HB 924, the "Safe Kids Act," creates a new civil legal remedy allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in or exposed to child exploitation material to sue online platforms directly. It prohibits platforms from knowingly distributing such material - including AI-generated images defined as "computer-generated" under the law - and requires them to remove it. The bill updates definitions to explicitly include AI-created images in child pornography laws and increases the age threshold for victims in certain criminal cases. This allows civil lawsuits for damages (including attorney fees) without needing prior criminal convictions, targeting platforms that facilitate distribution rather than just criminalizing possession.
HB 873 increases prison sentences for drivers who cause death through extreme carelessness while operating a vehicle or vessel. For a first offense, the maximum sentence rises from 10 to 20 years; for repeat offenses, it increases from 15 to 30 years. The bill does not change fines, which remain up to $5,000 for first offenses and $10,000 for repeat offenses. This law affects a very limited number of cases, as only about 30 people were incarcerated for this specific offense in Maryland during fiscal 2025, making its overall impact minimal.
HB 858 changes the timeline for holding hearings in eviction cases (wrongful detainer actions) in Maryland. It increases the deadline for scheduling a hearing after a complaint is filed from 10 business days to 14 calendar days. This affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings, as well as county courts handling these cases. The key change ensures hearings must occur within 14 days of filing, including weekends, rather than strictly business days. The bill directly alters the procedural timeline for resolving possession disputes over residential property.
HB 819 establishes a commission to examine Maryland's expungement laws, which allow individuals to clear criminal records from public records. The commission includes 12 members - such as two people with criminal records currently ineligible for expungement, state officials, public defenders, and experts in employment and reentry - to review current processes, compare them with other states, and develop a new system that would streamline eligibility and expand access. It must submit a report to the Maryland General Assembly by December 31, 2027, outlining findings and recommendations. The bill expires on June 30, 2028, requiring the commission to complete its work within two years.
HB 824 would allow individuals convicted of distributing controlled substances (like drugs) to clear those felony convictions from their criminal records through expungement. Currently, such convictions are excluded from expungement eligibility, but this bill would add them to the list of eligible offenses under Maryland law. The change modifies specific sections of Maryland's Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure codes to explicitly include distribution convictions in the expungement process. This directly affects people with past felony drug distribution convictions who seek to remove these records from public access.
SB 62 requires Maryland’s Department of Transportation to create a scoring system evaluating major surface transportation projects against state goals, such as safety and economic impact. Projects must undergo this scoring to be included in the state’s Consolidated Transportation Program, directly affecting local governments, transit agencies, and metropolitan planning organizations that submit project proposals. The bill mandates the Department publish project scores and recommended projects, altering how transportation funds are allocated. It also updates the Maryland Transportation Commission’s structure and responsibilities to align with this new prioritization process.
HB 455 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to certify nonprofit organizations meeting specific criteria as scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). It mandates the Department to annually submit a list of certified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury starting in 2027 and requires the Comptroller to provide online guidance for taxpayers claiming federal tax credits for donations to SGOs. The bill directly affects nonprofit SGOs seeking certification, eligible students receiving scholarships, and Maryland taxpayers claiming federal tax credits. Key provisions include standardized application processes for SGOs, annual financial reporting requirements, and public reporting of scholarship data like recipient schools and award amounts.
HB 615 adds crisis pregnancy clinics to Maryland's definition of "health care provider" for medical record confidentiality purposes. This means clinics offering pregnancy-related health care (including mobile facilities) must now follow the same state laws protecting patient records as hospitals and other medical providers. The bill specifically clarifies these clinics are not covered under federal HIPAA rules but must comply with Maryland's existing confidentiality standards. It directly affects crisis pregnancy clinics by requiring them to handle patient records under the same legal protections as other healthcare facilities. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 632 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from the definition of "medical service" requiring a Certificate of Need (CON) in Maryland. This exempts psychiatric health care facilities and providers of psychiatric or mental health services from needing state approval before establishing or operating these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the list of medical services subject to CON requirements, which currently includes services like surgery, pediatrics, and rehabilitation. This change directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health programs seeking to expand or open without prior state review. The policy shift simplifies regulatory requirements for mental health service providers.
HB 702 directs that a portion of the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund - funded by compliance fees paid by electric companies - be used to provide energy bill refunds for members of cooperative housing corporations and condominium unit owners in 2027. These refunds specifically target residents who did not receive a similar refund in 2025 under prior legislation. The refunds must be issued to the co-op or condo board, which then distributes them to individual residents, with half paid during a peak summer month and half during a peak winter month. This ensures co-op and condo residents receive equitable energy cost relief previously available to other residential customers.
HB 725 requires Maryland correctional facilities to provide federal immigration authorities with at least 48 hours' notice before releasing an individual, if requested by those authorities, and to transfer the individual to federal custody. This applies specifically to individuals in state or local correctional facilities who are subject to federal immigration enforcement requests. The bill mandates that transfers occur without extending the individual’s custody beyond their scheduled release date. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 719 prohibits Maryland state and local government entities, including county sheriffs and agencies, from adopting "sanctuary policies" that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It repeals existing laws that previously limited police from asking about immigration status during routine stops or detaining individuals solely for immigration violations. The bill requires local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration detainers when legally required and removes barriers to federal agents accessing sensitive locations (like schools) with valid warrants. This directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and local government agencies in their daily interactions with federal immigration authorities.
