Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1237: Pesticide Applications - Subscription Contract Requirements and Registry Establishment

HB 1237 establishes a new "Residential Pollinator Protection and Neighbor Notification Registry" managed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. It requires pesticide businesses with residential subscription contracts to inspect properties before each application, communicate findings and recommend non-chemical options, and provide written safety information to customers. The bill also mandates posting visible signs for 48 hours after pesticide applications and creates the registry for residents who want advance notice of pesticides applied to nearby properties. Residents can register to receive notifications if their property is adjacent to a registered location, and the form asks about pesticide sensitivities, pets, or pollinator habitats. This directly affects residential customers, pesticide licensees, and the Department of Agriculture.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1225: Weights and Measures - Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment - Registration Fees

HB 1225 limits registration fees for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to match the fees charged for gas pump meters. Specifically, it prohibits charging stations from being assessed more per "port" than the fee for a single gas pump meter. The bill also requires the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to cover costs for inspecting EV charging equipment, redirecting funds previously allocated elsewhere. This affects EV charging station operators and state inspection programs, ensuring fee consistency between EV charging and traditional fuel dispensing.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1187: Water Companies and Sewage Disposal Companies - Eminent Domain Proceedings and Service Rates

HB 1187 prohibits Maryland's Public Service Commission from approving rate increases for water or sewage disposal companies if a county or municipality has started or plans to start eminent domain proceedings against them. The bill also requires fact finders in such eminent domain cases to consider two specific factors: necessary system upgrades for safe service and potential bill reductions for customers if the company is acquired by a local government. This directly affects private water/sewage companies and local governments pursuing takeover efforts, while setting clear procedural rules for rate approvals and eminent domain cases. The law amends existing public utilities and real property codes to implement these changes, effective October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1212: Workgroup on Seafood Marketing

HB 1212 creates a workgroup to examine challenges and opportunities in Maryland's seafood marketing sector. The workgroup, convened by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will include two Senate members, two House members, agency representatives, seafood industry stakeholders, and other necessary stakeholders. The workgroup must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2027, after a one-year, one-month term.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1195: Net Energy Metering, SUNRISE Program, and Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Program (SUNRISE Act)

HB 1195 replaces Maryland's net energy metering program with the SUNRISE Program, requiring electric companies to implement it through specific tariffs and establish a Standard Utility Net-export Rate. The bill creates a dedicated capacity block for low- and moderate-income households in the Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Program and mandates automatic capacity reservations for qualifying systems. It requires electric companies to apply bill credits to eligible households and report annual program participation, savings, and expenditures to the legislature. The law directly affects low- and moderate-income households by ensuring their access to community solar benefits and guaranteed bill savings under specific circumstances.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1238: Taxation - Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individual Surtax and Wealth Tax

HB 1238 would impose a surtax on the taxable income of Maryland residents with ultra-high net worth and a one-time wealth tax on their net worth exceeding a set threshold. It directly affects Maryland residents whose net worth surpasses the specified amount, requiring them to pay additional taxes based on their income and total assets. The revenue would fund the Maryland Strategic Investment and Stabilization Fund, which must be used to reduce the state’s budget deficit or support education, behavioral health services, affordable housing, and infrastructure - specifically as outlined in the bill’s provisions. The surtax applies to taxable income, while the wealth tax is a single payment calculated using fair market value of assets minus liabilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1128: Income Tax – Angel Investor Tax Credit for Investments in Emergent Technology

HB 1128 creates a state income tax credit for individuals or entities investing in Maryland-based companies developing emergent technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, or cybersecurity. To qualify, investors must contribute at least $25,000 before July 1, 2029, in exchange for equity (not debt), and the company must meet specific criteria for "emergent technology" development. The credit is funded through a dedicated Angel Investor Tax Credit Reserve Fund, which earns interest and is managed by the Department of Commerce. This policy directly affects early-stage tech investors and qualifying Maryland companies seeking capital to grow.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 883: Economic Development - Maryland Stadium Authority - Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and Facility

SB 883 authorizes the Maryland Stadium Authority to review and make recommendations about the Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and Facility in Baltimore City, which serves professional soccer and a soccer academy. The bill establishes a dedicated "Carroll Park Soccer Stadium and Facility Fund" to manage lease payments and requires the Authority to submit annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly. It also grants the Authority the power to acquire the stadium site through specified methods and mandates compliance with financing requirements for site acquisition, design, and construction. The legislation updates existing state law to include this facility within the Authority’s oversight for economic development projects.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 889: Consumer Protection and Labor and Employment - Electronic Shelving Labels and Surveillance-Based Price and Wage Setting - Prohibitions

SB 889 prohibits businesses from using consumer data (like browsing habits) to set dynamic prices for goods or services, and bans food retailers with over 15,000 square feet from using electronic shelf labels for pricing. Instead, these retailers must display prices using physical methods like stickers, tags, or signs. The bill also bans employers from using employee data to set wages and makes violations of these rules enforceable under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act. It directly affects large food retailers, businesses using data-driven pricing, and workers whose wages might be influenced by surveillance-based systems.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

HB 1188: Excess Ownership of Single-Family Residences Excise Tax (End Hedge Fund Control of Maryland Homes Act of 2026)

HB 1188 imposes an excise tax on the acquisition and excess ownership of single-family residences in Maryland by certain entities (like large investment firms or hedge funds, as referenced in the bill's title). The tax revenue will fund the Down Payment and Settlement Expense Loan Program, which provides financing for down payments and settlement costs to help eligible homebuyers purchase homes. The bill creates a new "Excess Ownership of Single-Family Residences Excise Tax" under Maryland's tax code, with the Comptroller distributing tax revenue to the program fund after covering administrative costs. This policy directly affects entities owning multiple single-family homes in Maryland and redirects tax revenue to support first-time homebuyers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 798: Public Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Tobacco Cessation

SB 798 requires Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) to cover individual and group counseling for tobacco cessation, starting October 1, 2026, subject to state budget and federal law. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees seeking to quit tobacco use by eliminating prior authorization requirements for cessation counseling and related products. The bill amends program rules to mandate this coverage under Section 15-103(a)(2)(xxix) and prohibits managed care organizations from blocking access to these services via prior approval. This policy change aims to remove administrative barriers to evidence-based tobacco cessation support for low-income Maryland residents.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 804: Labor and Employment - Occupational Safety and Health - Revisions to Heat Stress Standards

SB 804 requires most Maryland employers with employees working in conditions of 80°F or higher (both indoors and outdoors) to create and maintain heat illness prevention plans. These plans must include provisions for providing sufficient shade, water, and rest opportunities; training workers to recognize and respond to heat-related illness; and implementing acclimatization procedures for new employees. Employers must monitor temperatures and establish emergency response protocols when heat thresholds are exceeded, with specific requirements for hydration, rest breaks, and symptom recognition. The law excludes certain emergency operations, short incidental exposures, and workspaces with mechanical cooling below 80°F.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results