Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 979: Local Government - Accommodations Intermediaries - Hotel Rental Tax - Collection by Comptroller and Alterations

SB 979 requires platforms like Airbnb (defined as "accommodations intermediaries") to collect and remit Maryland's hotel rental tax directly to the state Comptroller instead of local counties. It eliminates counties' authority to grant tax exemptions for short-term rentals and centralizes tax administration under the state. The bill also establishes new procedures for the Comptroller to audit these platforms, streamlining tax collection while removing local discretion over exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 921: Health Insurance - Step Therapy or Fail-First Protocols - Drugs to Treat Associated Conditions of Advanced Metastatic Cancer

This bill prohibits health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations in Maryland from requiring step therapy (a process where patients must try and fail on a cheaper drug before getting coverage for a more expensive one) for certain prescription drugs used to treat stage four advanced metastatic cancer or its associated symptoms/side effects. Specifically, it bans step therapy for drugs that are FDA-approved for treating the cancer itself, or for drugs treating a symptom or side effect from cancer treatment that a doctor determines will harm the patient if left untreated. The prohibition applies only when the drug use aligns with FDA approval, cancer treatment guidelines, and peer-reviewed medical literature. This law will take effect for all health insurance policies in Maryland issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 757: Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program - Funding

HB 757 redirects funds from oil transfer license fees to establish a dedicated program for professional and volunteer firefighters' cancer screening. Starting in fiscal year 2026, $4 of the $9 per barrel oil transfer fee (collected under Maryland's Environment Article) will be transferred annually to the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program. The Secretary of Health must use these funds exclusively for this program, including supporting academic medical centers for screening purposes. This bill directly affects Maryland firefighters by creating a new, ongoing funding source for innovative cancer screening technologies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 931: Public Utilities - Generating Stations - Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act)

SB 931, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, streamlines permitting for solar energy projects by limiting local government authority to block or delay them. It prohibits jurisdictions from denying site plans for solar facilities or energy storage under certain conditions, requires expedited reviews for qualifying projects, and mandates automatic enrollment programs for community solar. The bill also sets specific requirements for residential rooftop solar installations and requires the Public Service Commission to study potential partnerships for renewable energy. These changes directly affect solar developers, local governments, and residents who may participate in community solar programs. The law alters how the Public Service Commission evaluates projects, emphasizing climate science and grid reliability while reducing local regulatory hurdles.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

vetoed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 691: Healthcare Ecosystem Stakeholder Cybersecurity Workgroup

SB 691 requires Maryland healthcare entities - including hospitals, health information exchanges, and freestanding medical facilities - to adopt strong cybersecurity standards (including a "zero-trust" approach), undergo third-party audits every two years starting in 2026, and report incidents to the state's Security Operations Center. It mandates the Maryland Health Care Commission to hire a cybersecurity expert and convene two workgroups focused on reviewing threats, responses to disruptions, and making recommendations for improvement. The law applies specifically to defined "healthcare ecosystem entities" but excludes insurance carriers and pharmacy benefits managers. These requirements aim to strengthen cybersecurity practices across critical healthcare infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

vetoed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2025

HB 384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established

HB 384 establishes the Maryland Disability Service Animal Program within the Department of Disabilities. The program requires the Department to select a nonprofit organization to train service animals and creates a dedicated fund to support eligible individuals with disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act). Key provisions include referring individuals to the nonprofit trainer, providing funding assistance for service animal training, and encouraging successful participants to help with outreach to others. This directly affects Maryland residents with disabilities who need service animals trained to perform specific tasks for daily living.

vetoed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 909: Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act

This bill creates a new Integrated Resource Strategic Energy Planning Office within Maryland's Public Service Commission to develop long-term energy forecasts and study wholesale energy markets. The office will work with the Maryland Energy Administration to create energy models and require electric companies to submit integrated resource plans for future energy needs. Public service companies, including electricity and gas suppliers, will pay for the office's operations through an annual assessment billed by the Commission. The legislation also establishes procedures for stakeholder input and public proceedings to inform energy planning decisions.

Topics ✓ Energy

vetoed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 177: Procurement - State Department of Education - Local Food Purchasing Program

SB 177 authorizes the Maryland State Department of Education to directly manage procurement of local food for public schools, specifically food grown within 200 miles of schools, from certified local farms, and certified Chesapeake invasive species. This allows the Department to enter master contracts with school systems without approval from other state procurement units. The bill requires the Department to create a centralized platform connecting farmers/distributors with schools and mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing contract volumes and values. It affects local farmers, school systems, and the Department of Education by streamlining how schools source food locally under new procurement rules.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 758: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Elections, Financial Statements, and Enforcement

SB 758 requires condominium and homeowners association (HOA) governing bodies to use independent election administrators (not candidates or property managers) for board elections and mandates reasonable accommodations for unit owners organizing governance activities. It specifies that associations must provide financial records and meeting minutes within 21 days (for documents up to 3 years old) or 45 days (older documents) upon written request, with books kept in Maryland or within 50 miles for public inspection. The bill prohibits charging owners for examining records but allows reasonable copying fees, and expands the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division’s enforcement authority over association rules. These changes directly affect condo/HOA unit owners and governing boards by increasing transparency and standardizing election and record-access procedures.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 858: State Public Transit Service and Stations - Exclusion for Assault and Bodily Injury

SB 858 would bar individuals alleged by a public transit operator to have committed assault or caused bodily injury on a state transit service (like buses, trains, or light rail) or at a transit station from using those services for specific periods. First offenses would trigger a 30-day exclusion, second offenses 180 days, and third offenses or offenses involving weapons would result in a lifetime ban. The exclusion period can be adjusted by the Secretary of Transportation, and the bill specifies that this does not prevent prosecution for trespassing or other state laws. The bill directly affects people accused of such acts while using Maryland's state-operated transit systems. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 930: Environment - Managed Aquifer Recharge Pilot Program - Establishment

SB 930 establishes Maryland’s Managed Aquifer Recharge Pilot Program, allowing the Department of the Environment to issue permits for testing treated reclaimed water (from approved facilities) to replenish groundwater. It directly affects water treatment facilities seeking to test this method and the Department, which gains authority to review, permit, and regulate these projects. Key provisions require demonstration facilities to treat reclaimed water to meet strict standards (including pathogen reduction, PFAS limits, and EPA drinking water levels) and address specific groundwater issues like saltwater intrusion anticipated within 25 years. The program is strictly a pilot to test feasibility before potential full implementation, with applicants required to evaluate alternatives to aquifer recharge.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 820: Municipalities - Enforcement of Ordinances and Resolutions

SB 820 increases the maximum criminal fine municipalities can impose for certain ordinance violations from $1,000 to $5,000. It directly affects municipalities (which enforce local rules) and residents or businesses cited for violations classified as misdemeanors or municipal infractions. The bill amends Maryland law to raise the fine limit in Sections 6-101 (for misdemeanor violations) and 6-102 (for municipal infractions like zoning or littering violations). This change allows local governments to levy higher penalties for specific offenses without creating new violations. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill results