Maryland Bills

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

HB 1190: Public Utilities - Off-Grid Electricity Providers - Exemption

HB 1190 exempts new off-grid electricity providers (those starting operations on or after October 1, 2026) from most public utility regulations, including permits and rules under Maryland’s Public Utilities Article. However, these providers must still comply with specific construction requirements under Sections 7-207 and 7-207.1 when building generating facilities. The exemption ends if a provider later connects to the state grid, crosses state lines, or locates within/along roads or rights-of-way. This bill directly affects new off-grid energy operators, not existing providers or grid-connected utilities.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 650: Family Law - Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations ("Know Before They Knock" Family Right to Notice Act)

SB 650, the "Know Before They Knock" Family Right to Notice Act, requires Maryland child protective services and law enforcement to provide parents or legal guardians with specific written and oral notice during initial contact in child abuse or neglect investigations. The notice details key rights, including the right to refuse entry into their home without a court order, the right to consult an attorney before speaking, and the right not to sign documents or allow interviews without legal counsel. This bill directly affects parents or guardians of children involved in investigations, changing the process by mandating this notice at the first point of contact. The law amends Maryland’s Family Law (Section 5-706) to ensure families understand their legal protections during investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 711: Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

SB 711 amends Maryland's definition of child neglect to explicitly include the failure or refusal to provide a child with education required by law. This change directly affects parents or caregivers who have legal responsibility for a child's education but do not enroll them in school as mandated. The bill alters Section 5-701(s) of Maryland's Family Law code to add that "neglect" now encompasses this educational neglect. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2026, updating how child neglect is legally defined under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 746: Police Discipline - Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies - Suspension Pending Appeal of Trial Board Decision

SB 746 allows municipal police chiefs in Maryland to suspend officers without pay while they appeal disciplinary decisions made by a trial board. It directly affects municipal police officers facing disciplinary actions who choose to appeal their case. The bill requires that if an officer wins their appeal, they must receive full back pay for the suspension period. This change modifies existing law to address the financial impact on officers during the appeal process.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

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

HB 1244: Overhead Transmission Lines and Eminent Domain - Property Value - Damages

HB 1244 allows residential property owners within 300 feet of where overhead transmission lines are constructed to sue for diminished property value caused by the project. It modifies Maryland law to let these owners recover damages and seek reasonable attorney fees if they win their case. The bill also requires courts to award defendant attorney fees and costs to the property owner if the final court decision finds the property's assessed value exceeded the appraised value in transmission line condemnation cases. This applies specifically to cases involving overhead transmission lines under Maryland's Public Utilities Article. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 723: Real Property - Deeds - Recordation Requirements

SB 723 requires that deeds for residential property transactions involving title insurance must include the title insurer's name and policy number when recorded. This affects homebuyers, sellers, title insurers, and county recorders in Maryland. The bill amends Maryland's real property law to add this specific requirement to Section 3-104(f)(7) of the Annotated Code. It takes effect October 1, 2026, applying only to transactions where title insurance was obtained.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 919: Homeowners Associations - Reserve Funding, Meeting Notices, Voting, and Records

SB 919 requires Maryland homeowners associations (HOAs) with 100 or more lots to post specific documents online within 30 days of creation or receipt. These include declarations, bylaws, meeting minutes (for the past 5 years), recordings of virtual meetings (past 12 months), and other records typically available to lot owners. The bill also clarifies that HOAs may secure loans for reserve funding under certain circumstances and mandates electronic meeting notices and voting options. Smaller HOAs are not subject to the online posting requirement, which applies only to qualifying large associations. This aims to increase transparency in HOA operations through accessible digital records.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 795: Health Insurance - Vision Benefits - Regulation of Insurers and Vision Benefit Managers

SB 795 establishes new regulations for vision insurance benefits in Maryland. It requires insurers and vision benefit managers to publicly disclose specific information on their websites, including their legal details, regulatory oversight, and contact information. The bill sets standards for contracts between these companies and eye care providers (like optometrists and ophthalmologists), including rules for reimbursement rates, provider inclusion procedures, and prohibitions on certain restrictive contract terms. These changes directly affect vision benefit plan providers, eye care professionals, and enrollees who use vision insurance coverage. The law creates a new regulatory framework under Maryland’s Insurance Article to standardize vision benefit offerings and transparency.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 752: Commission to Review and Assess Racial Disparities in the State Criminal Justice System - Establishment

SB 752 establishes a 15-member Commission to study racial disparities in Maryland's criminal justice system. The Commission, appointed by legislative leaders, the Governor, and criminal justice stakeholders, will examine how African Americans, Hispanics, and other non-White individuals experience differences in policing, arrests, sentencing, and other system stages. It must study issues like mandatory minimums, risk assessment tools, felony murder doctrine, and data collection methods, then hold public hearings and submit recommendations. The bill does not change laws but creates a body to analyze systemic inequities and propose reforms. This affects all Marylanders interacting with the criminal justice system by directing a formal review of racial bias patterns.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 899: Firearms Dealers - Firearm Hold Agreements

SB 899 creates legal immunity for federally licensed firearms dealers in Maryland who return firearms to owners at the end of a "firearm hold agreement." This private agreement allows dealers to temporarily hold a firearm at the owner's request, for a set period, and return it per the agreement terms. The bill states dealers cannot be sued civilly for injuries or deaths occurring after returning the firearm under such an agreement, except if the dealer acted unlawfully. It specifically excludes standard firearm transfers covered under other laws (§ 6-234 of the Criminal Procedure Article). The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

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

HB 1265: Election Law - Candidate Truthfulness - Oath

HB 1265 requires Maryland candidates for elected office to submit one of two oaths with their certificate of candidacy. The primary oath asks candidates to swear they will provide factually truthful information about their employment history, criminal/legal background, and organizational affiliations while campaigning, with violations risking perjury charges, disqualification, or removal from office. A second option allows candidates to decline the truthfulness pledge while still making their candidacy documents public. The bill explicitly exempts candidates from being barred from editorializing opinions or personal information during campaigns. This applies to all candidates filing for state offices in Maryland.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 854: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Restrictions

SB 854 restricts federal law enforcement officers in Maryland to exercising powers only when acting in accordance with state law, requiring coordination with local agencies during joint operations or emergencies. It prohibits all law enforcement officers from engaging in racial profiling - defined as relying on race, ethnicity, or national origin in enforcement actions - while allowing such reliance only when describing a specific suspect in an active investigation. The bill mandates law enforcement agencies to develop and implement written racial profiling policies by a specified date and prohibits retaliation against officers who report such profiling. Violations allow for civil lawsuits and provide legal protections for whistleblowers reporting racial profiling incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results