Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 207: Higher Education - Guaranteed Access Grant Program - Applicability

SB 207 delays the shift from a centralized to a decentralized administration of Maryland's Guaranteed Access Grant Program until the 2029-2030 financial aid year. The bill maintains the current system where the State Treasurer's Office ranks applicants by financial need, provides these lists to public colleges, and reimburses institutions for grants awarded. It directly affects Maryland public colleges and students seeking need-based financial aid. The bill preserves existing processes for awarding and renewing grants without changing eligibility or funding levels. This is a procedural delay, not a substantive policy change to the grant program.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 32: State Athletic Commission - Blood Testing of Contestants - Timing

SB 32 extends Maryland's blood testing requirements for combat sports athletes from 30 to 90 days before licensing and before competing. It directly affects boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers, and mixed martial arts fighters (both professional and amateur) who must provide proof of negative tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The bill revises Section 4-304.1 of Maryland law to require these tests within the 90-day window prior to both obtaining a license and participating in a contest. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 236: State Athletic Commission - Blood Testing of Contestants - Timing

HB 236 extends the required blood testing window for combat sports athletes in Maryland from 30 days to 90 days. It affects boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers, and mixed martial arts competitors seeking licenses or participating in contests. The bill mandates that applicants and licensed contestants must provide documented evidence of negative tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C within 90 days prior to license application or competition. This change modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 4-101 and 4-304.1 of the Business Regulation Article) to align testing timing with the State Athletic Commission's requirements. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 145: Motor Vehicles and Marine Vessels - Transfer-on-Death Designations

SB 145 allows sole owners or co-owners (as joint tenants with right of survivorship) of motor vehicles and marine vessels in Maryland to designate a beneficiary to automatically inherit the vehicle upon their death, bypassing probate. The designation, marked "TOD" or "Transfer-on-Death" on the title, takes effect only after the owner's death and requires beneficiaries to apply for a new title using the original title, death certificates, and proof of identity. If the beneficiary predeceases the owner, the vehicle becomes part of the owner’s estate. This applies to both cars and boats, updating existing law to permit co-owner designations for marine vessels and aligning motor vehicle rules with the new provisions.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 232: Maryland Military Department – National Guard – Tuition Assistance

HB 232 expands tuition and training assistance for Maryland National Guard members. It allows full coverage of in-state tuition and new "training assistance" costs (including uniforms, certifications, tools, and digital resources) at more institutions, including recognized vocational, trade, and career schools. Active Guard members attending eligible programs must agree to serve an additional 2 years (for undergraduate/vocational courses) or 4 years (for graduate/professional courses) after completing their studies. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to members certified by the Adjutant General.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 133: Business Occupations and Professions - State Boards and Commissions - Sunset Extensions

SB 133 extends the expiration dates for five Maryland state boards and commissions that regulate professional occupations, including barbers, cosmetologists, land surveyors, real estate appraisers, and tax preparers. The bill delays their automatic termination from 2026-2027 to July 1, 2032, ensuring these boards can continue operating. It also requires the Maryland Department of Labor to submit a detailed report on each board’s activities to the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee by July 1, 2030. This affects professionals regulated by these boards and ensures ongoing oversight of their licensing and standards.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 229: Maryland Transportation Authority - Revenue Bond Limit - Increase

HB 229 proposes to increase the Maryland Transportation Authority's (MDTA) annual limit for outstanding toll-revenue bonds from $4 billion to $5 billion, effective June 30 each year. This change directly affects the MDTA, allowing it to issue more bonds to fund transportation projects financed through toll revenue. The bill also specifies that the $5 billion cap would be reduced by any federal loans or drawn lines of credit under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. The increase aims to provide greater flexibility for the MDTA to finance transportation infrastructure without requiring annual legislative approval for the bond limit. The bill is currently pending in committee after a favorable report.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 241: Business Occupations and Professions - State Boards and Commissions - Sunset Extensions

HB 241 extends the expiration dates for five state licensing boards (Barbers, Cosmetologists, Land Surveyors, Real Estate Appraisers/Appraisal Companies/Home Inspectors, and Tax Preparers) from 2026/2027 to July 1, 2032, preventing their automatic termination under Maryland's sunset law. This directly affects licensed professionals in these fields who rely on these boards for regulatory oversight. The bill also requires the Maryland Department of Labor to submit a joint evaluation report on each board's effectiveness to the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee by July 1, 2030. The extension takes effect June 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 226: Department of Disabilities - Housing Programs and Affiliated Foundations - Establishment

HB 226 requires Maryland's Department of Disabilities to establish affordable and accessible housing programs for people with disabilities. It also allows the department to create affiliated foundations that can raise funds from businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to support housing initiatives, assistive technology, employment accommodations, and community living programs. These foundations operate separately from the state government and cannot be considered state agencies or incur state debt. The bill directly affects individuals with disabilities by expanding access to housing and related support services through these new programs and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 343: Housing Development Projects - Housing Counseling Services

HB 343 requires housing development projects receiving state funding to offer HUD-certified housing counseling services to prospective residents. It mandates that these services must be provided by counselors employed by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill also requires the Governor to appropriate $200,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2028 for community development organizations to partner with approved housing counseling agencies. This directly affects developers receiving state housing funds and prospective residents of subsidized housing projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 452: State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners - Grounds for Disciplinary Action - Restrictions

HB 452 prevents Maryland's State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from suspending, revoking, reprimanding, or placing on probation a licensed veterinarian solely for discussing or recommending cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) products for animals' therapeutic or health purposes. The bill amends disciplinary rules (Section 2-310 of the Agriculture Article) to explicitly prohibit such actions based on these recommendations, directly affecting all licensed veterinarians in Maryland who may discuss these treatments with clients. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter cannabis laws or veterinary medical practice standards beyond this specific disciplinary restriction.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 260: Maryland Health Care Commission - Membership

SB 260 changes the composition of Maryland's Health Care Commission by reducing the number of non-healthcare-connected members from 9 to 8 and adding a dedicated hospital representative position. The bill requires at least four members to reside in high-population counties (down from five) and specifies regional representation for the Eastern Shore, western counties, and Southern Maryland. It also clarifies that two members must be physicians, two payors (insurance companies), one hospital representative, one nursing home administrator, and one non-physician health care practitioner. The changes take effect October 1, 2026, and directly affect how the Commission is staffed and its geographic representation.

Bill results