HB 1347 (Bri’s Law) creates a 7-member task force to study Maryland’s post-incarceration support systems. The task force, including state legislators, corrections officials, and prosecutors, will examine all release types from prison and current programs designed to prevent reoffending. It must submit recommendations to the Governor and legislature by July 2027, after which the task force automatically expires on June 30, 2028. This bill does not change existing services but mandates a review of current postrelease requirements.
HB 1339, "Handgun Roster Reform," updates Maryland's process for adding handguns to the state's authorized roster. It requires the Attorney General to review petitions and determine if a handgun complies with state and federal law before placement, and mandates that handguns must pass testing by Maryland State Police or an accredited lab. The bill also alters the Handgun Roster Board's responsibilities to coordinate with the Attorney General and Maryland State Police, and allows the Attorney General to designate certain materials as confidential. This directly affects handgun manufacturers and sellers seeking to have their products available for sale in Maryland.
HB 1154 limits restrictive housing for pregnant incarcerated individuals in Maryland correctional facilities. It prohibits placing them in restrictive housing (defined as 20+ hours locked in a cell daily) except in specific emergencies involving immediate safety risks or disease control, requiring facility staff to document why less restrictive options weren’t possible. The bill mandates medical assessments every 8 hours, access to recreation and programming for pregnant individuals in infirmary care, and requires facilities to submit detailed reports to officials within 30 days of any placement. It also prohibits placing other vulnerable populations in restrictive housing and mandates the Correctional Ombudsman to review implementation annually.
HB 1575, the Community Trust Act, prohibits state and local correctional facilities and their employees from detaining individuals or sharing information with federal immigration authorities based on immigration status, except when required by a judicial warrant or for routine booking. It bans asking about citizenship, prolonging detention for immigration reasons, transferring individuals to immigration authorities without a warrant, or coercing people based on immigration status. Exceptions include when immigration status relates to legal protections under state/federal law or international treaties, allowing facilities to notify individuals or offer voluntary disclosure. Correctional facilities must adopt policies with penalties for violations, and affected individuals can seek damages or injunctions if harmed by a breach.
HB 1141 increases Maryland's minimum population requirement for municipal incorporation from 300 to 600 residents. It requires organizing committees (groups seeking incorporation) to prepare a report analyzing the financial impact on residents and services, which counties must post online within 60 days. The bill mandates county commissioners or councils to formally approve referendum requests if petitions meet the 25% signature threshold of registered voters in the proposed area. It also specifies that votes on incorporation must occur in the next general election under certain conditions. This directly affects unincorporated communities seeking to form new municipalities.
HB 1358 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to allocate funds from the Hospital Employees Retraining Fund to local workforce development boards when hospitals close, downsize, or merge. It also mandates that these local boards provide grants to employers through the Apprenticeship Career Training in Our Neighborhoods Program. Additionally, the bill requires the Department to fund local workforce boards for direct worker services under the State's quick response program when job losses occur due to business reductions. This bill directly affects local workforce development boards, hospitals facing operational changes, and workers impacted by layoffs or closures.
HB 1229 establishes a constitutional right for Maryland workers to receive at least the state minimum wage without counting tips toward that amount. It bans employers from using tip credits for tipped employees (effective on a specified date) and requires food service facilities to prominently disclose any service fees to customers before ordering. The bill repeals exemptions that allowed lower wages for certain workers (like those in security roles) and updates consumer protections around service fees under Maryland law. These changes directly affect food service workers and restaurant customers, ensuring fairer wage treatment and transparent fee practices.
HB 1189 requires property and casualty insurance companies in Maryland to redirect $5 million annually from their existing tax payments to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, starting July 1, 2026. This policy change applies directly to insurers who pay the tax and benefits the Disaster Recovery Fund, which supports disaster response and recovery efforts. The bill amends Maryland law to mandate this specific annual transfer without creating new taxes or altering existing insurance regulations. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, as specified in the legislation.
Maryland's Senate Joint Resolution 4 is a symbolic resolution urging action on nuclear policy. It asks Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and urges the U.S. President and Senate to endorse that treaty. The resolution does not create new laws but formally joins other states and localities in advocating for reduced nuclear risks and alignment with international nuclear disarmament efforts.
HB 1576 increases the sales and use tax on electronic smoking devices and vaping liquid in Maryland, directing specific tax revenue to the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund. For electronic smoking devices, 10% of the tax revenue will fund the pediatric cancer program, while 30% of tax revenue from small vaping liquid containers (5ml or less) will go to the same fund. The bill establishes clear rules for using these funds - limiting administrative costs to 5% of the total and requiring all remaining funds to support pediatric cancer research grants. It also mandates annual reports to the legislature on how the fund is managed and spent, ensuring transparency. This policy directly affects retailers selling these products and the pediatric cancer research community.
HB 1033 establishes the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Grant Program within the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. It provides two types of grants: (1) subsidies for underrepresented business individuals (e.g., minorities, women) to join chambers at no cost, and (2) funding for joint events between multiple chambers. Chambers applying for membership grants must demonstrate programming support for new members and fund a full-time staff position, while inter-chamber grants require event plans and budget details. The program receives $100,000 annually from the state budget starting October 2026, with chambers required to submit annual reports on participants and event outcomes.
SB 229 designates May as Maryland Native Plant Month by requiring the Governor to annually issue a proclamation. The proclamation urges educational organizations, environmental groups, and businesses to host events and activities celebrating native plants. It defines "native plant" as species naturally occurring in Maryland before colonial settlement or listed on the Maryland Plant Atlas. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and creates no new funding or regulatory requirements - only an annual recognition effort.
