Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 528: Consumer Protection - Video Streaming Services - Loudness of Commercial Advertisements

SB 528 prohibits video streaming services (like Netflix or Disney+) from transmitting commercial advertisements louder than the accompanying video content to Maryland consumers. It directly affects internet-based streaming platforms, excluding traditional TV broadcasters and cable operators. The law requires services to comply with federal loudness standards set by the FCC under the Federal Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland's consumer protection law, with enforcement through existing penalty provisions.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 860: Petitions for Emergency Evaluation (Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act)

HB 860, the Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act, sets a 5-day initial limit for emergency evaluation petitions after court approval, with extensions of up to 5 days each (totaling no more than 30 days) based on the individual's current behavior. The bill requires courts to include the petition's expiration date and clarifies that peace officers must transport individuals to emergency facilities when holding a valid petition (either court-endorsed within 5 days or signed by authorized professionals), allowing electronic petitions. This law directly affects courts reviewing petitions, peace officers executing them, emergency facilities receiving individuals, and people subject to emergency evaluations. It standardizes timelines and procedures to ensure timely care while preventing prolonged detention without court review.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 1290: Child in Need of Assistance - Proceedings - Child's Right to be Present

HB 1290 authorizes children involved in Maryland's Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) proceedings - where a child faces abuse, neglect, disability, or mental health issues requiring court intervention - to be present at their hearings. The bill requires courts to allow children’s presence unless the child’s attorney determines it’s not in the child’s best interest (with the child waiving their right) or the court makes that finding after considering alternatives. Before excluding a child, courts must explore less restrictive options like adjusting schedules, remote participation, trauma-informed support, or limiting courtroom time. This directly affects children in CINA cases handled by Maryland’s juvenile courts, modifying court procedures to prioritize their participation while ensuring safeguards.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 1005: Child Abuse and Neglect - Reporting (Survivor Reporting Reform Act)

HB 1005, the Survivor Reporting Reform Act, requires Maryland's Department of Human Services to create a new form for professionals (like doctors, teachers, and social workers) reporting suspected child abuse or neglect when the victim is now an adult (18+). The form must include a notice explaining how the report will be used and ask the adult survivor if they want an investigation. It also mandates that reporters include specific details about the adult survivor (name, contact info) and their caregiver at the time of the abuse, while respecting the survivor's preference for investigation. This change aims to better support adult survivors' autonomy in reporting cases of childhood abuse.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 1272: Family Law - Kinship Care

HB 1272 requires Maryland child welfare agencies to consider a child’s feelings and preferences when selecting kinship caregivers for out-of-home placements. It expands the definition of "kinship caregiver" to include unrelated individuals identified by the child or their parent, alongside blood relatives or those with strong family bonds. Agencies must approve such caregivers if they meet specific criteria, including understanding the child’s circumstances, having prior protective involvement, and demonstrating current ability to safeguard the child. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 697: Election Law - Actions to Influence an Election - Social Media Platform Algorithms and Bots Purchased by Foreign Nationals

SB 697 establishes rules for social media platforms and foreign nationals influencing Maryland elections. It creates a rebuttable presumption that a platform making a deliberate algorithm change to amplify political content for a specific candidate is treating it as an independent expenditure (like a campaign donation), requiring them to file reports. The bill also prohibits foreign nationals from purchasing bots to artificially boost political content or campaign materials on online platforms. Platforms failing to report such expenditures face fines up to 300% of the unreported amount. The law applies only to candidates for Maryland state or local offices.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 1348: Human Trafficking - Reports to Regional Navigators and Prosecutions - Authorization

HB 1348 modifies Maryland's reporting requirements for suspected child trafficking. It expands mandatory reporting to include labor and sex trafficking by requiring health practitioners, educators, and others to notify specialized support coordinators (replacing "regional navigators") when they suspect such abuse, even without a child's consent or over their objection. The bill also authorizes State’s Attorneys and the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute trafficking violations under new provisions in the Criminal Law. These changes specifically apply to child trafficking cases and take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 844: Motor Vehicle Registration - Fee Exemption - Unemployable Disabled Veterans

HB 844 exempts unemployable disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities from Maryland's vehicle registration fees for one personally used vehicle. The bill amends Maryland's vehicle registration code to add a new exemption category (Section 13-903(a)(11)) specifically for veterans deemed unemployable due to a service-connected disability. This change directly affects qualifying veterans who own or lease a vehicle for personal use, removing a recurring cost. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to additional vehicles. The bill replaces the previous exemption for veterans with specific physical disabilities under Section 13-903(a)(8).

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 881: Financial Institutions and Activities - Licensing Requirements and Regulation of Commercial Financing

SB 881 establishes new disclosure requirements for commercial financing used by small businesses in Maryland, requiring lenders to clearly explain costs, annual percentage rates (APR), and repayment terms. It applies to most small business loans (including equipment financing, factoring, and sales-based financing) but excludes banks, credit unions, very small lenders (under five transactions yearly), and loans over $2.5 million. The bill defines "commercial financing" as transactions not intended for personal use, creating standardized terms to increase transparency similar to federal consumer lending rules. It directly affects small business owners seeking non-personal financing and the non-bank lenders offering these services.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 160: State and Local Government - Real Property - Confederate Naming Prohibited

HB 160 prohibits Maryland state entities (like agencies and courts) and local governments (counties, cities, school districts, and towns) from assigning Confederate names to real property they own, such as streets, parks, or buildings. It defines a "Confederate name" as one honoring the Confederacy or its soldiers, and explicitly states the law applies only prospectively - meaning it won’t require changing existing names on property already bearing such names. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026, after which new naming decisions must avoid Confederate references. This is a policy change focused on preventing future Confederate naming in public spaces.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 313: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Housing - Rental Applications and Tenant Screening

HB 313 prohibits landlords in Maryland from charging application or screening fees unless a rental unit is immediately available or will become available within 30 days. Landlords must provide written disclosures about screening criteria, fees, and reporting agencies before collecting any fees, and must give prospective tenants specific reasons, copies of screening reports, and the right to dispute inaccuracies if denying an application. The bill also bans landlords from considering sealed court records or failure-to-pay rent proceedings in screening decisions. Violations are treated as consumer protection law violations under Maryland law, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 22: Correctional Services - Incarcerated Individuals - Identification Cards, Driver's Licenses, and Birth Certificates

HB 22 requires Maryland correctional facilities to return valid photo ID cards or driver's licenses to incarcerated individuals at release if they entered custody with them. It also mandates state corrections officials to help inmates obtain birth certificates and Social Security cards before release, with written consent required. Facilities must work with inmates six months before release (for those serving 1+ year sentences) to ensure they have valid ID or driver's licenses available upon release. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly states it cannot delay release.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results