Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 891: Land Use and Real Property - Accessory Dwelling Units - Requirements and Prohibitions

SB 891 requires counties and municipalities to adopt local laws allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary homes on single-family zoned lots - by a set deadline. It sets specific rules for zoning permits, development fees, parking requirements, and prohibits utilities from charging extra fees for ADU connections. The bill also blocks property transfer agreements from restricting ADU development and lets homeowners associations treat ADUs as separate lots for voting and fees. This directly affects homeowners seeking to build ADUs, local governments required to update zoning, and homeowners associations managing community rules. The law aims to expand housing options by removing barriers to ADU construction on single-family residential land.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 1378: Civil Actions - Child Sexual Abuse

HB 1378 modifies Maryland law to set a deadline for filing civil claims against the state or local government units for child sexual abuse that occurred when the victim was a minor. Specifically, it prohibits such claims from being filed on or after January 1, 2026, while maintaining the existing rule allowing claims to be filed at any time for non-government defendants. The bill does not change the $1.5 million cap on noneconomic damages for certain claims filed before October 1, 2023. This directly affects victims seeking to sue state or local government entities for historical abuse. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 7, 2025

HB 1507: Maryland Tort Claims Act - Employees of an Office of a Sheriff

HB 1507 updates Maryland's Tort Claims Act to extend legal immunity to employees of county and Baltimore City sheriff's offices, placing them on the same footing as sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. The bill amends two specific law sections: it revises the definition of "State personnel" under the State Government Article to explicitly include sheriff's office employees, and updates the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article to clarify their immunity from tort lawsuits for official duties. This means these employees can no longer be sued for negligence or misconduct occurring within their job responsibilities, provided it wasn't done with malice or gross negligence. The change directly affects all non-sheriff staff working in sheriff's offices across Maryland.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SB 632: Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act)

SB 632 (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act) requires Maryland to establish a dedicated facility for female incarcerated individuals eligible for prerelease, located in Baltimore City on at least 3 acres to serve the zip codes with the highest release rates. The bill mandates the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide comprehensive support services - including education, vocational training, family reunification programs, trauma-informed healthcare, housing assistance, and job placement - tailored to women’s needs. It sets deadlines for facility planning (by December 2025), construction (by July 2026), and operation (by 2027), with reporting requirements to the Governor and legislature. The law directly affects female inmates in prerelease status and aims to improve reentry outcomes through structured, gender-responsive programming.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SB 1027: Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council - Establishment

SB 1027 establishes the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council to advise the Developmental Disabilities Administration on Medicaid waiver programs. The council provides recommendations on system design, service delivery, and quality strategies, with a requirement for equal representation from individuals using self-directed versus traditional service models. It consists of 18 voting members, including 18 individuals with lived experience in waiver programs (with specific regional and model representation), plus representatives from service providers, advocacy groups, and state agencies like Health, Disabilities, and Human Services. The council must operate using person-centered, evidence-based approaches and prioritize input from those directly using waiver services. This bill creates a new advisory body under Maryland law without altering existing Medicaid waiver rules.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SB 997: Prince George's County - Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters - Mandated Appropriation

SB 997 requires the Maryland Governor to include at least $200 million in the state budget for site redevelopment and transportation infrastructure improvements if the U.S. General Services Administration relocates the FBI headquarters to Prince George’s County. The bill specifically triggers this mandated funding only upon the FBI headquarters relocation condition being met. It does not create new funding but ensures state resources are allocated for infrastructure supporting the relocation project. The bill applies directly to Maryland’s budget process and the specific FBI headquarters relocation site in Prince George’s County.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SB 703: Family Investment Program - Child Support

SB 703 requires that all child support payments received by families in Maryland’s Family Investment Program (FIP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) must be passed directly to the family and not counted when calculating their benefits. It amends state law to eliminate previous limits (like $100 for one child) and prohibits local agencies from considering any child support when determining FIP or SNAP assistance amounts. This change directly affects low-income families receiving FIP or SNAP who also receive child support payments. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 5, 2025

HB 1199: Physicians - Licensing - Internationally Trained Physicians

HB 1199 creates a new 3-year limited license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Maryland, effective October 1, 2027. It directly affects foreign-trained doctors who meet strict criteria, including holding a WHO-recognized medical degree, completing 2+ years of equivalent postgraduate training, practicing for 5+ years in their home country, passing U.S. medical exams (USMLE Steps 1-3), and residing in Maryland for at least one year. The license cannot be renewed but may lead to full licensure through conditions set by the State Board of Physicians. This provision does not change existing full licensure pathways but adds a temporary option for eligible international physicians.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 4, 2025

HB 1506: Municipalities - Enforcement of Ordinances and Resolutions

HB 1506 raises the maximum fine for municipal violations in Maryland from $1,000 to $5,000 for both misdemeanor offenses (under Section 6-101) and civil infractions (under Section 6-102). It directly affects municipalities enforcing local ordinances and residents who violate them, covering common issues like zoning disputes and littering. The bill increases penalty amounts but does not change which violations qualify as offenses or add new enforcement mechanisms. The change applies to all municipal ordinances classified as misdemeanors or infractions under existing law. The amendment takes effect October 1, 2025.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 4, 2025

HB 1534: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Elections, Financial Statements, and Enforcement

HB 1534 establishes new requirements for condominium and homeowners associations in Maryland, directly affecting their governing bodies and unit or lot owners. The bill mandates that elections for governing bodies must be conducted by independent parties (not candidates or those with conflicts) or third-party vendors, and requires associations to accommodate unit owner organizing activities in common areas without retaliation. It prohibits charging owners for examining association records but allows reasonable fees for document copies, and sets specific timeframes (21-45 days) for providing financial statements or meeting minutes upon written request. The bill also expands the Division of Consumer Protection’s authority to enforce these provisions.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 4, 2025

HB 1520: Baltimore County and Baltimore City - Vehicle Laws - Lighting on Privately Owned Vehicles

HB 1520 allows up to five highest-ranking officers in Baltimore County and Baltimore City nonprofit volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) organizations to equip their privately owned vehicles with red or red-and-white lights. These lights may only be used while responding to emergencies or at an emergency scene, not during regular driving. The bill amends Maryland's vehicle code to explicitly permit this exception for volunteer EMS groups operating under commercial ambulance licenses. It directly affects volunteer EMS organizations in those two jurisdictions and takes effect October 1, 2025.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 4, 2025

HB 61: School Buildings - Solar Technologies - Parking Lot Solar Canopies

HB 61 requires Maryland public schools to include underground infrastructure in new construction or major renovation projects involving parking lots, starting after December 31, 2025. This infrastructure must be designed to support future installation of solar canopies over parking areas. The bill directly affects all public school projects that include parking lot construction or renovation after the 2025 deadline. It does not mandate solar canopies themselves but ensures the necessary underground systems are built in advance. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

Bill results