SB 694 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Human Relations - Violations of County Discrimination Laws - Complaints

SB 694 modifies Maryland law to shorten the waiting period before individuals can sue for discrimination under county laws. It changes the requirement from waiting 45 days (in Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties) or 60 days (in Baltimore County) after filing a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights or a local county office to just 30 days. This applies specifically to cases involving employment discrimination or public accommodations in those counties. The bill directly affects people who experience discrimination and seek legal action under local county anti-discrimination codes.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

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 6, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Human Relations - Violations of County Discrimination Laws - Complaints → Third - Human Relations - Violations of County Discrimination Laws - Complaints · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill has been updated from its first reading to a second printing with favorable committee approval and floor amendments. The substantive text of the law regarding discrimination complaint filing deadlines and civil action requirements remains unchanged, but the document now includes a new section clarifying that complaints filed with the state Commission satisfy local exhaustion requirements for counties outside the specific jurisdictions previously covered.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability is clarified to explicitly include any county other than Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, or Prince George's County, ensuring the state Commission's complaint process serves as a valid step for residents in those areas before filing local civil suits.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision stating that filing a complaint with the state Commission satisfies any local requirement to exhaust remedies before filing a civil action in counties not specifically listed in the original bill.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect 'Second Printing' status, including favorable committee reports and adoption dates, while retaining the original legislative text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

43–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 49

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic36

32 Yea 4

88% 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

Amendments

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 172

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 31, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (124-10-8)

house of delegates

Mar 21, 2026

Committee

Referred Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (43-0-6)

senate

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors