SB 491 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System - Military Service Credit Eligibility - Helicopter Pilots

This bill clarifies how Maryland law enforcement officers in the state pension system can earn retirement credit for military service. It allows credit only if military service wasn't already counted in another retirement system (with exceptions for Social Security, railroad retirement, or certain federal programs). The bill caps total military credit at 5 years, specifies 4 months of credit per year for National Guard/reserve service (max 36 months total), and limits service academy credit to 16 months. It also prohibits individuals from receiving military credit more than once.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System - Military Service Credit Eligibility → Third - Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System - Military Service Credit Eligibility - Helicopter Pilots · 4 edits

MODERATE

SB 491 was amended to specifically include helicopter pilots in the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System, allowing them to receive military service credit under the same conditions as other eligible members. The bill also clarifies that this credit cannot be claimed more than once and sets specific caps on the number of months of credit available for National Guard service and service academy attendance.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed and expanded simultaneously: it now explicitly targets helicopter pilots within state law enforcement aviation units while maintaining the general eligibility rules for other members of the pension system.

SCOPE

Added a specific provision granting military service credit eligibility to members or former members of the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System who are or were assigned as helicopter pilots in a state law enforcement aviation unit.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the bill title and purpose statement to reflect the new inclusion of helicopter pilots, changing the focus from general law enforcement members to include this specific aviation subgroup.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that an individual may not receive service credit under this section more than once, reinforcing the limit on repeated claims for military service credit.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect the new bill number (HB 789) and included a committee report indicating the bill was adopted with amendments.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 49

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% Yea

R Republican13

11 Yea 2

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 297

executive

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Appropriations

lower

Mar 25, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)

house of delegates

Mar 21, 2026

Committee

Referred Appropriations

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)

senate

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

First Reading Budget and Taxation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors