Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1155: Calvert County - Procurement - Long-Term Contracts for Infrastructure and Asset Management

This bill allows Calvert County to enter into long-term contracts (up to 20 years) for infrastructure and asset management programs, specifically for assets with a 15+ year lifecycle like water towers, sewer systems, and flow meters. It modifies existing procurement rules to permit these extended contracts without requiring annual renewal, provided funds are available upfront or commissioners approve multi-year funding. The bill directly affects Calvert County's procurement process for major infrastructure projects, including planning, construction, and maintenance of water and sewer assets. It does not change standard procurement for regular supplies or services, focusing solely on large-scale infrastructure management.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 784: Financial Institutions - Consumer Credit - Application of Licensing Requirements

SB 784 repeals an exemption that previously allowed entities acquiring mortgages, mortgage loans, or installment loans to avoid state licensing requirements, provided they didn’t actively make such loans themselves. The bill directly affects financial institutions and businesses that purchase or take over these loans from others but do not normally originate them. This change ensures all entities handling these consumer credit products must now comply with standard state licensing rules for financial services providers, effective July 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 624: Public Safety - Short-Term Rental Units - Safety (Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act)

SB 624 requires short-term rental hosts (e.g., Airbnb hosts) offering units for less than 30 consecutive days to post evacuation diagrams, emergency contact numbers, provide working fire extinguishers, and install interconnected smoke alarms that meet specific sound and placement standards. Hosts must replace smoke alarms if they malfunction, exceed 10 years of age, or lack a production date. Booking platforms (like Airbnb) must notify hosts about these requirements and collect documentation confirming compliance. Local jurisdictions must enforce inspections and report data to the State Fire Marshal, aiming to improve fire safety for guests in temporary rentals.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 610: Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program - Alterations

SB 610 modifies Maryland's commercial license for catching blue and flathead catfish in tidal waters. It specifically allows license holders to use a gill net with a mesh size of 7 inches or smaller for catching blue catfish, in addition to the existing finfish trotline option. This change directly affects commercial fishermen who sell blue catfish caught in Maryland's tidal waters. The bill updates the license requirements without changing the $15 annual fee, 1-year term, or restrictions on transferring the license.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 947: Natural Resources - Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program - Alterations

HB 947 modifies Maryland's commercial blue and flathead catfish fishing license to allow holders to use gill nets with a mesh size of no more than 7 inches, in addition to the existing finfish trotline method. This change directly affects commercial fishermen who currently hold this specific license and wish to use the new gear. The bill updates the license regulations under Maryland's Natural Resources code without altering the $15 annual fee, one-year term (September 1-August 31), or other core requirements. It does not change eligibility, transferability, or possession rules for the license. The policy change specifically expands permitted fishing methods for blue catfish in tidal waters.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 747: Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities – Membership

HB 747 changes the membership structure of Maryland's Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. The bill reduces the number of House-appointed members from two to one and removes specific agency representatives, while adding three industry representatives from the assisted living sector (categorized by facility size: 1-4, 5-9, and 10+ residents). This committee directly affects nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and their residents by shaping oversight of care quality standards. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and modifies existing law without altering the committee's core purpose.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 724: State Retirement and Pension System - Cost-of-Living Adjustments - Clarification

SB 724 clarifies how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated for determining cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Maryland state retirees. It specifies that the CPI value for October 2025 will be the average of the CPI for September and November 2025, used to set COLAs effective July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027. This directly affects current and future retirees in the State Retirement and Pension System by standardizing the CPI calculation method for these specific years. The bill amends existing law to clarify the CPI definition and calculation process without changing the overall COLA structure.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1623: Special Taxing Districts - Village of Drummond - Authority and Organization MC 20-26

This bill reorganizes the governing structure for Drummond's special taxing district in Montgomery County. It establishes the Village Council as the official governing body, defines Drummond's boundaries (including specific subdivisions), and updates how annual tax funds are collected and spent. Property owners in Drummond will pay a $0.14 tax per $100 of real property value and $0.35 per $100 of personal property annually, with funds required to cover street maintenance, police/fire protection, sanitation, and other local services. The bill amends Montgomery County's existing Public Local Laws (Sections 65-1 through 65-13) to formalize these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 269: Maryland Public Ethics Law - Financial Disclosure Statements - State Officials of and Candidates to be a State Official of the Judicial Branch

HB 269 updates Maryland's ethics law to clarify financial disclosure requirements for judicial branch officials and candidates. It shifts administration from the State Ethics Commission to the Administrative Office of the Courts (or another Supreme Court-designated body), requiring them to maintain and publicly post financial disclosure records for judicial officials and candidates. The bill repeals the existing requirement for the Supreme Court to send these disclosures to the State Ethics Commission. This change streamlines the process while ensuring public access to judicial branch financial disclosures during normal office hours, as previously required for other state officials.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 56: Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center - External Data Sharing With Third-Party Data Centers for Multistate Reporting - Authorization

SB 56 authorizes Maryland's Longitudinal Data System Center to share student and workforce data with third-party data centers for multistate research and reporting, replacing its previous ability to share data with the U.S. Census Bureau. The bill requires third-party centers to meet strict security and privacy standards - including using de-identified data, avoiding individual identification, and signing written agreements - before sharing any data. This directly affects the Center (which must now follow these new rules), third-party data centers (which must comply with the requirements), and the privacy of Maryland students and workers whose data is shared.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 24: State Emergency Medical Services Board - Public Access Automated External Defibrillator Program - Revisions

SB 24 revises Maryland's Public Access Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program to improve oversight and accessibility. It requires most organizations using public AEDs to appoint an AED coordinator responsible for maintenance, reporting, and emergency notification, while exempting law enforcement agencies from needing certificates for AEDs in patrol vehicles. The bill also repeals outdated requirements for regional AED committees and clarifies that grocery stores and restaurants are not subject to certain AED registration rules. These changes aim to streamline compliance for entities managing public AEDs, including schools, businesses, and public facilities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 100: Election Law - Early Voting Centers - Bus Stops

SB 100 requires county and municipal bus routes to allow passengers to board or exit at the entrance of early voting centers located within half a mile of the route, during the center’s operating hours (7 a.m.-8 p.m., starting the second Thursday before an election). This applies to fixed local bus services funded by counties or municipalities, excluding limited-stop routes, Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) buses, and Washington Metro routes. The bill aims to improve voter access by integrating voting center locations with public transit schedules. It does not change voting hours or eligibility but mandates transit operators to accommodate stops where practical. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Bill results