HB 350 is Maryland's FY2026 state budget bill, appropriating $205.86 million total (mostly General Fund) to fund state operations. It directly affects state agencies by allocating $176.6 million for "Disparity Grants" to local jurisdictions and $27.7 million for "Teacher Retirement Supplemental Grants," with the latter contingent on future legislation. The bill also funds key state functions including the judiciary ($722 million General Fund), legislative services ($165.3 million), and court operations, as required by Maryland Constitution Article III, Section 52.
HB 424 creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board with authority to set upper payment limits for prescription drugs causing affordability challenges in Maryland. The Board must consider costs like administration and delivery when setting limits, and it must reconsider limits if a drug becomes a "current shortage" (listed on the FDA shortage database or determined by the Board). This directly affects drug manufacturers (who set wholesale costs), pharmacies (receiving reimbursements), and healthcare providers, particularly those in the 340B program. The bill prohibits setting new limits for drugs in shortage and bans enforcement of limits against Medicare Part C/D plan reimbursements.
HB 176 creates a new Public Employees’ Safety and Health Unit within Maryland’s Labor Division, led by an Assistant Commissioner for Public Employees’ Safety and Health. It requires new regulations to prevent workplace violence for public employees (including state/local government workers, school staff, and field workers), repeals the ban on applying safety penalties to public bodies, and directs penalty revenues to fund apprenticeship programs. The bill amends Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health Act to specifically cover public employers, defines "fieldwork locations" (like travel routes for public employees), and updates enforcement procedures. This directly affects all public employees working for state agencies, local governments, schools, and public corporations under Maryland’s safety laws.
HB 1104 creates a new "Population Health Improvement Fund" to support Maryland’s participation in the federal AHEAD Model, which aims to reduce health disparities through all-payer approaches. The fund, financed by a hospital assessment and interest earnings, will invest in statewide health equity initiatives aligned with AHEAD’s goals. The bill also clarifies that electronic health data (like claims information) can be used to support Maryland’s AHEAD Model participation, while prohibiting restrictions on using this data for public health purposes under the model. Hospitals will contribute to the fund through a uniform assessment, and the Department of Health and Health Services Cost Review Commission will jointly manage it. The fund is designed to be permanent (nonlapsing) and specifically targets statewide population health improvement efforts.
HB 953 strengthens Maryland's Homeowner Protection Program to prevent tax sales from displacing vulnerable residents. It requires tax collectors to display clear program information and application links on their websites, prohibits interest charges on unpaid taxes for enrolled homeowners, and mandates the State Tax Sale Ombudsman to actively boost program enrollment. The bill also establishes new funding mechanisms: the Governor must include annual appropriations for the Homeowner Protection Fund in the state budget, and county governments collectively must contribute a fixed amount each fiscal year. These changes aim to increase access to the program and ensure timely distribution of excess funds from tax sales. The bill alters reporting requirements for counties and updates state-level oversight of tax sale processes.
HB 1292 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to maintain an updated online "provider directory" (replacing the previous "network directory" term to align with federal law). The bill mandates that carriers make this directory available online with a clear search function and include specific details for each provider, such as specialty, office locations, contact information, and whether they accept new patients. Carriers must verify and update the directory regularly, ensuring it accurately reflects participating providers and facilities. This directly affects health insurance companies and their members (enrollees) by improving access to current provider information.
HB 826 ends the existing Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs and replaces it with a new Governor's Subcabinet focused on socioeconomic procurement participation. The bill directly affects the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs and state agencies that previously participated in the committee. It removes the committee's structure (which included department secretaries and education officials) and establishes the Subcabinet as the new advisory body. This is a procedural change to reorganize state government oversight of business equity programs, without altering eligibility definitions or funding mechanisms.
HB 228 expands the Maryland Veterans Trust to provide monetary assistance - including grants and loans - to members of the Maryland National Guard and their families, who were previously excluded from the program. The bill amends existing law (Sections 9-913(b)(ii) and 9-914.2(a)(3) of the Maryland Annotated Code) to explicitly include National Guard members under the Trust’s purpose. This allows the Trust to use existing funds from the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund to support these members and their families through direct financial aid. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2025, without creating new funding sources. It directly affects current and future Maryland National Guard members seeking financial assistance for themselves or their families.
HB 376 revises the membership and leadership structure of Maryland's Cybersecurity Council. It replaces the previous rule naming the Attorney General as chair with a requirement that the Council elect its own chair every two years starting October 2025. The bill adds specific membership categories, including five cybersecurity company representatives (with at least three from small businesses), business association leaders, higher education representatives, crime victims organization members, and health care records experts. These changes directly affect who serves on the Council and how its leadership is selected.
HB 1253 establishes Maryland's new Department of Social Equity as a principal state department, headed by a Governor-appointed Secretary. The bill requires all other state agencies to refer individuals interacting with their social equity programs to this department (Section 9-4104) and mandates the Department to coordinate statewide efforts, monitor equity programs, and provide technical assistance (Section 9-4103). It also requires the Department to submit annual reports to the Governor and legislature by December 1 each year, detailing its work and recommending policy changes (Section 9-4105). This bill directly affects state agencies managing social equity programs and individuals seeking eligibility for such programs.
SB 246 expands the Maryland Veterans Trust to provide monetary assistance - including loans and grants - to members of the Maryland National Guard and their families, who were previously not explicitly covered. The bill amends existing law (Sections 9-913 and 9-914.2 of the Maryland Annotated Code) to add Guard members and families as direct beneficiaries of the Trust’s funds. It authorizes the Trust to use money from the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund for this purpose, alongside existing support for veterans and related programs. The changes take effect on October 1, 2025.
HB 614 clarifies how Maryland counties calculate a local earned income tax credit for low-to-moderate-income residents. It reduces the multiplier used to determine the credit amount from 10 times a county's lowest marginal income tax rate to 5 times. Counties that choose to offer a refundable local earned income tax credit must notify the Comptroller by July 1 prior to implementation, and residents can claim refunds if the credit exceeds their county income tax. The bill affects residents in counties adopting this refundable credit, with changes effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
