SB 527 establishes Maryland's Ibogaine Clinical Research Grant Program to fund clinical trials on ibogaine for treating opioid use disorder and other neurological conditions. The program provides up to three annual grants to eligible Maryland-based research institutions with neuroscience expertise, requiring matching funds equal to the grant amount. Funding comes from the Opioid Restitution Fund ($500,000 annually for fiscal years 2028-2030), administered by the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Families. Institutions must conduct FDA-reviewed trials, submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and report annually to the General Assembly on grant usage and trial outcomes. The bill directly affects research institutions, veterans (via the veterans mental health focus), and the Opioid Restitution Fund.
SB 561 updates Maryland's Medical Assistance Program to require reimbursement for community violence prevention services provided in-person, regardless of where the services occur. It explicitly allows telehealth delivery (including audio-only calls) without denying coverage, and prohibits requiring service providers to maintain hospital affiliations. The bill defines "community violence" as non-family interpersonal violence in public spaces and specifies that services must be evidence-based, trauma-informed, and non-psychotherapeutic. It directly affects certified violence prevention professionals, service providers, and program recipients exposed to or injured by community violence. The policy change ensures consistent coverage for these services whether delivered in-person or via telehealth.
HB 853 creates a State Board of Common Ownership Community Managers within Maryland’s Department of Labor to license and regulate professionals managing residential communities. It directly affects condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations (excluding timeshares) by requiring community managers to hold licenses, mandating community registration under certain conditions, and requiring contracts to include fidelity bonds or theft insurance. Key provisions include setting licensing standards, specifying required contract terms for management services, and establishing a dedicated fund to cover board operations. The bill aims to standardize oversight for community management services across Maryland’s residential communities.
HB 1007, the "Commercial Financing - Small Business Truth in Lending Act," requires lenders to provide clear, standardized disclosures about costs, annual percentage rates (APRs), and repayment terms for commercial financing used by small businesses. It directly affects small business owners (recipients) and lenders (providers) offering financing for business operations, equipment, or services - not personal use - excluding large transactions ($2.5M+), banks, and certain other entities. Key provisions mandate transparent calculations of finance charges, fixed repayment structures, and clear terms for sales-based financing (where payments adjust with revenue). The bill creates new definitions and requirements under Maryland’s Financial Institutions law to ensure small businesses understand the true cost of commercial loans.
HB 778 requires Maryland counties to evaluate vacant or underused commercial and industrial land for potential housing development and update their comprehensive plans to include policies promoting "middle housing" (such as duplexes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings). This applies to counties with comprehensive plans enacted or amended after January 1, 2027, and prohibits local governments from imposing unreasonable restrictions on middle housing projects. The bill mandates that housing elements of these plans assess opportunities for middle housing on suitable commercial or industrial sites. It aims to increase housing options by changing land-use rules without requiring specific housing types or income levels.
HB 1009 (Land Transfer Accountability Act) requires a certificate of compliance from Maryland’s Attorney General and Department of Assessments and Taxation before recording any property transfer from the U.S. government to private individuals or entities. This applies specifically to sales of federally owned land, mandating a review to ensure compliance with state and federal laws before the transfer is officially recorded. The bill also establishes a new state transfer tax rate for these property transactions. It directly affects buyers purchasing property previously owned by the U.S. government, adding a certification step and tax requirement to the process. The law amends existing property and tax codes to implement these changes.
HB 977 requires non-V.A. accredited claim servicers who charge fees for veterans benefits assistance to provide written fee agreements with specific disclosures. It mandates that these agreements include a notice stating free veterans benefits services are available through V.A. accredited organizations and that veterans must acknowledge this notice in writing. The bill also requires all advertisements for veterans benefits appeals services to include the same notice about free V.A. accredited options. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, enforced by the Attorney General. This bill directly affects veterans seeking benefits and non-accredited claim servicers charging fees, aiming to increase transparency about available free assistance.
Maryland's HB 214 requires state-funded colleges to create an "academic forgiveness" policy by August 1, 2026. The policy allows reapplying students who earned failing grades at a prior institution 10+ years ago to have those grades disregarded during admissions. Students must voluntarily choose to participate in the policy to exclude past poor grades from their academic record. This applies only to applicants with a history of unsatisfactory grades at a previous college, not to current students.
HB 230 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and use a standardized scoring system to evaluate and rank major surface transportation projects for funding. It directly affects local governments, transit agencies, and other entities submitting project requests by mandating they be scored based on criteria like alignment with state transportation goals and project impact. Key provisions include publishing project scores, listing recommended projects for the Consolidated Transportation Program, and altering the Maryland Transportation Commission's structure and responsibilities. The bill changes how projects are prioritized for inclusion in state transportation funding decisions, replacing previous methods with this scoring approach.
HB 76 allows Maryland school systems to reallocate unspent school safety grant funds to other schools within the same system that still have unmet safety needs during the same fiscal year. It modifies existing grant rules to let districts that fully used their initial allocation (based on school count) redirect funds to schools requiring additional safety resources, such as resource officers or law enforcement coverage. The bill does not create new funding but adjusts how the existing $10 million annual grant pool is distributed. It directly affects local school systems and law enforcement agencies receiving these safety grants. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 69 updates Maryland's overtime pay exemption rules for administrative, executive, and professional workers by setting new minimum weekly salary thresholds. It requires these employees to earn at least $769.23 per week (starting July 2027), with incremental increases through 2031, to qualify for overtime exemption. The bill maintains existing federal standards for job duties (like management responsibilities or specialized work) but adjusts the salary minimums to align with state-specific requirements. This directly affects salaried professionals, managers, and executives who earn below these thresholds and would now be eligible for overtime pay.
SB 73 requires Maryland polling places and early voting centers to implement specific accommodations for elderly voters (65+) and voters with disabilities, as defined by federal law. Key provisions include dedicated expedited voting lines, clear signage for these services, priority seating in waiting areas, and special protocols for high-traffic locations. Local election boards must implement these guidelines, collect real-time feedback from affected voters during voting, and make immediate adjustments to the process. The State Board of Elections must monitor compliance and submit annual reports to the legislature detailing effectiveness, challenges, and recommendations. This bill directly affects voters with mobility or age-related needs at in-person voting locations statewide.
