Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 575: Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act – Reports of Attorney General – Frequency

HB 575 amends Maryland's PORT Act to change the reporting frequency for the Attorney General regarding economic damages from the Port of Baltimore closure and Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. It modifies existing law to require the Attorney General to report to the General Assembly "every 6 months" (instead of monthly) starting July 1, 2024, until all recovery efforts are resolved. The bill directly affects the Attorney General's office, which must adjust its reporting schedule, and the General Assembly, which will receive updates less frequently. The change streamlines administrative reporting while maintaining the requirement to pursue all available legal options to recover state damages. This is a procedural adjustment to existing reporting obligations under the 2024 PORT Act.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 89: Criminal Law - Crimes Relating to Animals - Conviction and Sentencing

HB 89 modifies Maryland's animal cruelty laws by clarifying exemptions for common activities like routine veterinary care (e.g., dehorning, castration), federally approved research, and hunting/fishing conducted humanely under existing regulations. It establishes that each animal harmed in a violation counts as a separate offense for sentencing, meaning multiple animals result in multiple charges. The bill also prevents animal cruelty convictions from merging with other related convictions, allowing courts to impose separate or consecutive sentences for the same act. This directly affects prosecutors, courts, and individuals facing animal cruelty charges, particularly in agriculture, research, and regulated hunting/fishing contexts. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 437: Criminal Law - Visual Surveillance With Prurient Intent - Modifications

HB 437 amends Maryland's criminal code to clarify and expand protections against surreptitious visual surveillance with a sexual motive (prurient intent). It specifically defines "private place" to include residences, tanning rooms, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and restrooms, and defines "private area" as genitals, buttocks, or female breast below the areola. The bill makes it a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $2,500 fine) to conduct such surveillance without consent in these areas, and allows victims to sue for damages and attorney fees. It directly affects individuals who might engage in non-consensual surveillance in locations where people reasonably expect privacy.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 1200: Property Tax - Credit for Law Enforcement Officer or Rescue Worker - Expansion to Judicial Officer

HB 1200 expands Maryland's existing property tax credit program to include judicial officers, who were previously excluded. The bill modifies the tax code to allow counties or municipalities to grant a property tax credit on a dwelling owned by a judicial officer who is disabled, a surviving spouse of a judicial officer who died in the line of duty, or a qualifying cohabitant. It defines "judicial officer" and "public safety officer" to explicitly include judicial roles, requires local governments to define these terms in their laws, and applies the credit retroactively to past years. This change directly affects judicial officers, their families, and cohabitants who meet the eligibility criteria for the tax credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 598: Anne Arundel County - Property Tax Credit - Supermarkets

HB 598 creates a property tax credit for supermarkets in Anne Arundel County that complete eligible construction (new stores or major renovations) in designated "food desert retail incentive areas." It defines a "supermarket" as a grocery store meeting specific size and product requirements (e.g., major departments, over 50% food sales). The county or municipal corporation must designate these food desert areas by law, and the tax credit cannot exceed the personal property tax owed. The credit applies to taxable years starting June 1, 2025, and local governments may set additional limits or eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 258: Economic Development - West North Avenue Development Authority - Alterations

HB 258 reorganizes the West North Avenue Development Authority in Baltimore City, defining its boundaries as the "target area" (West North Avenue from the 600 to 3200 blocks) and a 250-yard "buffer zone" around it. The bill establishes the Authority as a state instrumentality, creates a special nonlapsing fund for its finances, and exempts it from certain taxes and assessments to support development. It directly affects Baltimore neighborhoods in this corridor by enabling residential and commercial redevelopment to address blight, attract businesses, and increase property tax revenue. The changes focus on streamlining the Authority’s governance and financial operations to advance economic development in the targeted area.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 208: Consumer Protection – False Advertising – Digital Goods

HB 208 prohibits sellers from advertising digital goods (like apps, music, e-books, or video content) using terms that imply permanent ownership unless specific disclosures are made at the point of sale. Sellers must obtain a buyer’s written acknowledgment confirming they are purchasing a license (not ownership), listing all restrictions and noting the seller can revoke access. Additionally, if a rental option is offered alongside a sale, sellers must provide clear statements explaining the licensing terms and a digital method to access those details. The bill directly affects businesses selling digital goods in Maryland, requiring them to adjust advertising and checkout processes to comply with these transparency rules. It amends Maryland’s Commercial Law to clarify that digital goods are licensed, not owned, when sold.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 1020: Consumer Protection - Credit Reporting - Medical Debt (Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act)

HB 1020 (Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act) prohibits credit reporting agencies from including medical debt in consumer credit reports and bans lenders from using such debt to assess creditworthiness. It requires hospitals to stop reporting medical debt to credit agencies for 180 days after billing, and to delete reports if a patient is appealing insurance coverage or seeking free/reduced-cost care. The bill also mandates that hospitals include specific contract terms with debt collectors regarding medical debt, making contracts without these terms void. These changes directly affect consumers with medical bills, hospitals, credit agencies, and debt collection entities across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 979: Maryland Self-Service Storage Act - Sale of Personal Property in Satisfaction of Lien - Notice Requirements

HB 979 modifies Maryland's Self-Service Storage Act to strengthen notice requirements before storage facilities sell renters' stored items to cover unpaid fees. It requires operators to provide detailed written notices (via hand delivery, verified mail, or email with prior consent) at least 10 days before a sale, including specific charges due, a 14-day payment window, and sale details. Renters who haven't paid fees for over 60 days are directly affected, as operators must now follow these strict notification steps before selling their property. The bill also mandates 3 days of public advertising for sales through local newspapers, email, or online platforms. These changes aim to ensure renters receive clear, timely information before their belongings are sold.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 1141: Baltimore County - Alcoholic Beverages - Change of Location

HB 1141 modifies Baltimore County's rules for changing the location of an alcoholic beverage license by adding a new condition for approval. Specifically, the Board of License Commissioners may now permit a location change if the license was originally issued in the same election district and has remained at the same location for at least 10 years. This provision directly affects businesses holding alcohol licenses in Baltimore County that wish to relocate within their current election district without meeting prior requirements. The bill amends existing law (Section 13-1702) to include this additional pathway, making it easier for long-standing license holders to move within their district.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 1046: Mechanical Repair Contracts - Technical Service Bulletins

HB 1046 (Maryland, 2025) requires licensed vehicle dealers, obligors, and agents selling mechanical repair contracts to avoid deceptive statements and ensure all testimonials are truthful and accurate. It amends Maryland’s Commercial Law (§ 14-404) and Transportation Code (§ 15-311.2) to strengthen consumer protections for these contracts, which cover repairs for vehicle defects, road hazards, or services like windshield replacement. The bill directly affects businesses selling vehicle service contracts by mandating clear, honest marketing and preventing misleading claims about coverage. It does not create new financial obligations but enforces transparency in how these optional contracts are presented to consumers.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 179: Organized Retail Theft Act of 2025

HB 179, the "Organized Retail Theft Act of 2025," defines and prohibits a series of retail thefts from multiple merchants over 90 days with a total value exceeding $1,500, intended to permanently deprive merchants, return for gain, or resell the merchandise. It classifies violations as felonies with penalties increasing based on total value: up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fine for $1,500-$25,000, up to 10 years or $15,000 for $25,000-$100,000, and up to 20 years or $25,000 for $100,000+. The bill requires courts to determine if a theft qualifies as "organized" for sentencing purposes and mandates restitution to victims. This directly affects retailers, repeat offenders, and courts handling theft cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill results