SB 709 creates Maryland's Purple Star Colleges Program to recognize institutions of higher education that provide strong support for military-connected students. The bill updates the definition of "military-connected student" to include service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents, and establishes specific requirements for colleges seeking designation. To qualify, colleges must designate a uniformed services liaison, maintain a dedicated webpage with transition resources, offer student-led transition programs, and provide staff training on military-connected student needs. Administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, this program complements the existing Purple Star Schools Program and directly affects colleges and military-connected students statewide.
HB 1096 requires Baltimore City and Maryland counties to include written notice of eligible property tax credits on property tax bills sent to taxpayers. This applies to existing property tax credits (such as those for seniors or veterans) that taxpayers may qualify for but might not be aware of. If someone other than the taxpayer receives the bill, the recipient must forward the notice to the actual taxpayer in writing. The bill does not create new credits but ensures taxpayers receive clear information about existing ones through their tax billing process.
HB 216 prohibits individuals from exploiting government benefits through deception, coercion, or exploitation of vulnerable people. It specifically bans recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining others to appropriate their benefits (including Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, and veterans benefits) for personal gain or to benefit others. The law also prohibits financial gain from such exploitation or aiding/abetting these acts, with penalties including up to 25 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. It directly affects benefit recipients - particularly vulnerable populations like disabled or elderly adults - and those who exploit their benefits through threats, false promises, or controlling behavior. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 199 creates a state fund to provide grants for water-based activities like sailing, kayaking, and surfing, specifically expanding eligibility to include "eligible companions" of individuals with disabilities or service-disabled veterans. The bill requires the Department of Disabilities to administer grants of up to $40,000 annually to qualifying nonprofits that have provided these activities on Maryland waters at least 25 times yearly for three years. Eligible companions are defined as family members or direct support professionals accompanying the individuals. The fund, held separately by the State Treasurer, will cover both activity costs and administrative expenses. This policy change directly affects disabled individuals, service-disabled veterans, and their support personnel by adding companions to the list of beneficiaries.
SB 42 protects registered reduction operators (who process human remains into soil via natural organic reduction) and veterans service organizations from civil liability when transferring or receiving unclaimed hydrolyzed or soil remains of veterans or their eligible dependents, as long as they act in good faith. It amends Maryland law to clarify that these entities are not legally responsible for handling such remains for disposition purposes. The bill specifically replaces the term "cremated remains" with "hydrolyzed or soil remains" in relevant legal sections to align with new processing methods. This change directly affects veterans' remains management without altering existing disposition procedures or creating new requirements.
HB 623 creates Maryland's Purple Star Colleges Program to recognize colleges providing strong support for military-connected students, while updating the existing Purple Star Schools Program. The bill directly affects military-connected students (including service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents) and colleges, including both public/private higher education institutions and private career schools. Key provisions require colleges to appoint a military liaison to assist new military-connected students with transitions, and maintain an easily accessible website with resources on relocation, enrollment, academic planning, and support services. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will administer the program and establish minimum criteria for colleges to earn Purple Star designation.
SB 939 expands bankruptcy exemptions for Maryland residents by including residential property held in a revocable trust as eligible for protection. It increases the exemption amount for owner-occupied homes to $150,000 for most filers and $300,000 for individuals aged 60+ who are veterans or have a long-term disability certified by a physician. The bill adjusts these amounts annually based on the Consumer Price Index and rounds to the nearest $25. This directly affects people filing for bankruptcy in Maryland who own homes through revocable trusts or meet the higher exemption criteria.
SB 215 updates Maryland laws to better support veterans and active uniformed service members. It standardizes definitions like "military protection order" and "active service member" across multiple state codes, ensuring all uniformed services (including National Guard) receive consistent protections. Key changes include: allowing service members on leave to fish without a trout stamp using official leave orders, modifying landlord remedies to protect active-duty renters, and updating eligibility for veterans' benefits. The bill also adjusts how the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund is administered to better serve veterans. These changes directly affect veterans, active service members, and local governments managing related programs.
SB 46 clarifies the definition of "interment" in Maryland law to include earth burials, mausoleum entombment, and columbarium niches for veterans' cemeteries. It requires the Department of Veterans and Military Families to provide an outer burial receptacle (instead of a grave liner) or a columbarium niche with marker at no cost for every burial. The bill also mandates funeral homes and crematories to share identifying information about unclaimed cremated remains with veterans service organizations to determine if they belong to veterans or eligible dependents, ensuring proper burial arrangements. This directly affects veterans, their families, funeral service providers, and cemetery administrators.
SB 150 allows Maryland state departments (including Environment, General Services, and Labor) to add a voluntary "veteran status" notation to public profiles for certain licenses and certifications. It requires applicants to provide documentation (like a DD-214 or state certification) and explicitly consent to having the notation displayed and to being contacted about veterans' benefits. The bill applies to business licenses, health occupations credentials, and state-issued identification cards, with departments adding the notation only upon verified veteran status and applicant consent. This policy change does not create new benefits but provides a visible indicator of veteran status on state-issued public profiles.
