HB 1503 creates a paid family and medical leave program for Executive Branch state employees in Maryland. It requires the Secretary of Budget and Management to adopt regulations governing this leave, replacing older parental leave rules. The bill defines "family member" broadly (including domestic partners, extended family, and individuals who acted as parents when the employee was a minor) and establishes parameters like the "application year" (12 months starting Sunday after approval). It directly affects all Executive Branch state employees who qualify for leave due to a serious health condition, childbirth, adoption, or caring for a covered family member. The law repeals previous provisions (Section 9-1108) and sets new standards for paid leave eligibility and administration.
SB 296 allows Maryland's Public Access Ombudsman to delegate specific duties to staff within their office, clarifying that the Ombudsman may assign powers under the Public Information Act to qualified staff members. This amendment to the Public Information Act (specifically Section 4-1B-03) directly affects the Ombudsman's office and its staff by streamlining operations without requiring new legislative approval for each delegation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not change the Ombudsman's core responsibilities or public access procedures. It is a procedural update focused solely on internal office management.
SB 1036 amends Maryland law to regulate alcohol delivery for Howard County businesses with Class D licenses (typically restaurants or similar establishments). It requires all deliveries to occur only within Howard County, mandates that delivery personnel verify the recipient’s age (21+) with ID, and requires the recipient (or a designated 21+ adult) to be physically present during delivery. The bill also requires delivery forms certifying age verification and payment at the time of order. These changes directly affect Howard County Class D license holders and their delivery staff. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1259 modifies Anne Arundel County's alcohol licensing rules by allowing certain permits and licenses near schools that were previously prohibited. Specifically, it permits the Board of Liquor Commissioners to issue dancing permits for Class H license holders (beer/wine or beer/wine/liquor on-sale) within 1,000 feet of the school at Annapolis Mall, and to issue new Class B licenses (beer/wine or beer/wine/liquor on-sale) for establishments within 1,000 feet of that same school. The bill repeals and amends sections of Maryland law to create this exception, while maintaining the 1,000-foot distance rule for other schools and locations. This directly affects businesses holding Class B or Class H licenses near the Annapolis Mall school in Anne Arundel County. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
SB 284 establishes civil penalties for Baltimore City alcohol license holders who operate outside permitted hours without an exemption. It directly affects restaurants (Class B/D licenses), pharmacies, and hotels that serve food after closing, requiring them to follow specific exemption rules under Section 12-2007. The bill sets fines of at least $1,000 (or license suspension) for a first violation and $2,000-$20,000 (or suspension) for repeat offenses under Section 12-2802(f). Exemptions allow limited late-hour operations for seated dining in certain restaurants, pharmacies, or hotels meeting strict criteria. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 859 requires the Maryland State Department of Education, working with the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, to promote health insurance access for child care professionals. It directs the department to partner with prekindergarten provider hubs, child care associations, and nonprofit organizations to help professionals enroll in health insurance through the Exchange or Medicaid, assist those losing Medicaid coverage, and match health plan options to their budgets. The bill also authorizes child care providers receiving more than two-thirds of their operating funds from government sources to join the State Employee and Retiree Health Program as "satellite organizations," allowing their employees to access state health benefits. This directly affects child care professionals seeking coverage and eligible child care providers seeking to offer group health benefits to staff.
HB 746 modifies Baltimore County's rules for transferring Class B and Class D alcoholic beverage licenses. It allows the Board of License Commissioners to approve transfers from "eligible transferor districts" (areas with at least 10% more such licenses than population-based limits) to other districts, but caps total transfers at five during a 2025-2028 window and limits to two transfers per receiving district. Before approving a transfer, the Board must evaluate economic impact on the surrounding community and ensure the property has an appropriate future use, especially if the license holder owns the property. This law aims to balance license availability with community economic considerations while maintaining population-based licensing limits.
SB 453 clarifies and strengthens prohibitions on specific contract terms in Maryland state contracts, directly affecting state agencies and contractors entering into agreements with the government. The bill bans provisions that would limit the state’s liability for damage to its property (like buildings or equipment), require binding arbitration, name specific courts for disputes, or automatically renew contracts without future funding. If a contract includes any prohibited term, that term is void and the contract is enforced as if the term never existed. The law applies to all state contracts except those related to racing facilities and takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 692 modifies Maryland's State Retirement and Pension System by changing annual report deadlines for the Investment Committee (from September 1 to November 1) and clarifying eligibility for State Police Retirement System members in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP). It adjusts the required years of service for DROP eligibility: members joining before July 1, 2011, need 22-32 years of service, while those joining after need 25-32 years. The bill also makes minor technical updates to pension administration sections of the law. These changes directly affect State Police Retirement System members and the Investment Committee's reporting obligations.
HB 1108 raises the minimum employment age for individuals working in Allegany County alcohol businesses from 16 to 18 years, except for establishments deriving over half their revenue from food sales (like restaurants), which may still employ 16- to 21-year-olds. It also requires anyone serving beer, wine, or liquor to be at least 18 years old. The bill directly affects all alcohol license holders in Allegany County, including bars and restaurants. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and amend specific sections of Maryland’s Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis code.
SB 738 modifies Frederick County's barbershop and beauty salon beer and wine license rules by increasing the permitted wine portion size from 5 ounces to 6.5 ounces per customer for on-premises consumption during eligible services or events. This directly affects licensed barbershops and beauty salons in Frederick County that currently hold these specific licenses. The bill amends sections 20-1001.3 and 20-1002 of Maryland's Alcoholic Beverages law to update the wine quantity limit while maintaining existing rules for beer (12 ounces), service requirements, 9 p.m. closing, and the $100 annual fee. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 60 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover calcium score testing for individuals with at least three specific heart disease risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of premature heart disease. The law mandates this coverage starting January 1, 2026, for all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland after that date. It applies to insurers, nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations under existing insurance coverage requirements. This policy change directly affects Medicaid enrollees and privately insured Marylanders meeting the specified risk criteria.
