Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 946: Endangered and Threatened Species - Incidental Taking - Bats

SB 946 establishes a new permit process allowing incidental taking (unintentional harm or killing) of certain bat species in Maryland. It requires applicants, such as developers or landowners, to submit a detailed conservation plan outlining impacts, mitigation steps, funding, and alternatives considered. The Secretary of Natural Resources must then verify the taking won’t harm bat recovery, the plan is fully funded and implementable, and federal permits are secured. This directly affects entities working in areas with protected bat populations and the state agency overseeing wildlife permits.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1322: Natural Resources - Vessels - Carbon Monoxide Warning Labels (Matthew's Law)

HB 1322 requires all operators of gasoline-powered vessels on Maryland waters to have carbon monoxide warning labels clearly visible near the transom and helm of the vessel. This law directly affects boat operators and owners who operate gasoline-powered vessels, amending Maryland's State Boat Act to mandate these labels. The key provision specifies the exact locations where labels must be affixed to warn of carbon monoxide risks. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 516: Motor Vehicles - Automated Enforcement Programs - Privacy Protections

HB 516 strengthens privacy protections for footage captured by Maryland's automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras, school bus monitors, and traffic signal cameras). It requires agencies to deny public access to recorded images unless specific exceptions apply, such as for traffic enforcement investigations or court proceedings. The bill also prohibits state/local agencies from using these images for non-enforcement purposes without a warrant, subpoena, or court order, and mandates data destruction after a set period. This replaces and amends existing Maryland law to clarify privacy safeguards for automated enforcement programs.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 273: Peace Orders and Protective Orders - Military Protection Orders

SB 273 requires Maryland judges to consider military protection orders (issued by military commanders under federal law) when deciding whether to grant temporary civilian peace or protective orders. It also mandates that law enforcement officers notify the agency that issued a military protection order if they believe a service member violated it. The bill amends Maryland law to integrate military protection orders into the state's civil court process for domestic violence cases. This directly affects service members, their families, and civilian petitioners seeking protection in Maryland courts. The policy change ensures military orders carry weight in state court decisions without altering military procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1195: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission - Membership, Reporting, Billing, and Planning (WSSC Planning and Reporting Act of 2025) MC/PG 105-25

HB 1195 (WSSC Planning and Reporting Act of 2025) requires one Montgomery County commissioner on the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to be the Director of Montgomery County’s Environmental Protection Department or their designee. It mandates the WSSC to develop long-range financial planning scenarios every five years, including stress testing for economic changes like interest rates and water usage. The bill also requires the WSSC to publish specific operational details on its website and prohibits limiting how often certain customers can receive billing adjustments. These changes directly affect WSSC commissioners, Montgomery County environmental leadership, and WSSC customers through updated transparency and billing rules.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1064: Montgomery County Planning Board and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission - Open Meetings - Live Streaming Requirement MC/PG 101-25

HB 1064 modifies live streaming requirements for Montgomery County Planning Board and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission meetings. It now requires live video or audio streaming only when meetings are held at the agencies' headquarters or at locations where they held at least 10 meetings in the prior calendar year. The bill maintains existing obligations to archive recordings and publish meeting minutes online. This change narrows where live streaming is mandatory, potentially reducing technical requirements for meetings held at other locations.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 436: Vehicle Laws - Medical Exemption for Enhanced Tinted Windows - Time Limitation

HB 436 repeals the 2-year expiration requirement for medical exemptions allowing tinted windows with less than 35% light transmittance in Maryland. It directly affects residents with medical conditions requiring enhanced window tinting (e.g., photosensitivity), who previously needed to renew certifications every two years. The bill removes the time limit from Section 22-406(i)(4)(ii) of the Maryland Annotated Code, allowing exemptions to remain valid as long as the medical need persists. This change simplifies the process for affected drivers by eliminating the need for periodic renewal. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 540: Common Ownership Communities - Recreational Common Areas - Sensitive Information as Condition for Access

SB 540 prohibits cooperative housing corporations, condominium associations, and homeowners associations from requiring sensitive information as a condition for accessing shared recreational areas like pools, playgrounds, or game rooms. It defines "sensitive information" as Social Security numbers, tax IDs, birth certificates, racial/ethnic origin, national origin, citizenship status, or religious beliefs - excluding government-issued photo IDs like driver's licenses. The bill directly affects residents, guests, and children of residents who seek to use these common recreational spaces. It applies to all three association types and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 871: Department of the Environment - Community Water and Sewerage Systems - Cybersecurity Planning and Assessments

SB 871 requires Maryland's community water and sewer system providers to implement cybersecurity measures and report incidents to the Department of the Environment. It mandates these providers to follow minimum security standards meeting federal benchmarks, develop plans for service disruptions from cyberattacks (like ransomware), and complete staff training on cybersecurity. The Department of Environment must coordinate with IT and emergency management departments to establish these requirements, update regulations, and maintain a list of approved training programs. The law also prohibits public record inspections related to critical infrastructure security, focusing on concrete operational changes for water and sewer systems.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 707: Vehicle Laws - Medical Exemption for Enhanced Tinted Windows - Time Limitation

SB 707 repeals a two-year time limit on medical exemptions for vehicles with tinted windows that do not meet Maryland’s standard 35% light transmittance requirement. Currently, individuals with medical conditions requiring darker tint (e.g., for light sensitivity or skin conditions) must renew their exemption annually or biennially. The bill removes this expiration, allowing physician-certified exemptions to remain valid as long as the medical need persists. This directly affects Maryland residents who rely on medical exemptions for window tinting, simplifying compliance without altering the 35% transmittance standard or certification requirements.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 1227: Montgomery County - School Bus Stops on Highways - Alterations MC 8-25

HB 1227 requires Montgomery County to collect fines from traffic violations (like speeding or school bus camera citations) directly for local use starting October 2025. Specifically, fines from contested cases on highways with school bus stops - where at least 400 citations have been issued to drivers traveling opposite the bus - must fund construction of safety barriers (median dividers) on those roads. The bill also updates school bus stop rules: after December 2028, bus stops cannot be placed on undivided highways with five or more lanes without either a crossing guard or a traffic signal that stays red while students board or exit. These changes apply exclusively to Montgomery County and aim to improve road safety through targeted funding and infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 13, 2025

HB 450: Maryland Transit Administration - Disability Reduced Fare Program - Renewal for Permanently Disabled Individuals

This bill requires the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to automatically renew disability reduced fare program certifications for enrolled individuals who are permanently disabled, eliminating the need for them to reapply annually. It directly affects people with permanent disabilities who use MTA services and currently must manually renew their reduced-fare status each year. The key provision mandates the MTA to implement an automatic renewal process through regulations, streamlining access to discounted transit fares. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and updates existing MTA regulations under Maryland Code, Transportation Article § 7-718.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results