HB 1162 requires Maryland correctional facilities in specific counties (starting with Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s) to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder. It mandates facilities to conduct assessments, offer FDA-approved MAT options, and provide behavioral health counseling, with special provisions for pregnant individuals. The bill establishes funding mechanisms: the Special Secretary of Overdose Response must annually reimburse counties for MAT costs, and the Opioid Restitution Fund’s authorized uses expand to support this. This applies to local detention centers and the Baltimore Pre-trial Complex by 2023, with implementation schedules for additional counties.
HB 1378 prohibits Maryland corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other legally formed entities from spending money to support or oppose candidates, political parties, committees, or ballot initiatives. It defines "election activity" and "ballot issue activity" broadly to include direct spending on political campaigns or ballot measures, but excludes bona fide news reporting by independent media. The bill requires the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to create enforcement rules, including penalties like forfeiture of corporate charter privileges and requiring entities to return funds spent on prohibited activities. This law directly affects all domestic and foreign business entities operating under Maryland law, clarifying that their charters do not grant inherent political rights.
HB 1423 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create a workgroup focused on improving home- and community-based services for older adults and people with disabilities. The workgroup, including state agency representatives and community stakeholders, will review five specific programs (like the Community First Choice Program and Home and Community-Based Options Waiver) to assess eligibility, wait times, access barriers, and provider rates. It must make recommendations to improve these services and submit a final report to the Governor and relevant legislative committees by October 1, 2027. This bill directly affects the Department of Health’s oversight of these programs and aims to address systemic issues in service delivery.
HB 1405 restricts campaign finance activities for candidates running for specific state offices (including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and General Assembly members) and their representatives during regular legislative sessions. The bill prohibits them from receiving new contributions, holding fundraisers, soliciting donations, or using un-deposited funds during sessions, with exceptions for activities related to their own federal/local election campaigns, gubernatorial fundraising during election years, and pre-session electronic contributions. Violations would result in civil penalties directed to the state's Fair Campaign Financing Fund. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1407 requires Maryland's State Administrator of Elections to send voters additional notices about absentee ballot deadlines if federal court action overrides state rules for federal elections. Specifically, it mandates clear notices explaining both federal law requirements (for federal contests) and state/local rules (for state/local contests) when federal judicial action preempts Maryland's existing regulations. The notices must encourage voters to mail ballots at least a week before election day or use official drop boxes by election day, delivered through mail, social media, and mass media. The law expires automatically on November 30, 2026, after a 6-month initial term. It directly affects voters participating in federal elections when federal court rulings change ballot deadline rules.
HB 1041 prohibits Maryland's Department of Health from issuing or renewing certificates for youth camps if any structures used to house campers are located in a flood hazard area. This affects all youth camps (as defined by Maryland law) that operate in areas at risk of flooding, including day camps, residential camps, and travel camps. The bill amends health regulations to require the Department to deny certifications for camps meeting this criterion, rather than accepting alternative accreditation. It takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1446 allows school district-employed driver trainers to administer the knowledge test for commercial driver's license school bus endorsements, instead of requiring state examiners. This directly affects school bus driver applicants and trainers working for county school boards. The bill defines "School Vehicle Driver Trainer" as individuals providing classroom instruction, highway driving training, and safety standards education. It amends Maryland law to expand the pool of authorized testers to include qualified school district staff.
HB 1411, the Data Center Planning and Transparency Act, requires owners and operators of large data centers to submit detailed disclosure reports to state agencies and local officials before seeking financial assistance or permits. These reports must include facility details, energy usage, power sources, community benefits, and infrastructure needs. The bill also mandates that local jurisdictions with significant populations develop and adopt data center plans by a specific deadline, which must be published online and implemented through zoning regulations. Additionally, it modifies tax exemption rules for data centers and restricts state funding for data center projects without meeting these new transparency and planning requirements.
HB 1507 allows out-of-state physicians licensed to practice medicine to issue medical exemption certifications for vehicles with tinted windows darker than Maryland's standard 35% light transmittance requirement. It removes the previous 2-year expiration limit for these exemptions, making them valid indefinitely for permanent medical conditions (like photosensitivity disorders). This directly affects Maryland residents requiring dark window tint for medical reasons, who previously needed in-state physician certifications with time limits. The bill does not change the 35% light transmittance rule itself, only the process for obtaining medical exemptions.
HB 1465 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to update stormwater management rules, prioritizing practices that maintain predevelopment runoff characteristics and protect water quality. It directly affects local governments (counties/municipalities) that adopt stormwater ordinances, developers who must implement environmental site design, and the Department itself. Key provisions mandate that stormwater plans prevent soil erosion, reduce pollution in runoff, maintain stream channel integrity, restore water quality, and use the latest precipitation data. The bill also restricts using stream/floodplain restoration projects to meet certain mitigation or permit requirements and requires the Department to review rules every 5 years. These changes aim to improve watershed health while ensuring development minimizes impacts on Maryland's waterways.
This bill clarifies that Maryland vehicle emissions inspections can only result in a failure for three specific reasons: missing required emissions equipment, misfueling, or failing to meet emissions standards. It restricts inspectors from citing other grounds for failure during biennial exhaust emissions tests or emissions equipment/misfueling inspections. The law applies to all vehicles subject to Maryland's emissions testing program, effective October 1, 2026. This change standardizes inspection outcomes by limiting failure determinations to these defined technical issues.
HB 1393 requires Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to establish a virtual telephone queuing system for callers seeking assistance. This system will allow callers to request a return call instead of waiting on hold while preserving their original position in the queue. The bill directly affects MVA customers who contact the agency by phone, improving access to live representatives. The requirement takes effect October 1, 2026, and amends Section 12-104 of Maryland's Annotated Code to mandate this change.
