HB 1069 requires Maryland's State Administrator of Elections to create a uniform process for counting absentee ballots with federal contests if a federal court order overrides state rules about ballot deadlines. It ensures that non-federal contests on valid absentee ballots (postmarked by election day) are still counted under state law. The bill also mandates clear voter notices about federal vs. state ballot deadlines, urging early mailing or drop-off, using methods like social media and sample ballots. This applies only to federal elections in 2026 and 2028.
SB 782 requires junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers in Maryland to register with local law enforcement when purchasing telecommunications equipment, providing details like the seller’s name, address, and purchase date. It prohibits these businesses from buying such equipment except by mailing checks to the seller’s address and bans selling or disposing of the equipment for 30 days after purchase. The bill also defines telecommunications infrastructure broadly (including cell towers, fiber cables, and antennas) and prohibits reckless or malicious damage to it, with violations punishable as felonies. Penalties for noncompliance include license revocation, fines up to $2,000, or felony charges with up to 6 months in jail and $5,000 fines.
This bill requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create online resources for schools, teachers, and students on the safe, ethical, and equitable use of artificial intelligence in education. It mandates that school districts develop AI policies by December 2027, appoint AI coordinators, and use only AI tools certified by Morgan State University as meeting state guidelines. The law also requires statewide teacher training on AI literacy by July 2027 and includes AI education in workforce preparation standards. These requirements directly affect public K-12 schools, educators, students, and administrators across Maryland.
HB 1614 authorizes the Maryland Transportation Authority Police to use lane direction control signal monitoring systems on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to enforce violations of red lane direction signals. It requires District Courts to remit civil penalties collected from these violations directly to the Maryland Transportation Authority instead of the state. The bill amends existing traffic law sections to clarify that penalties from these automated enforcement systems must be paid to the Authority and that recorded images from the systems are admissible as evidence without authentication. This affects drivers using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge who enter lanes with red signals, enabling automated enforcement of lane direction rules.
HB 768 modifies Maryland law to clarify how the Department of Human Services (DHS) manages benefits (like Social Security or VA payments) for children in its custody. It requires DHS to seek other suitable representatives to manage these benefits before acting as the payee, and mandates that at least 40% of benefits be used for children’s unmet needs (such as disability services, housing, or education) when they are ages 14-15, increasing to 80% at 16-17 and 100% at 18-20. The bill also requires DHS to document all efforts to find alternative payees, periodically review if another representative could better serve the child, and avoid using benefits to cover state care costs. These changes apply specifically to children committed to DHS custody under Maryland’s Family Law.
SB 841 changes how Maryland uses fees paid by utilities to fund renewable energy projects. Instead of direct grants, it requires the Maryland Energy Administration to run annual competitive auctions where developers bid to build renewable energy projects. The bill sets specific targets for project capacity, deadlines for completion, and eligibility rules for bidders, including prioritizing projects benefiting low-income or overburdened communities. It redirects existing compliance fees - previously used for solar grants - into this auction system to accelerate renewable energy development.
HB 1223 authorizes counties to designate areas adjacent to farmers markets as street food vending zones. Vendors selling prepared food (not raw agricultural products) in these zones must reside within the area defined by the farmers market's rules, comply with food safety laws, and meet the market's membership requirements. This directly affects local street food vendors operating near farmers markets in Prince George's County and other counties adopting this framework. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1426 creates a new permit for clinical research pharmacies in Maryland, which are facilities specifically designed to conduct clinical trials. It allows healthcare providers to own these pharmacies under strict conditions, including requiring a licensed pharmacist to be on-site during all operating hours and prohibiting owners from receiving payment for patient referrals. The bill also exempts clinical trials conducted by corporations or entities from being classified as "practice of medicine," meaning trial staff no longer need individual medical licenses for their trial-related work. This change aims to streamline clinical research by removing a regulatory barrier that previously required individual licensing for trial staff.
HB 1341 prohibits public school security personnel - including school resource officers, security employees, and certain law enforcement officers - from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee records for immigration purposes. The bill requires security staff to immediately contact school officials if presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order for immigration-related information. It amends Maryland's Education Code to clarify that school security cannot be used for immigration investigations under federal §287(G) and must comply with state privacy laws. This directly affects school security staff and protects students, employees, and their families from immigration enforcement activities within public schools.
HB 1621 requires wastewater treatment plants processing over 50 million gallons of effluent daily to monitor discharges for hormones, PFAS chemicals, and bacteria, and publicly post daily bacterial levels and incident reports (like overflows) on their websites within 24 hours. It establishes bacterial safety thresholds requiring immediate public alerts when exceeded and bars non-compliant plants from Maryland's Water Quality Trading Program. Smaller plants (under 50 million gallons daily) must report staffing plans annually instead of daily data. The bill mandates transparency through public websites and gives the Department authority to enforce these requirements.
SB 447 expands who can receive child abuse and neglect reports from Maryland's Department of Human Services, specifically allowing disclosure to school officials, child care providers, university administrators, and juvenile justice staff when they need the information to protect children. It permits schools to access reports for disciplinary actions involving staff or contractors who work with students, and child care facilities to assess employee suitability. The bill also adds the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit and higher education institutions to permitted recipients for on-campus child-related incidents. All disclosures must include safeguards to protect the identity of reporters and others at risk of harm.
HB 222 requires Maryland public schools and colleges to update policies and education programs to address opioid overdoses. It mandates schools to store naloxone, allow authorized staff and students to possess it, and provide liability protection for good-faith use during overdoses. The bill also adds naloxone's life-saving role to K-12 drug prevention curricula (starting in third grade) and requires annual parent notifications about school naloxone policies. Additionally, schools must report overdose incidents requiring naloxone use to the State Department. This affects all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges.
