-income applicants) for the review. It applies to most occupational licenses but excludes sex offense convictions and automatically allows licenses after 7 years without new offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 42: Health Occupations - State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners - Revisions

HB 42 revises Maryland's licensing requirements for massage therapists, transitioning from a "registered" status to mandatory licensure. It requires new applicants (starting October 1, 2024) to complete 750 contact hours of approved education (up from 600 hours for current registrants), meet updated accreditation standards, and pass a board-approved exam. Existing registered massage therapists may continue practicing until October 31, 2026, after which they must obtain a license. The bill also removes outdated administrative penalty hearing requirements and updates rules for out-of-state practitioners seeking reciprocity.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results