Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 338: Baltimore County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Interstate 695 and Interstate 83

SB 338 authorizes the State Highway Administration to install up to four speed monitoring systems per direction on Interstate 695 and three per direction on Interstate 83 in Baltimore County, targeting high-risk crash locations. It requires that fines collected from violations on these highways be used exclusively for roadway and safety improvements on the same routes. The bill also mandates that the Department of State Police send warning notices (not citations) for first-time violations during an initial implementation period. This legislation directly affects drivers using these specific interstate segments in Baltimore County, with the key change being the dedicated funding of speed-monitoring fines for local road safety projects.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 273: Residential Leases - Late Payment Penalties - Calculation

HB 273 changes Maryland's rules for late rent penalties in residential leases by limiting penalties to a percentage of the *unpaid rent* rather than the total rent due. It caps late fees at 5% of the unpaid rent for monthly leases or $3 per week (with a monthly maximum of $12) for weekly leases. This directly affects landlords and tenants by preventing excessive penalties and making any higher fees unenforceable. Tenants can also recover damages if landlords attempt to enforce illegal late fees. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1296: Environment - Managed Aquifer Recharge Pilot Program - Establishment

HB 1296 establishes a pilot program to test using treated wastewater for groundwater recharge in Maryland. The bill authorizes the Department of the Environment to review and permit demonstration facilities that treat reclaimed water to strict quality standards (including PFAS limits and pathogen reduction) for testing groundwater augmentation. It directly affects water treatment facilities and localities facing anticipated groundwater issues like saltwater intrusion or land subsidence within the next 25 years. The program requires facilities to prove they address specific groundwater problems, meet federal and state water quality standards, and undergo testing before permits are issued. This is strictly a testing phase for feasibility, not permanent implementation.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 590: Motor Vehicles - Reckless, Negligent, and Aggressive Driving (Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act)

SB 590, titled the "Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act," updates Maryland's penalties for reckless, negligent, and aggressive driving. It directly affects drivers convicted of dangerous driving behaviors, including speeding 30+ mph over the limit (now a 6-point offense), reckless driving (max $1,000 fine or 60 days jail), and negligent driving (max $750 fine). The bill adds specific traffic violations - like running red lights, tailgating, or passing in no-passing zones - as elements that can trigger "aggressive driving" charges when committed in combination (two or more offenses during a single driving event). Key changes include removing outdated sections, renumbering penalty provisions, and clarifying that aggressive driving convictions carry a maximum $1,000 fine. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 758: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Elections, Financial Statements, and Enforcement

SB 758 requires condominium and homeowners association (HOA) governing bodies to use independent election administrators (not candidates or property managers) for board elections and mandates reasonable accommodations for unit owners organizing governance activities. It specifies that associations must provide financial records and meeting minutes within 21 days (for documents up to 3 years old) or 45 days (older documents) upon written request, with books kept in Maryland or within 50 miles for public inspection. The bill prohibits charging owners for examining records but allows reasonable copying fees, and expands the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division’s enforcement authority over association rules. These changes directly affect condo/HOA unit owners and governing boards by increasing transparency and standardizing election and record-access procedures.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 984: Public Utilities - Electric Cooperatives - Rate Proceedings

HB 984 applies to electric cooperatives and small utility companies (with under 3% of Maryland’s total utility revenue) by modifying how the Public Service Commission reviews rate changes. It requires the Commission to hold new proceedings within 90 days if a rate proposal is suspended, ensuring any revenue adjustment maintains the existing rate of return or debt coverage ratio without changing the rate structure. The bill also sets strict timelines (90 days for initial decisions, 120 days for further actions) and prevents frequent rate filings by requiring a 90-day waiting period between proposals. This streamlines the process for these specific utilities while maintaining consistency with past rate-setting methods.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1283: Charles County - Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles - Regulation and Enforcement

HB 1283 amends Maryland law to authorize Charles County to regulate off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRVs) within its borders. The bill requires OHRVs to be registered with the county and imposes a registration fee, sets age restrictions for operators, and allows the county to impound OHRVs involved in specific traffic violations. These violations include breaches of Title 21 (traffic laws) or sections of the Criminal Law Article related to vehicle operation. The law directly affects OHRV users in Charles County by establishing new registration, age, and enforcement requirements.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1082: Health Insurance - Individual Market Stabilization - Establishment of the State-Based Health Insurance Subsidies Program

HB 1082 establishes Maryland’s State-Based Health Insurance Subsidies Program to help residents pay for health insurance if federal advance premium tax credits (which reduce insurance costs) decrease. The program would provide direct subsidies to Maryland individuals affected by such federal changes, specifically targeting fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It uses existing funding from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Fund, which includes state-designated money, federal waiver funds, and other sources, to cover these subsidies without requiring new taxes. The bill amends Maryland’s insurance code to formally create this program and outlines how the state will administer it through the Health Benefit Exchange. This policy change directly affects Maryland residents purchasing individual health insurance plans who might face higher costs due to reduced federal support.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 131: Environment - Bay Restoration Fund - Septic System Upgrade Program

HB 131 modifies Maryland's Bay Restoration Fund to prioritize funding for upgrading septic systems that remove nitrogen, a key pollutant harming the Chesapeake Bay. The bill requires the Department of the Environment to evaluate and rank nitrogen-removal technologies based on nitrogen reduction effectiveness, total cost (including maintenance), and cost per pound of nitrogen removed. It establishes performance-based funding levels, prioritizing failing systems in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area first, followed by systems in nitrogen-impaired watersheds, and then those threatening public health. The bill also expands eligibility to include community sewer systems and exempts certain technology procurements from standard state procurement rules, as specified in revised sections of Maryland law (§§ 9-1108.1 and 9-1605.2).

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 872: Residential Real Property - Tenants' Right of First Refusal

HB 872 gives residential renters in Maryland the right to purchase their rental property before the owner sells to a third party under specific conditions. If an owner receives a third-party offer at least 10% lower than a previous tenant offer, or gets a third-party offer without first offering to tenants, the owner must notify tenants in writing within 30 days. Tenants then have 30 days to submit a written offer at the same price as the third-party offer, and the owner must accept it if the price matches. The bill clarifies that liability for failing to follow these steps rests solely with the property owner, not the property itself, and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 391: Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission - Review of Report and Recommendations

SB 391 requires the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to annually review a report published by the Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Attorney General's Office, which details police misconduct investigations. The Commission must then make recommendations based on its review. This bill directly affects the Commission by adding a new annual duty to evaluate the IID's report and propose changes. It does not create new reporting requirements but mandates the Commission to act on existing data about police conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 813: Howard Community College - Board of Trustees, Meetings, and Contracts - Alterations Ho. Co. 1-25

SB 813 increases Howard Community College's Board of Trustees from seven to nine members, with appointments by the Howard County Senate Delegation. It requires the board to include public comment at all meetings, record and post meetings online within 12 hours, provide biennial training for members, and conduct annual employee satisfaction surveys. The bill also changes how the college president's contract is renewed, mandating public transparency during negotiations, and alters termination compensation to provide one year's pay plus one month for each additional year remaining on the contract. Additionally, the board must submit regular reports on faculty union contracts to the Maryland General Assembly starting in 2026.

Bill results