Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 725: Transfer of Real Property - Recordation Certification and State Transfer Tax (Land Transfer Accountability Act)

SB 725 requires a special "Certificate of Compliance" from the Attorney General and Department of Assessments and Taxation before property transfers from the U.S. government to private individuals or entities can be recorded by local courts. The certificate confirms the transfer complies with state and federal laws, and the agencies must review these transactions within a set timeframe. The bill also establishes a new state transfer tax rate specifically for properties previously owned by the U.S. government. This affects private buyers of federal land and local court clerks who must verify the certificate before recording deeds. The law applies only to transfers where the U.S. is the previous owner, not to standard property sales.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

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

HB 1210: Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Transmission Lines - Notice to Landowners

HB 1210 requires transmission line companies to send certified mail notices to landowners whose property abuts or is adjacent to proposed construction sites at least 30 days before public hearings. The notice must explain landowners' rights to intervene in the approval process and how to file intervention requests. Failure to provide this notice invalidates the public hearing or voids the application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, allowing the company to reapply. This bill directly affects landowners near proposed transmission line routes in Maryland, with the law taking effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 922: Collective Bargaining - Local Government Employees and Public Employee Relations Act

SB 922 establishes collective bargaining rights for county and municipal employees in Maryland by applying the state's Public Employee Relations Act to local governments. It defines "public local employees" (excluding confidential/management staff and school/library workers) and requires counties/municipalities to adopt local labor laws for negotiations. Key provisions include mandatory good-faith bargaining, binding arbitration for unresolved disputes, and procedures for local governments to seek board reviews of their labor policies. The bill directly affects local government workers and employers across Maryland's counties and cities, excluding school boards, community colleges, and public libraries.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 924: Department of Social and Economic Mobility - Maryland Chamber of Commerce Grant Program - Established (Business Networks Access Act)

SB 924 establishes the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Grant Program within the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The program provides grants to chambers of commerce for two key purposes: subsidizing membership fees for underrepresented individuals (covering one year of lowest-tier membership at no cost) and funding inter-chamber events (like networking activities, covering venue, promotion, and staff costs). To qualify, chambers must demonstrate programming support for new members, maintain annual funding for a full-time position, and submit annual reports on membership awards and participant feedback. The bill mandates a $100,000 annual state appropriation for the program, effective October 1, 2026, and requires detailed application requirements for both grant types.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 677: Public Safety – Handgun Permits – Firearms Training Course

SB 677 modifies Maryland's requirements for handgun permit applicants by increasing the mandatory firearms training course duration. It requires a minimum of 16 hours of in-person instruction for new applicants (up from 8 hours) and maintains 8 hours for renewals, both including specific classroom content. The training must cover state and federal firearm laws, safe storage, prohibited possession scenarios, self-defense, and locations where firearms are banned. This directly affects individuals applying for or renewing handgun permits in Maryland. The bill does not change other permit criteria like age, criminal history, or background checks.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 716: Courts and Judicial Proceedings - Charging Documents - Law Enforcement Officers

SB 716 amends Maryland law to expand the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include special police officers for the Maryland Judiciary. It requires the State's Attorney to investigate and recommend to a court before a statement of charges can be filed against law enforcement officers, emergency services personnel, or child welfare workers for crimes committed while performing their duties. The bill mandates that such applications must be immediately forwarded to the State's Attorney, who must then investigate and provide a recommendation to the District Court Commissioner before charges proceed. This change applies to cases filed on or after October 1, 2026, and does not affect the State's Attorney's authority to file formal charges or convene a grand jury.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 874: Health Occupations - Social Workers - Scopes of Practice

SB 874 clarifies and expands the scope of practice for licensed social workers in Maryland. It revises definitions in the Health Occupations code to specify that all licensed social workers (including bachelor's and master's level) may independently provide psychosocial assessment, case management, and counseling services without supervision, as long as they follow board regulations. The bill removes previous restrictions requiring supervision for certain practice activities under bachelor's and master's licenses. It directly affects licensed social workers by enabling broader independent practice within their defined education and training categories.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 568: Health Occupations - Licensed Psychologists - Prescriptive Authority

SB 568 would allow licensed psychologists in Maryland to prescribe certain medications under specific conditions, but only after obtaining certification from the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The bill creates new requirements for certification, establishes a Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee to oversee implementation, and adds new sections (18-3B-01 to 18-3B-09) to the health occupations code. It directly affects licensed psychologists who meet the new certification standards and complete required training, expanding their scope of practice beyond traditional psychological services. The policy change modifies existing licensing rules to include prescriptive authority as a defined part of "practice psychology" under specific board-certified conditions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

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

HB 424: Continuing Care in a Retirement Community Providers - Governing Bodies - Membership

HB 424 modifies Maryland law governing retirement communities that provide continuing care services. It allows resident associations (not the governing body) to select resident representatives ("subscriber members") for these boards, removing prior requirements that such members meet specific selection criteria like religious standards. This change directly affects residents who pay for continuing care services and the retirement communities operating under Maryland law. The bill repeals outdated sections of the law that previously dictated how these representatives were chosen.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 888: Election Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congress

SB 888 is a constitutional amendment that temporarily establishes Maryland’s 8 congressional districts for elections held after the 2026 general election and before the 2030 census redistricting. It uses 2026 boundary data (election districts, wards, and precincts) to define these districts, including specific counties and parts of Anne Arundel County. The bill also clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative seats, not congressional seats, and gives the General Assembly power to allow the Supreme Court to review congressional districting. This framework expires once the state passes permanent congressional districts after the 2030 census.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 652: Maryland Illegal Online Gambling Enforcement Act

SB 652 prohibits unlicensed online gambling operations in Maryland, targeting operators, financial transaction providers (like payment processors), and platform hosts that facilitate illegal gambling. It defines "illegal" as activity not authorized by law and excludes licensed online sports wagering under existing law. The bill empowers the Attorney General and local prosecutors to issue cease-and-desist orders requiring operators to block access from Maryland within 10 days, with penalties including fines or imprisonment for noncompliance. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, creating new enforcement tools against illegal online gambling.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 812: Homeowners' Property Tax Credit - Eligibility and Calculation - Alterations

SB 812 modifies Maryland's homeowners' property tax credit by raising the income eligibility threshold from $60,000 to $100,000 in the preceding calendar year and adjusting the credit calculation structure. The bill now applies 0% to the first $15,000 of combined income, 3% to the next $7,500, 6% to the following $7,500, and 9% to income exceeding $30,000. This change directly affects Maryland homeowners with combined gross income up to $100,000 who qualify for the credit. The bill takes effect for tax years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results