SB 373 would require the Governor to withdraw Maryland from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional program limiting power plant emissions. The bill repeals and amends Maryland law that previously mandated state participation in RGGI and redirected funds from RGGI allowance sales to the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. It removes requirements for the state to report on emissions reductions plans if RGGI participation ends. This legislation directly affects Maryland's state government and energy policy by ending the state's involvement in the multi-state emissions trading program. The bill does not alter current emissions regulations but changes how funds from RGGI would be handled if Maryland withdraws.
SB 352 creates a special "Old Line Plate" program for Maryland motor vehicles, allowing owners of qualifying vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks under 10,000 lbs, and multipurpose vehicles) to obtain registration plates with numeric-only license numbers (1-5 digits, no letters or leading zeros). The Motor Vehicle Administration will auction rights to specific numbers, with proceeds funding transportation costs. Owners can transfer these number rights under strict rules (e.g., 180-day holding period, limited annual transfers) but cannot claim ownership of the plate itself. The program takes effect October 1, 2026, with the first auction by December 1, 2026.
HB 625 shifts responsibility for collecting fees from research facilities to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, replacing the current system under the Department of Health. It requires facilities submitting USDA Form 7023 (for animal testing) to pay annual contributions based on animal count: $5,000 for ≤100 animals, $10,000 for 101-500, $55,000 for 501-5,000, and $75,000 for over 5,000. Funds collected will support the Human-Relevant Research Fund established under Maryland’s Economic Development Article. The bill repeals existing health code provisions and creates new agriculture code sections for this fee structure, effective October 2026.
HB 300 amends Maryland's state contract law to prohibit specific provisions in state agreements, such as requiring the state to pay for damages without budgeted funds, mandating binding arbitration, or limiting the state's legal options. The bill exempts contracts entered by the Office of International Trade (within the Department of Commerce) for international business development, as authorized under existing law. This exemption allows the Office to include terms that would otherwise be invalid under the general prohibition. The change ensures these international business contracts remain enforceable without being voided for standard prohibited clauses.
SB 432 authorizes Maryland's Attorney General to sue fossil fuel companies with over $1 billion in market capitalization for climate-related harms caused by fraudulent or deceptive practices. It establishes the Climate Crimes Accountability Fund to collect settlement money from such lawsuits. The fund finances programs addressing climate impacts like flooding, heat islands, drought, and disease spread (e.g., vectorborne pathogens), while also covering legal costs of the Attorney General's cases. The bill directly affects major energy corporations and directs state resources toward climate adaptation and mitigation.
HB 66 requires the Governor to withdraw Maryland from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state program targeting carbon emissions from power plants. The bill amends Maryland law to remove the requirement for state participation in RGGI and redirects funds previously allocated to RGGI programs, such as the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. It specifically repeals provisions that mandated joining RGGI, required emissions reporting under the initiative, and linked urban forestry programs to RGGI offset opportunities. The bill directly affects state agencies managing energy policy and environmental programs by eliminating RGGI obligations and redirecting related financial resources.
SB 9 establishes an annual tax-free day on November 11 (Veterans Day) in Maryland starting in 2026. It exempts sales tax on items costing less than $2,000 purchased by veterans, provided they show valid ID (like a driver's license or government ID) indicating veteran status. The Comptroller may suspend this tax-free day at their sole discretion. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly benefiting eligible veterans making qualifying purchases.
HB 201 exempts tips and gratuities from Maryland state income tax for workers in specific service industries. It directly affects employees in food service, hotels, limousine services, passenger-for-hire transportation, and taxicab services. The bill modifies Maryland tax law to exclude tips received in these roles from taxable income calculations. This change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
HB 644 amends Maryland's property tax law to simplify the application process for surviving spouses of disabled veterans seeking a property tax exemption on their primary residence. The bill updates the required documentation, allowing surviving spouses to submit either a VA disability certification or a VA rating decision (including the effective date) instead of previous, more complex forms. This change directly affects unmarried surviving spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged with a 100% service-connected disability, ensuring they can more easily qualify for the exemption on their current home or a newly acquired home meeting specific conditions. The exemption remains tied to the property's use as a primary residence and the veteran's qualifying disability status.
HB 541 requires all Maryland public schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products (tampons or sanitary napkins) in women’s restrooms at no cost to students. Each county board of education must install dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms at middle/high schools by October 2022 (and all by August 2025) and in at least one restroom at elementary schools by October 2022. Schools must regularly restock these dispensers to ensure availability, with the state reimbursing counties for installation and product costs through a $500,000 fiscal year 2023 appropriation. The law applies directly to public school students and county education boards, taking effect July 1, 2026.
