HB 281 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Family Law - Child Care Providers - Criminal Background Investigations

HB 281 requires background checks for individuals working with children in specific settings. It mandates licensed child care centers, family child care homes, foster care facilities, schools, camps, and similar organizations to obtain national and state criminal history checks for all employees, volunteers, and certain caregivers - including neighbors or friends providing sudden care due to a primary caretaker's unavailability. Facilities must submit fingerprints and pay a fee to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository. The bill directly affects providers serving minors and expands background check requirements to include new categories like "sudden caregivers" and individuals residing in homes where informal child care occurs.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Sep 16, 2025 Signed Apr 28, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 28, 2026

How they voted

430
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 49
Mar 24, 2026
D Democratic36
33 Yea 3
91% Yea
R Republican13
10 Yea 3
76% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 28, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 266
executive
Apr 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Enrolled
lower
Apr 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 11, 2026
Introduced
House Concurs Senate Amendments
lower
Apr 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 28, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (131-0-11)
house of delegates
Mar 24, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-0-6)
senate
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
Referred Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Judiciary
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judiciary
lower
Sep 16, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.