Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 508: Somerset County Board of Education - Alterations

SB 508 modifies Somerset County Board of Education rules by adding a nonvoting student member position elected by high school students, who serves a one-year term starting July 1. It increases annual compensation for adult board members from $3,000 to $6,000 (chair) and $2,700 to $5,000 (member), and provides a $5,000 scholarship for student members completing a full term. The bill also restricts student members from attending executive sessions unless invited by a majority vote of the board. These changes directly affect Somerset County's school board members, high school students (as voters for the student seat), and the county’s budget for board compensation.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 848: Public Safety – State Fire Prevention Code – Trash and Recyclable Materials

HB 848 requires Maryland's State Fire Prevention Commission to adopt regulations incorporating specific sections (30.7.5 and 31.7.5) of the 2024 National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code into the State Fire Prevention Code. This change explicitly permits trash and recyclable materials awaiting scheduled collection to be placed in building corridors and exits, provided they comply with the referenced NFPA standards. The bill directly affects fire safety regulations for public and private buildings statewide, as the Commission must implement these rules. It modifies existing code (Article 6, Section 6-206) to align with nationally recognized fire safety practices. The policy change focuses on clarifying acceptable storage locations for waste materials during collection cycles.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 621: Public Safety - State Fire Prevention Code - Trash and Recyclable Materials

SB 621 amends Maryland's State Fire Prevention Code to allow trash and recyclable materials awaiting scheduled collection to be placed in corridors and exits under specific regulations. It requires the State Fire Prevention Commission to adopt rules incorporating two specific sections (30.7.5 and 31.7.5) of the National Fire Protection Association's 2024 Life Safety Code. These changes directly affect buildings and businesses subject to the fire code, particularly regarding temporary storage of waste materials. The bill does not apply to existing installations unless deemed a public safety hazard by the Commission.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1094: Health Insurance - Graduate-Level Clinical Interns - Required Reimbursement

HB 1094 requires Maryland health insurers to reimburse individuals for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns in counseling, social work, and psychology under specific conditions. It applies to insureds covered by policies meeting Maryland’s jurisdictional requirements (e.g., issued in-state or covering Maryland residents). Reimbursement is mandated only when interns work under direct supervision of licensed professionals at outpatient facilities and services are billed by the supervising clinician. The bill amends existing insurance codes to ensure coverage for these supervised intern services, directly affecting insurers, interns, and patients seeking mental health care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1389: Public Health - Female Genital Mutilation

HB 1389 updates Maryland law to explicitly include female genital mutilation (FGM) under the legal definition of "abuse" for child protection purposes. This requires healthcare workers, educators, and others to report suspected FGM cases - just like other forms of child abuse - and increases penalties for violations. The bill also allows victims to file civil lawsuits and mandates the Maryland Department of Health to create educational materials about FGM. These changes directly affect mandated reporters, medical professionals, and individuals at risk of FGM.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1186: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Programs - Insurance and Liability

HB 1186 modifies insurance and liability rules for peer-to-peer car sharing programs (like Turo or Getaround) in Maryland. It changes coverage so that a program’s insurance is secondary for replacement vehicles (meaning a driver’s personal insurance covers first), removes restrictions preventing insurers from adjusting a shared vehicle owner’s personal policy solely due to vehicle sharing, and allows programs to charge drivers for tolls or fees they incur. The bill also clarifies that car sharing platforms are not considered "vehicle owners" for traffic violations captured by cameras. These changes directly affect car sharing platforms, drivers using these services, and vehicle owners who list their cars on such programs.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1428: Somerset County Board of Education - Alterations

HB 1428 modifies Somerset County Board of Education rules by adding a nonvoting student member position elected by high school students from each public high school. The bill increases annual compensation for board members (chairman from $3,000 to $6,000, regular members from $2,700 to $5,000) and clarifies that student members cannot attend executive sessions unless invited by a majority vote. It also updates procedures for filling vacancies and specifies that all final board actions must occur at public meetings, with limited exceptions for executive sessions under § 3-305. These changes directly affect Somerset County Board of Education members, student representatives, and the county's public school governance structure.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1138: State Retirement and Pension System – Cost–of–Living Adjustments – Clarification

HB 1138 clarifies how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated for cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Maryland state retirees. It specifically defines the "October 2025 Index Value" as the average of the CPI for September and November 2025, to be used in calculating COLAs effective July 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects retirees covered by the State Retirement and Pension System whose benefits are adjusted using the CPI. It amends existing law to ensure consistent application of the COLA formula for the 2025 CPI data, without changing benefit amounts or eligibility.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1221: Public Safety - Short-Term Rental Units - Safety (Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act)

HB 1221 requires short-term rental hosts (for stays under 30 days) to post evacuation diagrams and emergency contact numbers, provide working fire extinguishers, and install interconnected smoke alarms that meet specific sound and placement standards in their units. Booking services must notify hosts of these requirements and collect verification documentation. Counties and Baltimore City must enforce inspections through local regulations and report data to the State Fire Marshal, who will then submit an annual report to the General Assembly. The bill directly affects hosts, booking platforms, local governments, and fire safety oversight bodies. It amends Maryland law to establish these fire safety standards for short-term rentals.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 844: Annual Corrective Bill

SB 844 is an annual technical correction bill that updates Maryland's legal code by fixing errors, clarifying language, and removing obsolete references across multiple statutes. It revises specific sections in articles covering areas like Business, Education, Health, Housing, and Local Government by repealing and reenacting them with minor amendments. The bill does not create new policies or affect residents or businesses - it solely ensures the Annotated Code of Maryland remains accurate and up-to-date for legal reference. This is a routine maintenance process, not a substantive policy change.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 860: Department of Aging – Aging Resilience Fund – Establishment

SB 860 establishes the Aging Resilience Fund, a dedicated, nonlapsing fund administered by Maryland's Department of Aging. The fund is designed to support the department's mission by covering administrative costs like personnel, partnership development, and senior-focused programs. Interest earnings from the fund must be reinvested into the fund itself, and money can only be spent following state budget rules. This bill directly affects the Department of Aging's operations and senior services programs in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 804: Department of Aging - Aging Resilience Fund - Establishment

HB 804 establishes the Aging Resilience Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund under Maryland law. The fund, administered by the Secretary of Aging, will support the Department of Aging's mission through investment earnings, fees, and other designated sources. It can be used for administrative expenses like personnel, partnership development, and programs aligning with the Department's goals. The fund must be held separately by the State Treasurer, with interest earnings credited back to it, and expenditures require compliance with the state budget. This is a procedural bill creating a new funding mechanism rather than changing substantive policies.

Bill results