HB 693 creates a legal pathway for minors or their parents to sue commercial websites that knowingly distribute obscene material online to minors. It requires these entities to use reasonable age verification methods (like government ID or commercial systems) to confirm users are 18+ before accessing such content and prohibits retaining any user identifying information after verification. The bill excludes news organizations and internet service providers from these requirements. If a commercial entity violates these rules, affected individuals can seek damages for minors accessing obscene material or for improper retention of personal data. This law directly impacts websites hosting adult content and aims to protect minors from exposure to obscene material online.
HB 712 establishes new rules for holding AI developers and deployers liable when their systems cause harm. It creates a legal path for people harmed by "high-impact" AI systems - like those used in criminal justice, housing, or medical devices - to sue for defective design, lack of warnings, or broken promises. The bill includes key protections: if developers followed safety testing, courts would assume the AI was safe unless proven otherwise, and small businesses (under 20 employees or 10,000 users) are exempt. It also removes "contributory negligence" as a defense in such cases and allows the state attorney general to sue for widespread harm.
HB 686, "Zoey's Law," increases penalties for drivers who flee police and cause death during the chase. It reclassifies causing death while attempting to elude police as a felony, raising the maximum penalty to 5 years for a first offense and 10 years for repeat offenses, with fines up to $5,000. The bill directly affects drivers who evade law enforcement and result in a fatality, replacing prior misdemeanor penalties. This change applies to all drivers who fail to stop for police signals (e.g., lights, sirens) and cause death, regardless of whether the driver was fleeing for a "crime of violence."
HB 679 prohibits licensed healthcare providers in Maryland from prescribing, dispensing, or administering cross-sex hormone treatments (including estrogen, testosterone, or blockers) for the purpose of treating gender-related mental health conditions like gender dysphoria in minors. The bill directly affects minors under 18 seeking such treatment and healthcare practitioners who would provide it. Violating this law is classified as a felony, punishable by up to life imprisonment. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and defines "cross-sex hormone therapy" as treatment to develop secondary sex characteristics for gender transition.
HB 675 requires county police departments operating correctional facilities in Maryland to enter into federal immigration enforcement agreements by January 1, 2027 (with a possible one-time waiver to July 1, 2027). Non-compliant agencies must detain individuals for up to 48 hours and transfer them to federal authorities if requested, beginning July 1, 2027. If such an agency releases an individual who is later detained by federal authorities within five years, the agency must cover associated housing and court costs. The bill directly affects county law enforcement agencies with jails, establishing specific deadlines and financial penalties for non-compliance with federal immigration cooperation requirements.
SB 452 raises Maryland's minimum age requirement for historic vehicle registration from 1999 model year (25 years old) to 25 years old for all vehicles. It requires historic vehicles to remain unaltered from original design, prohibits daily commuting or commercial use, and sets annual registration fees ($45.50-$55.50). The bill also exempts qualifying vehicles from routine inspections and emissions testing, while adding a one-time $50 fee for vehicles over 60 years old (non-transferable). This affects owners seeking historic registration status for classic cars, motorcycles, or trucks meeting the new criteria.
SB 434 ensures cooperative housing corporations and condominium owners in Maryland receive energy cost refunds directly through their governing bodies (boards or associations), rather than as individual customer credits. The bill requires electric companies to issue refunds to these governing bodies, which then distribute funds to individual members, mirroring how refunds are handled for other residential customers. These refunds, funded by compliance fees in the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund, are distributed equally between peak summer and winter months for fiscal year 2027. The policy applies to members who did not receive prior refunds under 2025 legislation and operates in addition to existing energy relief programs.
HB 815 proposes constitutional amendments requiring Cecil County to elect both its County Council members and Board of Education members from specific single-member districts starting in 2032. Under this bill, each council member would represent a defined geographic district, with the winner determined by the most votes cast within that district (a plurality). Similarly, Board of Education members would be elected from the same council districts, with residency requirements and term limits remaining unchanged. This change would shift elections from the current system to district-based voting for both bodies, affecting all Cecil County residents who vote in these local elections.
HB 869 creates a special license for manufacturers or distributors that sell *only* electric or nonfossil-fuel vehicles, allowing them to operate as dealers in Maryland. This license is restricted to the City of Bowie only, with no more than one such dealership permitted there. The bill modifies vehicle dealer licensing rules to require that applicants have no existing dealerships in Maryland and must not control other dealerships under the same provisions. It directly affects EV-focused manufacturers/distributors seeking to establish a Bowie-based dealership. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 495 requires Maryland's Department of Health to add Gaucher disease screening to the state's mandatory newborn screening program. This affects all newborns in Maryland, as the bill mandates screening for Gaucher disease alongside other hereditary disorders under existing law. The key mechanism is amending Section 13-111 of Maryland's health code to explicitly include Gaucher disease in the list of conditions screened for, effective October 1, 2026. The bill does not alter funding or reporting procedures but directly expands the scope of the current newborn screening system to cover this specific genetic condition.
SB 563 adds crisis pregnancy clinics to Maryland’s definition of "health care provider" under confidentiality laws. This means these clinics must now follow the same medical record privacy rules as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. The bill specifically covers clinics providing pregnancy-related care, including mobile facilities, even if they’re not subject to federal HIPAA rules. It applies directly to crisis pregnancy clinics operating in Maryland, requiring them to protect patient records like other healthcare providers. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 800 updates Maryland’s education law to explicitly include "student well-being and human flourishing" alongside behavioral health services. It amends sections of the education code (including 5-212, 6-122, and 7-447) to define student well-being as progress across eight dimensions: social, environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and financial well-being. The bill requires school staff training to recognize issues affecting these areas and directs the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports to advance student well-being initiatives. It directly affects Maryland public schools, staff, and students by integrating holistic well-being into existing education funding, training, and support systems.
