Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1388: Oysters - Rotational Harvest - Pilot Program

Maryland's HB 1388 establishes a 5-year pilot program for rotational oyster harvesting in four designated Chesapeake Bay areas: the Lower Choptank River, Lower Main Stem Chesapeake Bay, Herring Bay, and Lower Chester. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to open one different oyster bed in these areas each oyster season (2026-2029), conduct baseline surveys before opening, and monitor areas after closing. Harvesters must replace oyster shells where they were taken to support habitat recovery. The program directly affects commercial oyster harvesters and the state agency managing Chesapeake Bay resources.

Topics ✓ Environment

Jason Buckel (R) Sheree Sample-Hughes (D) Susan McComas (R) Jeff Ghrist (R) Seth Howard (R)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1408: Motor Vehicles - Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems - Impoundment

HB 1408 allows Maryland law enforcement agencies to impound a motor vehicle if it has three or more unpaid and overdue civil citations from automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras or red-light cameras), with each citation overdue by at least 30 days. This primarily affects vehicle owners who accumulate multiple unpaid automated traffic violations. Impoundment may only occur under two specific conditions: when an officer stops the driver for another traffic violation, or when the vehicle is parked. The bill clarifies that this action cannot be the primary reason for stopping a vehicle. It updates existing transportation code to define "automated traffic enforcement systems" and establish this impoundment threshold.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1447: Motor Vehicle Administration - Improper Registration - Investigation and Penalties

HB 1447 requires Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to create a system verifying vehicle owners' addresses. If the MVA finds a Maryland resident driving a vehicle registered in another state, it can investigate and issue a $150 penalty for failing to properly register the vehicle within 60 days of notice. If registration remains unaddressed after 60 days, a second $500 penalty applies. All penalties collected fund Maryland's Transportation Trust Fund. This bill directly affects Maryland residents who improperly register vehicles, primarily targeting out-of-state registrations of in-state residents.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1379: Vehicle Laws - Vehicle Registration Fees - Sixth Legislative District

HB 1379 temporarily reduces vehicle registration fees for residents in Maryland's Sixth Legislative District who own eligible vehicles (passenger cars, motorcycles, and certain trucks) until a replacement bridge for the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge opens to traffic. It lowers standard fees: passenger cars under 3,500 lbs pay $30.50 instead of $80.50 annually, motorcycles pay $15.00 instead of $65.00, and qualifying trucks have fees reduced by $50. The bill applies only to vehicles registered to an address in the Sixth District and expires upon the bridge's reopening. This is a targeted, temporary cost relief measure tied to a specific infrastructure event.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1374: Alternative Fuel, Fuel-Efficient, and Electric Vehicles - Highway Use Fees

HB 1374 replaces the existing annual surcharge for zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles with a new annual highway use fee for owners of alternative fuel vehicles, fuel-efficient vehicles (25+ MPG), and plug-in electric drive vehicles. It requires these owners to pay the annual fee instead of the previous $100-$125 surcharge, with fees deposited into a dedicated Highway Use Fee Account. The bill also establishes a voluntary mileage-based user fee program administered by the Department of Transportation, allowing vehicle owners to opt into this program instead of paying the annual fee. All funds in the Highway Use Fee Account must be used solely for Maryland’s regional commuter rail service, with strict rules prohibiting diversion to the general fund or other departmental purposes.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1421: Task Force to Study Pedestrian and Bicyclist Injuries and Fatalities

HB 1421 establishes a Maryland task force to study pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. The task force, composed of state transportation officials and legislative appointees, will examine specific issues like pedestrian visibility challenges (including dark clothing at night), weather impacts on cyclists, and safety actions pedestrians/bicyclists can take. It must submit recommendations to the Governor and legislature by October 1, 2027, on making roadways safer. The bill does not enact new safety laws but creates a study mechanism to inform future policy. The task force expires automatically on September 30, 2028.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1442: Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Program - Definition, Application, and Workgroup - Modifications

HB 1442 expands Maryland's Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Program from being limited to Montgomery County to apply statewide across all counties and Baltimore City. The bill modifies the definition of "community choice aggregator" to include residential electric customers served by specific member-regulated and small rural electric cooperatives. This change allows these cooperatives to participate in local electricity purchasing programs that negotiate better rates for residents, while removing the previous geographic restriction to Montgomery County only. The bill also updates workgroup membership requirements to reflect these expanded program parameters.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1316: Public Health - Universal Health Care Program - Study and Commission

HB 1316 directs the Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to study the feasibility of implementing a single-payer universal health care system in Maryland. The study will evaluate coverage scope (including essential benefits under federal law and Maryland programs), cost projections, and potential impacts on health equity and access, while examining how to integrate existing programs like Medicaid and Medicare. An Advisory Commission, composed of state officials, labor representatives, and community stakeholders, will assist the Institute in developing final recommendations. This bill is purely a study mandate with no immediate policy changes; it aims to inform future legislative decisions about universal health care.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1133: Public Health - Drug Manufacturer-Funded Disease Awareness Campaigns - Registration and Required Disclosure

HB 1133 requires drug manufacturers and patient advocacy groups receiving drug manufacturer funding to register with Maryland's Department of Health before running disease awareness campaigns. It mandates that campaign materials disclose if the campaign relates to a drug or device the manufacturer is developing, manufacturing, or marketing. The law directly affects drug companies and patient advocacy organizations that receive manufacturer funding for campaigns focused on specific medical conditions. Campaigns promoting marketed drugs must include a clear statement identifying the specific drug or device being promoted. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1385: Health Insurance - Use of Artificial Intelligence - Human Evaluation

HB 1385 requires health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers using artificial intelligence (AI) for medical treatment reviews (utilization review) to include licensed healthcare professionals in key evaluations. Specifically, it mandates that AI decisions must be reviewed by a licensed professional who can question, modify, or override AI determinations based on a patient’s full medical history and individual circumstances. The bill also requires quarterly reviews of AI performance using human assessments of real-world health outcomes to improve accuracy and safety. These provisions apply to all AI tools used in utilization review processes within Maryland’s health insurance system, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1469: Health Insurance - Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug

HB 1469 requires Maryland’s Insurance Administration to create a workgroup to study the current definition of "specialty drug" in health insurance. The workgroup, including pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacists, insurers, hospitals, and healthcare providers, will examine how the definition impacts patients and stakeholders, compare it to federal and state standards, and recommend a revised definition. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by January 1, 2027, after which the bill expires on June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects health insurers, pharmacies, hospitals, and patients using high-cost specialty drugs, aiming to clarify definitions that influence coverage and costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1153: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Claims for Reimbursement - Downcoding

HB 1153 prohibits health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations in Maryland from unilaterally lowering medical claim payments (downcoding) without clinical justification. The bill requires these entities to notify providers within 30 days if they intend to downcode, including specific reasons, references to clinical guidelines, and the original vs. revised codes. It bans practices like downcoding based solely on diagnosis codes, using AI without reviewing medical records, or targeting providers treating complex conditions, and mandates emergency claims be downcoded based on documented symptoms - not final diagnoses. A downcoding decision resulting in nonpayment is treated as a coverage denial, allowing providers to appeal under existing law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results