Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1166: Motor Vehicles - Dealers - Front Registration Plate Display

HB 1166 requires Maryland motor vehicle dealers to either install front registration plate mounting hardware on vehicles they deliver to buyers or lessees, or obtain a signed disclosure statement from the buyer acknowledging they declined the hardware. This applies to all vehicles sold or leased by dealers as defined in Maryland law, directly affecting dealers and their customers. Dealers must also report all instances of declined hardware installation to the Motor Vehicle Administration on a periodic basis. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland’s transportation code to implement these requirements.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1439: Real Property - Partition of Property - Liens and Purchase Price Adjustments

HB 1439 amends Maryland law governing property partition actions to clarify lien notification and adjust purchase prices for cotenants (co-owners). It requires parties to notify courts of outstanding liens (like mortgages or tax liens) if they don’t obtain a title report, and mandates courts to adjust purchase prices based on actual costs (e.g., property taxes, maintenance) or income (e.g., rent) incurred by a cotenant without equitable distribution. These adjustments must be supported by documentation and allow all cotenants to review the proposed price or request a hearing. The bill applies only to partition cases filed after October 1, 2026, and directly affects co-owners resolving property division disputes.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 518: Maryland Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program - Establishment

SB 518 establishes a 3-year pilot program to create a statewide network of free financial empowerment centers across Maryland, operating under the Office of the Comptroller. These centers will provide one-on-one financial counseling in English and Spanish (and other required languages) to help residents increase savings, pay down debt, access banking, and improve credit scores. The program requires counselors to complete specific training and will be funded through state budget appropriations for fiscal years 2028 and 2029, ending September 30, 2029. The pilot targets Maryland residents seeking accessible financial guidance, particularly in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1352: State Procurement - Worker Residency Requirements

HB 1352 requires state contractors on certain projects to ensure a specified percentage of work hours are performed by Maryland residents. This directly affects construction, service, and other contractors bidding on state government contracts. The bill creates new enforcement mechanisms under a new "Worker Residency Requirements" subtitle (Sections 17-6B-01 to 17-6B-06), directing the Department of Labor to oversee compliance. Violations could lead to debarment from state contracts, though the bill focuses on establishing the residency requirement rather than detailing specific penalties.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 557: Gaming - Definition of "Own" - Alterations

SB 557 amends Maryland's gaming laws to redefine "own" for video lottery facilities and sports wagering licenses. It excludes from ownership definitions any non-voting interest of 25% or less in an applicant or licensee’s business, provided the interest doesn’t confer voting rights and is held directly by a person or in trust without trustee control. This change directly affects businesses seeking or holding video lottery or sports wagering licenses by relaxing ownership restrictions for minor, non-controlling investors. The bill modifies specific sections of Maryland’s Annotated Code (9-1A-01(s), 9-1A-05, 9-1A-08, and 9-1E-03) to implement this policy adjustment.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1241: Labor and Employment - Bereavement Leave and Leave for Family Illness - Qualifying Relationships and Type of Leave

HB 1241 expands Maryland's bereavement leave eligibility by redefining "qualified relationships" to include more individuals beyond immediate family. The bill adds grandparents, siblings, domestic partners, step-relatives, adoptive/foster relations, and de facto partners to the list of relationships qualifying for paid bereavement leave. This change directly affects Maryland employees who experience the death of these individuals, allowing them to take paid leave under state law. The bill amends Section 3-802 of the Maryland Annotated Code without altering leave duration or pay structure, maintaining existing employer thresholds (15+ employees) and excluding federal FMLA coverage.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 970: Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering

Maryland's SB 970 requires sports wagering companies that advertise within the state to contract with licensed independent evaluators. The bill mandates these companies must have their content, experts, influencers, and content partners evaluated and rated by qualified third parties. This requirement becomes effective July 1, 2026, but only if the State Lottery Commission licenses at least three independent evaluators first. The law changes existing rules from voluntary ("may") to mandatory ("shall") for advertising operators.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1612: Gaming - Campaign Financing Contributions and Study on Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering

HB 1612 requires sports wagering businesses that advertise in Maryland to contract with state-licensed independent evaluators to assess their advertising content, experts, influencers, and content partners. This law directly affects licensed sports wagering operators and licensees advertising within the state, replacing a permissive "may" with a mandatory "shall" under Maryland’s State Government Article §9-1E-17(d). The bill mandates that at least three independent evaluators must be licensed by the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission before the requirement takes effect on July 1, 2026. It focuses on evaluating advertising practices rather than altering gambling rules or financial regulations.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1158: Calvert County - Contracts for Infrastructure or Asset Management - Contract Duration

HB 1158 allows Calvert County to enter into 20-year contracts for infrastructure or asset management programs involving qualifying assets with a minimum 15-year lifespan, such as water towers, flow meters, and other water/sewer assets. It modifies existing county law to authorize these extended contracts, which previously required shorter terms under the county's standard procurement rules. The bill specifically permits contracts covering the full lifecycle of these assets, including planning, construction, maintenance, and decommissioning. This change directly affects Calvert County's ability to manage long-term infrastructure projects under its procurement policies.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 921: Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations

HB 921 limits when minors in Maryland juvenile facilities can be placed in restrictive housing (isolation or special confinement). It prohibits using restrictive housing for discipline, punishment, or staff convenience, and requires facilities to use it only for immediate safety risks (like harm to self/others or facility security) for the shortest time possible (max 6 hours). Minors can request restrictive housing or withdraw that request at any time, and facilities must provide mental health screenings within 1 hour of placement. The bill also mandates that minors in restrictive housing receive the same access to phone calls, visits, medical care, education, and recreation as other minors, unless safety is at risk.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1617: Public Health - Health Innovation Zones - Establishment

HB 1617 establishes "Health Innovation Zones" in Maryland counties to address health disparities. It defines zones as areas with documented health gaps (like high maternal complications, chronic diseases, or low access to care) in communities of color, low-income areas, or immigrant populations. Counties must create incentives for grocery stores, pharmacies, and healthcare providers to locate in these zones, and Prince George’s County must designate specific zones (including the Blue Line Corridor and areas near DC) while seeking additional zones meeting the same criteria. The bill requires annual $5 million state funding starting in 2028 for the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to support these businesses and exempts them from local zoning laws within designated zones.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1258: Child Placement Services - Advertising by Unlicensed Person - Prohibition

HB 1258 prohibits unlicensed individuals or organizations from advertising adoption services in Maryland. It requires that only licensed child placement agencies (approved by the Social Services Administration) or local departments may advertise such services, covering all media including social media, websites, and direct messaging. The Social Services Administration can investigate violations, issue cease-and-desist orders, and refer cases to the Attorney General, who may pursue civil penalties of $10,000 per violation. This law directly affects unlicensed adoption facilitators, private agencies, and individuals advertising adoption services without proper authorization.

Bill results