Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 665: Maryland Uniform Disposition of Abandoned Property Act – Revisions

SB 665 updates Maryland's abandoned property law to include virtual currency (like cryptocurrency) as property subject to the law, directly affecting individuals who hold forgotten digital assets and financial institutions holding them. Key changes include defining "apparent owner" to include digital activity (e.g., accessing accounts or directing transactions), altering how abandonment is presumed for digital assets, and updating procedures for claiming property. The bill also allows the State Comptroller to retain some funds from selling abandoned property for specific purposes. These changes ensure digital assets are treated consistently with traditional abandoned property under Maryland law.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 11: Health Insurance - Access to Nonparticipating Providers - Referrals, Additional Assistance, and Coverage

HB 11 updates Maryland health insurance rules to improve access to nonparticipating health providers, particularly for mental health and substance use disorder services. The bill requires insurers to establish a referral process that helps members connect with specialists not on their provider panel when needed, and to provide additional assistance if standard referrals fail. It also prohibits insurers from demanding prior authorization for scheduling appointments with nonparticipating providers for these services. Additionally, the Maryland Health Care Commission must set reimbursement rates for nonparticipating providers to ensure fair payment. This directly affects health insurance carriers and their members seeking specialized care outside their network.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 356: Public Health - Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Carlton R. Smith Act)

SB 356 repeals Maryland's criminal law (Section 18-601.1 of the Annotated Code) that previously prohibited individuals with HIV from knowingly transferring the virus to others, making such acts a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a $2,500 fine. The bill directly affects people living with HIV who could have faced criminal charges under this provision. It removes the criminal penalty for knowingly transmitting HIV, shifting focus from criminalization to public health approaches. The repeal takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter other HIV-related public health or medical regulations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 1034: State Retirement and Pension System – Alterations and Clarifications

HB 1034 adjusts reporting deadlines for Maryland's State Retirement and Pension System and clarifies eligibility for the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) for State Police members. It changes the Investment Committee's annual report deadline from September 1 to November 1 each year and moves the Board of Trustees' report deadline from December 1 to December 31. For DROP eligibility, it specifies that State Police members hired before July 1, 2011, must have 22-31 years of eligible service (under age 60), while those hired after must have 25-31 years. These changes directly affect State Police Retirement System members and the agencies managing retirement administration.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 754: Harford County - Alcoholic Beverages - Hearing Notice

HB 754 modifies notice requirements for alcohol license applications and hearings in Harford County. It allows the Board of License Commissioners to publish hearing notices online instead of (or in addition to) newspapers, and requires decisions on new licenses or upgrades to be published either in a local newspaper or on the Board's website. The bill also updates the requirement for posting application notices at business locations for 20 days before hearings. These changes directly affect liquor license applicants, existing license holders, and the Harford County Board of License Commissioners.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 1005: Federally Qualified Health Centers Grant Program - Acquisition of Land

SB 1005 expands Maryland's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Grant Program to include funding for the acquisition of land specifically for constructing or operating FQHCs. It directly affects counties, cities, and nonprofit organizations that operate or plan to establish FQHCs by adding "acquisition of land" as a new eligible use for program grants. The bill amends existing law to explicitly allow grants under the program for land purchases, alongside existing uses like building renovation, equipment, or new construction. This change provides a new funding mechanism for FQHCs to secure land for facilities, improving access to primary healthcare services in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 1145: Baltimore County - Alcoholic Beverages - Waiting Period After License Denial

HB 1145 establishes a 1-year waiting period before a new alcoholic beverage license application can be submitted for a location where a previous application was denied in Baltimore County. If a second denial occurs within a 2-year period for the same location, a 2-year waiting period applies before another license may be issued. The bill directly affects businesses or individuals seeking liquor licenses in Baltimore County who have experienced prior denials. Key provisions replace existing waiting period rules with these extended timelines, while exempting denials based on location suitability or applicant eligibility (as specified in Section 4-214(b)). The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 571: Anne Arundel County - Class A (Off-Sale) and Class D (Off-Sale) Licenses - Population Ratio Quota

SB 571 limits off-sale alcohol licenses (Class A and Class D) in Anne Arundel County to one license per 4,000 residents in each tax assessment district, using the 2005 official map for district boundaries. The Board of License Commissioners must deny new licenses or transfers that would cause a district's ratio to exceed this cap, and cannot approve moving a license to a different district unless it was active by July 1, 2025, or within the 6th tax assessment district. Population data for each district is based on the latest federal census. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 795: State Procurement Preferences - Blind Industries and Services of Maryland - Packaging and Repackaging

SB 795 requires Maryland state agencies and entities to include in janitorial maintenance contracts a provision mandating contractors to procure janitorial products packaged or repackaged by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) when those products are available. This applies specifically to products made, manufactured, remanufactured, or handled by BISM in packaging/repacking, directly affecting state procurement contracts and contractors for janitorial services. The law amends Maryland’s procurement code to prioritize BISM’s packaging/repacking services in eligible contracts, effective July 1, 2025. It does not mandate purchasing BISM products if unavailable but requires inclusion when feasible and accessible.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 564: Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Venue Beer, Wine, and Liquor License

HB 564 creates a new "venue beer, wine, and liquor license" for Dorchester County, allowing nonprofit or for-profit businesses to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption during events where food is served. The license applies only to venues meeting specific criteria: at least 2,000 square feet, capable of accommodating 100 people, and with adequate bathrooms. It prohibits carrying alcohol off the premises, transferring the license, and requires annual $1,500 fees. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects event venues hosting weddings, banquets, or similar gatherings in Dorchester County.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 571: Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class C Licenses - Events

HB 571 creates an event permit for veterans' organizations in Anne Arundel County that already hold a Class C (veterans’ organization) liquor license. The permit allows these organizations to sell beer, wine, and liquor to *any* event attendee - including non-members - for on-premises consumption during events held at their licensed clubhouse. It requires the Board of License Commissioners to issue the permit only to existing Class C license holders who complete a provided form, and adds a $100 annual fee for the permit (separate from the $400 Class C license fee). The bill modifies Maryland’s Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis code sections 11-102 and 11-1009 to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 634: Income Tax - Income Tax Reconciliation Program - Established (Maryland Fair Taxation for Justice-Involved Individuals Act)

HB 634 establishes Maryland's "Income Tax Reconciliation Program" (also known as the Maryland Fair Taxation for Justice-Involved Individuals Act) to help certain formerly incarcerated individuals. It directly affects people convicted of crimes with 6-10 year prison sentences who were incarcerated during specific taxable years (2025-2029) and have unpaid state income tax. The bill requires the Comptroller to create payment plans allowing these individuals to pay overdue taxes over up to 10 years while waiving all accrued interest and penalties. It also mandates the Comptroller, with correctional services, to run an awareness campaign and report annually on the program's impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results