SB 451 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to allow adult learners to take all components of the General Educational Development (GED) exam in their preferred language, rather than only in English. This directly affects adults seeking high school diplomas through examination, particularly non-native English speakers and English language learners under 21 with interrupted education. The bill also mandates the Department to study offering the exam in additional languages and report findings to legislative committees by December 2026. These changes aim to make the diploma-by-examination process more accessible for diverse language learners.
HB 265 modifies eligibility for Maryland's Dent-Care Program, which provides loan assistance to dentists and dental hygienists. It requires applicants to work part-time or full-time (previously only full-time), treat at least 30% Maryland Medical Assistance Program patients annually, and establishes prorated grant amounts for part-time participants. The bill also directs the Maryland Insurance Administration to study dental insurance carriers' use of online credentialing systems and report findings by December 1, 2025. These changes directly affect dentists and dental hygienists seeking program participation.
SB 722 defines "ecological restoration" in Maryland law as activities aimed at recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. The bill specifies this includes improving physical/chemical/biological processes, restoring natural functions, or protecting ecosystem resilience. It requires the Department of the Environment to update relevant regulations to either incorporate this definition or align with it. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting the Department and entities regulated under its environmental rules.
SB 667 clarifies that certain "skills-based amusement devices" are excluded from Maryland's definition of "slot machine," allowing them to award prizes under strict limits. Specifically, these devices may provide noncash merchandise or prizes per play that do not exceed a minimal value approved by the State Lottery Commission, and accumulated prizes must be exchanged for merchandise of comparable total value. The bill directly affects businesses operating such devices in venues like family entertainment centers, ensuring they avoid slot machine regulations. Key provisions prevent these devices from awarding excessive prizes or functioning like traditional gambling machines. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 85, the Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025, requires Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families to place American braille tactile flags in one or more state veterans' cemeteries by October 1, 2025. These tactile flags, designed for blind or visually impaired individuals to experience the American flag through touch, directly benefit blind veterans and visually impaired visitors to the cemeteries. The bill amends existing law to mandate this placement at no additional cost, building on Maryland's existing five state veterans' cemeteries. It is a commemorative measure focused on accessibility and honoring veterans, with no new benefits or funding requirements.
SB 222 modifies the membership structure of Maryland's Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council by specifying its composition. The bill adds nine governor-appointed members, including a representative from historically Black colleges, a cannabis healthcare provider, a pharmacist, a substance use disorder specialist, and others with expertise in cannabis policy, health equity, and laboratory testing. This procedural change does not alter cannabis laws or regulations but defines who serves on the council to advise the state on cannabis-related public health issues. The council will include legislative appointees, agency heads, and the new governor-appointed members, effective October 1, 2025.
SB 846 requires cellular phone carriers in Maryland to include a specific option in service contracts. This option allows multiple account holders (customers of record) to alter, modify, or cancel the service contract without needing others' approval, but only if all account holders agreed in writing when the contract was first signed. The bill directly affects customers sharing a phone plan, such as families or roommates, by giving them more flexibility to manage their account terms. It becomes effective October 1, 2025, and amends existing law to mandate this provision.
SB 371 requires Maryland's State Board of Pharmacy to send renewal notices for pharmacy licenses, permits, and registrations to affected individuals via email (electronic means) by default, rather than by paper mail. This applies to pharmacy licensees, permit holders, registrants (like pharmacy technicians), and wholesale distributors. Recipients can opt out of email notices and request paper mail instead. The notices must include the expiration date, renewal deadline, and fee amount, with paper mail automatically sent if an email notice bounces back.
HB 562 amends Maryland's Election Law to reduce the number of members elected from each councilmanic district to Baltimore County's Republican Party Central Committee, changing it from four to three members per district. This change directly affects the structure of the Republican Party's local committee organization in Baltimore County. The bill modifies Section 4-203(c)(1) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, specifically altering the membership requirements for the committee. The law takes effect October 1, 2025. This is a procedural adjustment to party committee elections, not a change to general voting or election procedures.
SB 685 requires Maryland local election boards to provide language assistance to voters with limited English proficiency in counties meeting specific census-based thresholds. If a county has more than 2% of its voting-age population (with at least 100 people) sharing a non-English language and having limited English proficiency, the State Board of Elections must mandate assistance in that language. Local boards must then provide translated voting materials (forms, ballots, notices), multilingual signage at polling places, and recruit bilingual election judges. This applies to all elections starting January 1, 2026, and requires materials to be of equal quality and available simultaneously with English versions. The law does not require assistance for languages without sufficient voter demand as defined by the thresholds.
HB 1481 establishes Maryland's Adapted Vehicle Access Pilot Program to provide modified vehicles to eligible individuals who require a wheelchair for mobility, are licensed drivers, and qualify to operate adapted vehicles. The Department of Disabilities will administer the program, prioritizing participants in areas with limited public transportation access, and solicit donations of vehicles, modification services, and funds to support it. The bill requires the department to study the program's impacts on participants' independence, mobility, job opportunities, and reliance on public subsidies, with a final report due by December 1, 2028. The pilot program is set to run for five years, ending automatically on September 30, 2030.
SB 109 requires Maryland school boards (including county boards and Baltimore City's Board of School Commissioners) to annually certify by October 1 to the State Ethics Commission that they comply with the Maryland Public Ethics Law. This applies to both school board members and, where relevant, local school system officials and employees. The bill mandates this certification as a new requirement under Section 5-816 of the Maryland Code, effective October 1, 2025. It directly affects all public school boards by adding a formal, yearly compliance verification step.
