Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 170: Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth

SB 170 creates a temporary task force to study how delays in student enrollment counts impact school funding and how growing student populations connect to funding levels in Maryland. The task force, composed of 11 members including education officials, school board representatives, teachers' unions, parent groups, and county officials, will analyze these issues and propose improvements. It must submit its recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 15, 2026, and the task force will expire on June 30, 2027. The bill does not change current funding formulas but sets up a structured review process for education finance policy.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 7, 2026

HB 45: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

HB 45, the Maryland Worker Freedom Act, prohibits employers from penalizing employees or job applicants who refuse to attend or participate in mandatory meetings where the employer expresses views on religious or political matters. It directly protects workers in non-exempt workplaces (excluding religious organizations, educational institutions, and government entities) from being fired, disciplined, or denied employment for declining such meetings. The bill requires employers to notify staff of these protections and provides a complaint process to the Labor Commissioner, who can impose fines up to $25,000 for violations or order reinstatement and back pay. Key exemptions include voluntary participation, required legal communications, and employer training mandated by law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 1140: Baltimore County Board of Education - Membership - Alterations

HB 1140 changes how Baltimore County's school board is structured, effective with the 2030 election. It replaces the current system (7 elected members from districts + 4 appointed members) with 9 elected members (one from each of the county's nine council districts) plus two appointed members at large, while retaining one student member. The bill specifies that elected members must reside in their district and limits service to three consecutive terms. This directly affects Baltimore County residents, as school board members will now be elected from specific districts rather than a smaller number of districts, increasing local representation.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 3, 2026

HS 2: Resolution to Expel Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat From the House of Delegates of Maryland

This bill proposes to expel Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat from the Maryland House of Delegates due to his failure to attend committee meetings or vote on legislation since February 2026. The resolution cites his absence from required legislative duties and his stated priority of personal business over public service as grounds for removal under state constitutional rules. If passed, the measure would trigger a vacancy in District 5, allowing the Governor to appoint a replacement to represent Carroll and Frederick Counties.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HJ 10: Condemning Violence and Violations of Law - Russian Federation in Ukraine

This Maryland House Joint Resolution formally condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine and specifically declares that Russia's abduction and forced transfer of Ukrainian children constitutes genocide under international law. The bill cites multiple documented incidents, including the attack on a Mariupol maternity hospital and the systematic removal of children from occupied territories for forced adoption and indoctrination. It holds the Russian government responsible for these actions and notes the increased risks to Ukrainian children facing exploitation, trauma, and deprivation of basic needs. The resolution serves as an official statement of condemnation rather than a law that changes domestic policy or imposes new requirements.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 1479: Labor and Employment - Minimum Wage - Increase (Maryland Raise the Wage Act)

HB 1479 (Maryland Raise the Wage Act) increases Maryland's minimum wage for most employers to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2024, rising to $18 per hour beginning January 1, 2028, with future increases tied to the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Consumer Price Index (CPI). Small businesses (with 49 or fewer employees) receive a phased transition: $15 per hour from January 2024 through December 2028, then $18 per hour starting January 2029. The law automatically adjusts the wage annually based on CPI growth (capped at 5% per year), preventing freezes during periods of no CPI increase. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting all Maryland employers and their hourly workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 1585: Maryland Economic Development Corporation - Major Information Technology Development Projects - Project Management

HB 1585 authorizes Maryland’s Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to serve as the primary project manager for major state information technology projects costing $5 million or more, or those critical to public health, safety, or financial well-being. The bill requires MEDC to collaborate with the State IT Department and agencies on project scope, budget, risk management, and delivery, while also evaluating alternative financing options for such projects. It mandates identifying one pilot project for MEDC-led management within a specified timeframe. This directly affects MEDC, state IT agencies, and any state project meeting the defined criteria for "major information technology development." The bill updates existing law to clarify MEDC’s role in managing these specific technology initiatives.

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 267: Land Use - Residential Housing - Oversight and Approval (Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act)

SB 267, the "Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act," aims to increase residential housing development by changing oversight, regulation, and tax policies. It requires property owners to certify contact information to the housing department, empowers local governments to streamline approvals for housing projects, and sets housing production targets. The bill allows counties to reduce certain taxes or fees for affordable housing projects while increasing them for non-affordable developments, and permits local tax adjustments for different property types. These changes directly affect property owners, local governments, and housing developers across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 627: Commission on Historic, Cultural, and Civic Contributions in Education - Establishment

HB 627 establishes the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education to improve how Maryland public schools teach U.S. and Maryland history, culture, and civics. The commission, composed of 16 members representing diverse groups (including Indigenous tribes, LGBTQIA+ communities, disabled individuals, teachers, and racial/ethnic communities), must examine contributions of marginalized groups and make recommendations to the State Board of Education. Key provisions require the commission to examine topics like Native American contributions, LGBTQIA+ history, and disability community impacts, while ensuring recommendations promote equitable learning for all students. The commission must publicly share meeting materials, reports, and livestream sessions online, with members serving four-year terms without pay but receiving travel reimbursements. This bill directly affects Maryland public school curricula and student learning experiences through its recommendations.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 1, 2026

HB 1646: Maryland Aviation Administration - Airport Passenger Screening Partnership Program

This bill allows the Maryland Aviation Administration to join the federal Transportation Security Administration's Screening Partnership Program, enabling airports to contract private companies for passenger screening instead of relying solely on federal agents. The legislation authorizes this partnership only with the approval of the Governor and the Secretary of Transportation, ensuring oversight before any agreements are made. By adding a new section to state law, the bill formally establishes the legal framework for this security arrangement while repealing and reenacting existing definitions without changes. As an emergency measure passed with a supermajority, it takes effect immediately upon enactment to address public safety needs.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 31, 2026

HB 1257: Baltimore County Board of Education - Financial Reporting Requirements

HB 1257 requires the Baltimore County Board of Education to provide specific financial details - including budget, enrollment, and capital project information - to the Baltimore County Executive and County Council as part of the annual budget submission. The bill also mandates that this same information be made publicly accessible online in a user-friendly format. These changes update Maryland law to standardize financial transparency for the school district's operations. The Baltimore County Board of Education is directly affected, as it must now comply with these new reporting obligations.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 463: Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit

SB 463 (Maryland Senate Bill 463) repeals a provision in Maryland law that allowed municipalities to prohibit "vagrancy." Specifically, it removes the authority from local governments to ban vagrancy under Section 5-207(c)(2) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This change directly affects all Maryland municipalities, eliminating their ability to enforce vagrancy laws as a separate prohibition. The bill does not create new restrictions but removes this specific historical provision from local ordinance powers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results