HB 795 requires public service employers in Maryland (such as state/local government offices, public schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations) to certify employee full-time status for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. It establishes specific procedures for completing the federal loan forgiveness form and clarifies that employers must share data directly with the U.S. Department of Education. The bill also mandates the Student Loan Ombudsman to develop and distribute awareness materials about the program to borrowers, higher education institutions, and employers. These changes aim to streamline certification processes and increase participation in the federal loan forgiveness program.
SB 445 shifts administration of Maryland's Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) from the Secretary of Aging to the Family Investment Administration within the Department of Human Services. This change requires DHS to coordinate all CSFP activities using federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under 7 C.F.R. 247, removing the previous requirement for the aging department to administer the program. The bill directly affects low-income seniors and families receiving CSFP benefits, as the program's management will now be centralized under DHS. The law amends Maryland Code sections 5-205(a)(8) and 10-204(a)(2), taking effect October 1, 2025.
SB 456 updates eligibility for Maryland's Dent-Care Program, requiring dentists and dental hygienists to treat at least 30% of patients as Maryland Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) recipients annually while working in private practice or clinics. It allows part-time employment for program participants (previously required full-time) and establishes prorated grant amounts for part-time providers. The bill also mandates a study by Maryland Insurance Administration on whether dental insurance carriers use online credentialing systems, with findings due to legislative committees by December 2025. These changes directly affect dentists and dental hygienists seeking loan assistance under the program.
SB 617 creates a new limited license category for eyelash extension services under Maryland's cosmetology licensing system. It updates definitions in state law to explicitly include "providing eyelash extension services" in the scope of both "practice cosmetology" (Section 5-101(n)(v)) and "provide esthetic services" (Section 5-101(o)(iii)). This allows the State Board of Cosmetologists to issue a specific limited license for eyelash extensions, covering services like applying primers, adhesives, extensions, and sealants. The bill directly affects cosmetologists and technicians seeking to legally offer eyelash extensions in Maryland.
SB 623 authorizes St. Mary’s County to borrow up to $71 million through general obligation bonds to fund public facilities like schools, roads, bridges, parks, and community infrastructure. The county may use these bonds to finance construction, improvements, or repairs of facilities listed in the bill, including public works projects and operational buildings. To repay the bonds, the county is required to levy annual property taxes sufficient for principal and interest payments, with the bonds and their interest exempt from state and local taxes. The bonds may mature within 30 years, and the county has full discretion over bond terms like interest rates and sale methods.
HB 840 requires Maryland's public senior higher education institutions (including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State, and St. Mary's College) to create and publish student support plans for pregnant and parenting students. The plans must include referrals to government assistance programs (like child care scholarships and Medicaid), adoption resources, priority class registration, flexible scheduling, and health care provider networks. Institutions must post these plans online by August 1, 2026. The law aims to ensure these students have access to necessary resources while complying with federal anti-discrimination protections under Title IX.
HB 214 establishes the Maryland Assistive Technology Program within the Department of Disabilities to provide devices and services for individuals with disabilities. The bill creates the Assistive Technology Services Fund, which will receive revenue from program fees (like assessments and training), state budget appropriations, and interest earnings - this fund is non-lapsing, meaning money doesn’t expire if unused. Key provisions include expanding access to assistive technology through statewide lending libraries (allowing short-term device loans) and aligning with federal requirements under the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act. The program directly affects people with disabilities by increasing access to tools that support daily functioning and independence.
SB 717 increases annual salaries for specific Somerset County officials: the sheriff ($85,000 to $105,000), regular county commissioners ($10,000 to $12,000), commissioners' president ($11,000 to $13,000), county roads board members ($10,000 to $12,000), and roads board president ($11,000 to $13,000). The bill amends Maryland Code sections governing these positions, specifically modifying Sections 2-333(b)(1), 2-101, and 9-104 of Somerset County's public local laws. These salary changes take effect October 1, 2025, applying to the next term of office after that date. The bill directly affects all current and future holders of these specific Somerset County elected or appointed roles.
HB 1155 defines "ecological restoration" in Maryland law as activities aimed at recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. The definition specifically includes improving physical/chemical/biological processes, restoring natural functions, and protecting ecosystem resilience. The bill requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to update existing environmental regulations to incorporate or align with this new definition by October 1, 2025. This affects the department’s regulatory framework and any projects governed by those regulations, but does not create new requirements for landowners or developers. The bill solely clarifies terminology and mandates regulatory consistency.
HB 825 amends Maryland law to add the Comptroller or their designee as a voting member of the Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Board. Currently, the board includes the State Treasurer, Secretary of Labor, and nine appointed experts; this bill formally adds the Comptroller to the membership list. The change renumbers the existing membership structure but does not alter the board's responsibilities for overseeing small business retirement savings programs. The amendment takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 147 requires the Governor to obtain Senate approval before appointing members to Maryland's State Board of Stationary Engineers. Currently, appointments may not require Senate confirmation, but this bill mandates that all appointments must now include the "advice and consent of the Senate." The bill specifies the board's composition (eight members including engineers, industry representatives, boiler owners, and consumer members) but does not change the board's responsibilities for overseeing boiler safety regulations. This is a procedural change to the appointment process, effective October 1, 2025.
HB 782 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to study how public middle and high schools can better detect deadly weapons and rapidly report findings to law enforcement. The study mandates a comprehensive audit of all schools' current security systems - including physical measures, technology gaps, and potential improvements - and specifically evaluates unused detection methods, AI software integration, optimal camera placement, and expanded metal detector use. The Department must complete this study and submit findings to the House Speaker and Ways and Means Committee by December 1, 2025, with the bill automatically ending on June 30, 2026. This bill affects all Maryland public middle and high schools by directing a formal review of their security protocols, without implementing new requirements.
