Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1351: Home Improvement Contractors - Disaster Mitigation Services and Fraudulent Insurance Acts - Regulation and Prohibition

HB 1351 expands Maryland's licensing requirements for home improvement contractors to include specific "disaster mitigation services," such as boarding windows, tarping roofs, demolition to prevent further damage, and securing walls after disasters. This change directly affects homeowners (who gain the right to cancel contracts for these services under certain conditions), contractors (who must now hold licenses for such work), and local counties (which can limit in-person solicitation of disaster victims by contractors). Key provisions include adding these services to the legal definition of "home improvement" under licensing rules, allowing owners to rescind contracts for disaster mitigation services, and giving counties authority to restrict contractor solicitation near disaster sites. The bill aims to regulate contractor activities during emergencies while providing clearer consumer protections.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1098: Courts - Exemptions From Execution on Judgments - Residential Real Property

HB 1098 expands bankruptcy exemptions for Maryland residents by including residential property held in a revocable trust as eligible for protection. It increases the exemption cap for individuals aged 60+ with disabilities or veteran status to $300,000 (adjusted annually for inflation), while maintaining a $150,000 cap for other filers. The law automatically adjusts these amounts each year based on the Consumer Price Index, rounded to the nearest $25. This directly affects Maryland bankruptcy debtors owning homes - either directly or through revocable trusts - who qualify under the new or adjusted exemption thresholds.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1191: Secondhand Precious Metal Object Dealers - Temporary Event-Based Dealer Limited License - Establishment

HB 1191 creates a new "limited license" for temporary event-based dealers of secondhand precious metal objects (like jewelry or coins) who do not maintain a fixed business address in Maryland. This license allows such dealers to operate at temporary events (e.g., craft fairs or markets) by partnering with existing licensed dealers who have permanent locations in the state. To qualify, applicants must pay a $300 nonrefundable fee, provide business details, specify storage locations (excluding bank vaults without special consent), and list the permanent dealer locations where they will operate. The bill directly affects temporary sellers without fixed addresses and existing licensed dealers hosting these events, while the Secretary of Labor administers the licensing process.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1593: Community Pathways Waiver - Adoption of Regulations

HB 1593 requires Maryland's Deputy Secretary for Developmental Disabilities to provide public notice before changing the Self-Directed Services Manual, which governs waiver program services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill mandates a 90-day public comment period for proposed changes and prohibits adopting any revisions until this period ends. It directly affects individuals and families using self-directed services - where participants control their own care choices, staffing, and budget management - and ensures their input is considered before policy changes take effect. This procedural bill amends Maryland’s health code to formalize transparency and public engagement in updating the manual (effective October 1, 2026).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 954: State Finance and Procurement - Retention Proceeds

HB 954 requires state agencies and contractors to pay undisputed retention proceeds within 90 days after a construction project reaches "substantial completion." This directly affects state contractors and subcontractors working on government construction projects who hold retention payments. The bill amends Maryland's procurement law (Section 13-225) to establish this 90-day deadline, clarifying that retainage (typically up to 5% of contract value) must be released promptly without dispute. It also ensures escrowed retainage includes pro-rata interest earned during the holding period. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1480: Labor Law - Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards

HB 1480 strengthens child labor protections by prohibiting minors from working in specific hazardous occupations (like manufacturing hazardous substances, construction, or operating machinery) and imposing civil penalties of up to $10,000 for employers who violate these rules. It also creates a new process allowing private sector employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board to resolve workplace disputes, while banning employers from supporting organizations exempt from federal labor law (like the National Labor Relations Act). Additionally, the bill prohibits state agencies in the Executive Branch from seeking federal waivers of the Fair Labor Standards Act. These changes directly affect employers, private employees, and state government entities in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 520: Property Tax - Charter Counties - Application of County Tax Limitation on Public Safety Budget

SB 520 allows charter counties in Maryland to set property tax rates above their charter limits - via simple majority vote - to fund public safety budgets (like police and fire services). It requires that any excess tax revenue collected beyond the charter limit must be allocated solely to public safety, not other county programs. The bill applies only to charter counties (e.g., Baltimore County) and mandates annual reporting to the Governor and legislature on tax rates and revenue usage. This changes existing tax rules by creating a specific exemption for public safety funding while maintaining other budget constraints.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1048: Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons and Disclosure and Notice

HB 1048 requires Maryland chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to display warning icons next to menu items containing high sodium (1,150mg+ per serving) or high added sugars (25mg+ per serving) starting January 1, 2028. The Maryland Department of Health must adopt regulations by January 2027 establishing the icon designs, minimum sizes, and accompanying text. The bill also mandates a 2027 public education campaign to help restaurants comply with the new requirements. This directly affects large chain restaurants operating in Maryland, aiming to increase consumer awareness of nutritional content in menu items.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 893: Business Regulation - Abandoned Cemeteries - Acquisition and Disposition

HB 893 authorizes Maryland government units to acquire property containing abandoned cemeteries through condemnation for transfer to descendants of those buried there, descendant community organizations, or qualifying nonprofits. It requires governments to make reasonable efforts to contact descendants after acquisition and allows affected groups to petition courts to request property transfers. The bill also mandates that any entity receiving the property must maintain and preserve the cemetery, while governments must preserve the site until transfer occurs or facilitate reinterment if transfer isn't possible within a reasonable time. This applies to cemeteries meeting specific criteria, such as having no active operator, unclaimed ownership, or no identifiable responsible party.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 912: Local Government - Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats - Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)

HB 912 (Ash’s Law) clarifies that people caring for free-roaming cats under a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program are not violating animal abandonment laws. It requires local governments to adopt TNR policies that: prohibit requiring caregiver registration, mandate shelters to return eartipped cats (identified by a clipped ear) to their original location, and make TNR the preferred option for impounded cats. The bill also overrides local laws restricting TNR and applies to all Maryland counties and municipalities. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 837: Education - Student Athletic Activities - Cardiovascular Prescreening

HB 837 requires all Maryland public and nonpublic schools with athletic programs to include a cardiovascular prescreening as part of the standard physical examination for students participating in interscholastic sports, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This prescreening - based on family history, personal symptoms, and evidence-based guidelines - must be conducted no earlier than 90 days before the school year begins. If a positive finding occurs, healthcare providers must refer students to a cardiologist for further evaluation. Schools must report annual data on screenings and referrals to county health departments, with the Maryland Department of Health publishing public reports analyzing outcomes. The bill directly affects student athletes, schools, and healthcare providers conducting sports physicals.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1070: Department of Social and Economic Mobility - Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and Fund

HB 1070 establishes the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program and a dedicated Workforce Opportunities Grant Fund within Maryland's Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The program provides competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, local workforce boards, and employer-community partnerships to plan and host job fairs and workforce events connecting job seekers with employers across the state. The fund, which earns interest credited back to it, is a special nonlapsing account to support these grants. The bill modifies state finance and government codes to create this program and requires the Department to administer it, focusing on expanding job opportunities for residents.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results