Maryland Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 865: Workgroup on the Affordability of Private Passenger Automobile Insurance – Extension and Alteration of Membership and Duties

SB 865 extends the deadline for Maryland's Workgroup on Automobile Insurance Affordability to January 1, 2027, requiring it to produce specific, data-driven legislative recommendations instead of further studies. The bill alters the workgroup's membership to add two nonprofit representatives with expertise in insurance rating practices and mandates focus on concrete solutions to reduce premiums and address geographic/racial disparities caused by factors like territorial rating. This aims to provide the legislature with actionable proposals to reform how insurance rates are set, particularly regarding rating practices that contribute to unfair cost differences across communities.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 866: Workgroup for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing - Extension

HB 866 requires Maryland's Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to hire at least three specialized case managers who directly assist deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing residents. The bill amends existing law to mandate these positions, ensuring the office provides dedicated case management services to help individuals navigate support systems. It specifies that these case managers must focus on the unique needs of the three target populations, including coordination with state agencies and emergency services. This policy change formally expands the office's service capacity under Section 9-2403(b)(15) of Maryland law.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 748: Publicly Funded Prekindergarten - Early Childhood Educator Career Ladder for Private Providers - New Pathways

HB 748 repeals specific deadline requirements for private prekindergarten providers participating in Maryland's publicly funded prekindergarten program. The bill removes time limits (like "within 3 years of hire" or "by July 1, 2027") that educators needed to meet certain educational or credentialing qualifications to advance through the state's early childhood educator career ladder. Private providers who receive public funding for prekindergarten services are directly affected, as they will no longer face strict deadlines to ensure staff meet these qualifications. The career ladder structure itself - including its three levels (teaching assistant, lead teacher, consulting teacher) and core goals of improving pay, professional development, and retention - remains unchanged. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing framework, not a substantive policy shift.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1110: Judicial In Rem Tax Foreclosure - Notice Requirements

HB 1110 modifies notice requirements for counties or municipalities seeking to foreclose on vacant or abandoned properties due to unpaid taxes. It replaces a specific requirement to mail notices within 5 days of filing with standard legal service procedures under Maryland Rules. The bill maintains existing rules that require taxes to be delinquent for at least 6 months and that properties must have been cited as vacant/unfit for habitation. This change directly affects property owners (interested parties) whose properties are subject to tax foreclosure actions.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1216: Insurance – Certificates of Guarantee for County Bond Requirements – All Counties

HB 1216 allows all Maryland counties - not just specific ones - to choose whether to accept "certificates of guarantee" issued by approved contractor associations or on behalf of contractors. These certificates help contractors meet bonding requirements for public projects like road or building work. The bill clarifies that counties are not required to honor these certificates but may do so voluntarily. It updates Maryland's insurance code by removing the previous list of counties that could accept them, applying the rule uniformly across all counties.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 829: Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act)

SB 829, the "Bring Back Main Street Act," requires certain Maryland counties to permit multifamily developments (buildings with five or more dwelling units sharing common walls) and mixed-use developments (residential plus non-residential uses where non-residential is under 50% of space and limited to first floors) as standard zoning. It prohibits counties from imposing restrictions on these developments, such as limiting height or density, while allowing counties to require a minimum percentage of retail space and on-site parking. The bill directly affects counties, developers, and communities by streamlining approval for housing projects that combine residential and commercial uses. This change aims to increase housing options in areas where such developments were previously restricted under local zoning rules.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 809: Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program - Funding

HB 809 establishes funding requirements for Maryland's Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program. The bill mandates that starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor must include in the annual budget an appropriation for the program equal to at least 150% of the fiscal year 2026 level, with specific requirements for University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) funding. The program provides scholarships ($2,000-$5,000) to Maryland college and graduate students pursuing public service internships, prioritizing residents with demonstrated interest in careers serving low-income or underserved communities through legal, social work, nursing, or other public/nonprofit sectors. It directly affects eligible students and administers through the Shriver Center, ensuring sustained funding for three specific internship tracks: Governor’s Summer Internship, Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership, and Sondheim Public Service Law Fellowships.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1137: Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act)

HB 1137 (the "Bring Back Main Street Act") requires Maryland counties to permit multifamily developments (buildings with 5+ residential units sharing walls) and mixed-use developments (primarily residential with non-residential space limited to under 50% of total floor area, confined to first floors) on certain properties. It prohibits counties from imposing restrictions on these developments, such as limiting building height or density, while allowing counties to require a minimum of 15% of floor space in mixed-use projects to be dedicated to retail uses and to mandate on-site parking. The bill directly affects counties (by changing their zoning authority), developers seeking to build these projects, and property owners on affected parcels. It updates Maryland’s land use code to streamline approval for these development types, aiming to support community revitalization.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 668: Children's Cabinet Fund - Renaming and Funding for Grants to Local Management Boards

SB 668 renames Maryland's "Children's Cabinet Fund" to the "Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund" and requires the Governor to annually appropriate specific funds for grants to local management boards. It mandates $3 million more for fiscal year 2028 than 2027 and $2 million more for fiscal year 2030 than 2029. Local management boards receiving funds must develop community partnership agreements coordinating with state and local child and family service plans, and use the money for evidence-based programs addressing youth development, prevention services, and out-of-home care needs. This bill directly affects local boards, children, and families by structuring state funding to support coordinated, community-driven services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 847: Wicomico County - Property Tax Credit - Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.

This bill authorizes Wicomico County or its municipalities to grant a property tax credit against local property taxes for real estate owned by Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (SNHS), specifically for properties SNHS intends to transfer to private owners within a near future. The credit applies only to properties used for development, rehabilitation, and transfer to private owners, excluding administrative or warehouse buildings owned by SNHS. SNHS must submit annual reports detailing all its property holdings and transactions in the jurisdiction granting the credit. The credit becomes effective for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 889: Wicomico County - Property Tax Credit - Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.

HB 889 authorizes Wicomico County or its municipalities to grant a property tax credit against local property taxes for real property owned by Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (SNHS), specifically for properties they intend to transfer soon, use for housing development/rehabilitation, and are not used for administrative purposes. The nonprofit must submit annual reports detailing all its properties and transactions in the jurisdiction granting the credit. The credit terms (amount, duration, scope) would be set by the local government, and the law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to taxes for 2026 and later.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 842: Property Tax Credit - Surviving Spouse of Military Service Member

HB 842 repeals a requirement that a surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty must acquire a dwelling house within two years of the service member's death to qualify for a property tax exemption. The bill directly affects surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, allowing them to qualify for the exemption regardless of when they purchase or acquire the home. Key provisions remove the 2-year acquisition deadline from existing law (Maryland Code, Tax-Property § 7-208(b)), making the exemption available as long as the surviving spouse meets other eligibility criteria. This change takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans