This is a procedural budget bill (SB 282) that allocates $859 million in state funds for Maryland's fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It directly funds state agencies including the judiciary (courts, public defender office, and legal services), legislative operations, and administrative offices. The total includes $771 million in general fund appropriations, $86 million in special fund appropriations, and $1.4 million in federal funds. This bill establishes the baseline funding for state operations but does not create new policies or affect citizens directly.
SB 284 is a procedural budget reconciliation bill that updates multiple sections of Maryland's state code across education, health, local government, and tax laws. It repeals and reenacts specific provisions (e.g., community college funding formulas, health program requirements, and county reimbursement rules) without detailing the exact policy changes. The bill directly affects state agencies, local governments, community colleges, and healthcare programs by modifying existing administrative and financial procedures. It does not create new programs but adjusts how current funding mechanisms and eligibility rules are implemented. The bill is focused on technical budgetary adjustments rather than substantive policy shifts.
SB 283 authorizes Maryland to borrow $1.824 billion through a new 2026 capital bond loan, updating previous bond programs from 2015-2025. The funds will finance state construction, renovations, equipment, and grants to local governments for infrastructure projects, requiring matching local funds and strict spending deadlines. It modifies prior bond law provisions to clarify eligible uses, extend project timelines, and adjust budget allocations for ongoing capital projects. This bill primarily affects state agencies, local governments receiving grants, and public infrastructure projects across Maryland.
SB 256 updates Maryland's licensing framework for landscape architects by renaming the governing body from the "State Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects" to the "State Board of Professional Landscape Architects." It revises key definitions, changing "licensed landscape architects" to "professional landscape architects" and clarifying the scope of practice. The bill also adds an "emeritus status" license option for retired professionals and adjusts requirements for board membership, applicant qualifications, exams, and license renewals. These changes primarily affect licensed landscape architects and applicants seeking to practice in Maryland under the updated regulatory structure.
SB 192, the Military Family Inclusion Act, modifies membership requirements for four Maryland state commissions and boards to include military family representation. It adds a "family caregiver of a service-disabled veteran" to the Commission on Caregiving, designates an "organization representing military families" as a voting member on the Trust Fund Board, and requires the Veterans Commission to include such an organization in its appointment list. The bill also adds a "service member" position to the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, appointed by the Department of Veterans and Military Families. These changes, effective October 1, 2026, adjust who serves on existing advisory bodies without creating new programs or benefits. The bill directly affects how these state boards are composed but does not alter funding or services for military families.
SB 248 modifies Maryland's investment rules for the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), specifically changing how it handles investments in businesses that no longer qualify as "qualified businesses." The bill replaces mandatory divestment requirements with an authorization allowing the MTDC to choose whether to divest or pursue other remedies (like restructuring) under certain circumstances. It updates regulations in Sections 10-408 and 10-470 of the Economic Development Article to require the MTDC to establish an investment committee process for evaluating these remedies. This directly affects the MTDC’s investment decisions and the businesses receiving its capital, without altering the 25% ownership cap on equity investments.
SB 297, the Jack Fitzgerald Price Transparency Act, requires vehicle manufacturers to allow dealers to display on their websites that the advertised price of a vehicle is the manufacturer’s minimum allowable price, enabling dealers to offer lower prices without penalty. It prohibits manufacturers from taking adverse actions - like threatening to withhold benefits or imposing fines - against dealers who disclose this pricing information. The law directly affects auto dealers by protecting their right to transparent pricing and preventing manufacturer retaliation for price competition. It amends Maryland’s vehicle laws to ensure dealers can advertise lower prices without fear of retaliation from manufacturers. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 300 establishes the Rural Readiness Program, administered by the Rural Maryland Council, to help eligible rural communities (including nonprofits, local governments, tribes, and economic development organizations) build capacity for economic growth through grant application support and project development. It creates a priority for these communities to receive certain state grants, such as those from the Maryland Agricultural Education Fund and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, after completing the program. The bill also creates the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - a permanent fund for grants supporting planning and capacity-building initiatives in rural areas. These provisions directly aim to address rural communities' challenges in accessing resources, infrastructure, and skilled staff.
SB 287 allows local governments in Maryland to designate *noncontiguous* blighted areas as development districts for tax increment financing (TIF). This means communities can now use TIF tools for economic development projects in disconnected land parcels (like separate lots in a blighted neighborhood) that were previously ineligible under the law. The bill amends Maryland’s Economic Development Code to explicitly include "noncontiguous" areas in the definition of "development district" and updates related sections to permit this designation. It directly affects counties, cities, and other local governments seeking to revitalize fragmented blighted areas through TIF. The change takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 774 allows counties in Maryland to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid reason (like nonpayment of rent or lease violations) to terminate residential leases or evict tenants who remain after their lease ends ("holdover tenancies"). Landlords in counties with such laws must disclose whether they are subject to these rules in lease agreements and provide specific ownership details (including how many properties they own) if claiming an exemption. The bill also requires the state housing office to create standardized forms for this disclosure and to clarify when landlords must prove "good cause" in court. This directly affects landlords and tenants in counties that implement these local good cause eviction protections.
HB 1458 establishes Maryland's State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Refugees and Asylees, providing food assistance to specific groups who lost federal SNAP eligibility after July 3, 2025. The program directly affects refugees, asylees, parolees (including Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees), and other noncitizens who met SNAP eligibility requirements under pre-2025 federal rules but became ineligible due to changes in federal law. It requires the Maryland Department of Human Services to administer the program using the same eligibility standards that were in effect on July 3, 2025, ensuring households with qualifying individuals receive benefits. The program takes effect July 1, 2026, restoring access to nutrition assistance for affected individuals.
HB 1233 exempts mobile food service facilities (like food trucks) and semipermanent food service facilities (fixed units not requiring building permits) in Washington County from needing on-site toilets and lavatories. The bill amends Maryland's health code to remove this requirement for these specific facilities within Washington County, while maintaining the rule for other food establishments. This change applies to facilities operating under the definitions in Section 21-301(i-1) and affects food vendors serving immediate meals without indoor seating. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2026.
