Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 731: Fantasy Competitions - Alterations and Voluntary Exclusion Requirements

HB 731 amends Maryland law to regulate fantasy competition operators. It requires the State Lottery Commission to mandate a $50,000 annual registration fee for operators (previously optional), with fees directed to Maryland's education fund. The bill also requires operators to establish a voluntary exclusion program, prohibiting them from allowing individuals on the exclusion list to create accounts or win prizes. Additionally, it updates definitions of "fantasy competition," "sporting event," and "sports wagering" to clarify regulatory scope. These changes directly affect fantasy sports operators and players seeking to self-exclude.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 490: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Step Therapy, Fail-First Protocols, and Prior Authorization - Prescription Drugs to Treat Serious Mental Illness

SB 490 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) from requiring prior authorization or step therapy protocols for prescription drugs treating specific serious mental illnesses. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to mental illness treatment. The law, effective July 1, 2026, removes barriers that previously forced doctors to seek approval before prescribing these medications or require trying less effective treatments first. The policy change applies only to these five conditions and expires automatically on June 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 716: Land Surveyors and Property Line Surveyors - Private Property Access - Prohibition

HB 716 prohibits land surveyors and property line surveyors from conducting surveys on private property during Maryland's deer firearms hunting season without the property owner's written permission. This applies to all surveys conducted under Maryland's Business Occupations and Professions code during the designated hunting period. The bill amends Section 15-610 of the Annotated Code to enforce this restriction, with violations subject to fines up to $500 or additional penalties from the licensing board. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, directly affecting surveying professionals and property owners.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 506: Economic Development - Transformational Project Financing Program - Establishment

HB 506 establishes the Transformational Project Financing Program under Maryland's Economic Development Corporation. It allows local governments (political subdivisions) to apply for designation of specific areas as "State-supported development districts" to fund major development projects. The key mechanism redirects property tax revenue from increased property values ("tax increment") within these districts into a dedicated fund, rather than the general municipal budget, for approved projects. Priority areas include sustainable communities, transit-oriented developments, and designated enterprise zones. This program modifies existing law to create a structured process for economic development financing through tax increment funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 109: Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools - Title VI Coordinators

HB 109 requires all Maryland public colleges, universities, and local school systems to appoint a designated Title VI Coordinator by July 1, 2026. These coordinators must ensure compliance with federal civil rights law (Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. The bill establishes a direct complaint process, allowing students, parents, or others to file discrimination complaints with a school or college's Title VI Coordinator instead of (or in addition to) the State Superintendent. Coordinators must investigate complaints, maintain records, provide training, and promote equal access to programs. This law directly affects all Maryland public K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 567: Motor Vehicle Laws - Registration Plates - Single Registration Plate

HB 567 changes Maryland's vehicle registration rules by requiring a single license plate for all standard vehicles (passenger, truck, and multipurpose) instead of the current two-plate requirement. This applies to most vehicles, except motorcycles, tractors, trailers, historic vehicles (50+ years old), and street rods (50+ years old), which already use single plates. The bill updates attachment rules: tractors must display the plate on the front, while all other single-plate vehicles must show it on the rear. It does not alter registration fees, special plate options, or county sticker requirements, focusing solely on simplifying plate issuance and mounting.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 570: Foster Care – Adjacent County Applicants and Reporting Requirements

HB 570 permits foster parent applicants to apply for approval in the county where they live or in a county adjacent to their residence. It prohibits local social services departments from denying foster parent applications solely based on the applicant’s county of residence, as long as the applicant lives in the same county as the department or an adjacent county. The bill also requires local departments to submit quarterly reports to the state Department of Human Services detailing the number of children waiting for foster placements and available foster home vacancies in their county. This directly affects foster parent applicants, local social services departments, and the state’s oversight of foster care capacity.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 198: School Systems - Reportable Offenses - Notification of Student as Suspect

HB 198 requires law enforcement agencies to notify the State’s Attorney within 24 hours if a student (ages 5-22) is identified as a suspect in certain serious offenses - like violent crimes or specific violations listed in the bill - or if the student is no longer a suspect. The State’s Attorney must then notify the school superintendent or principal within 24 hours of receiving this update. The bill covers offenses occurring off school premises that would be felonies or crimes of violence if committed by an adult, and it mandates that schools keep this information confidential, not add it to student records, and use it only for educational support or safety. This applies to all public and nonpublic schools in Maryland, including Catholic diocesan schools.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 438: Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee

HB 438 establishes the Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee to create a school board system for correctional education in Maryland's prisons and juvenile facilities. The committee, composed of state officials, correctional education representatives, and experts (including formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofit advocates), must develop a funding and operational plan by June 2028, examining costs for staff, materials, and budget management. This procedural bill does not enact immediate policy changes but sets a timeline for recommendations to the Governor and legislature. It expires automatically on June 30, 2028, after its two-year study period.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 432: Attorney General Actions and Climate Crimes Accountability Fund (Climate Crimes Accountability Act)

SB 432 authorizes Maryland's Attorney General to sue fossil fuel companies with over $1 billion in market capitalization for climate-related harms caused by fraudulent or deceptive practices. It establishes the Climate Crimes Accountability Fund to collect settlement money from such lawsuits. The fund finances programs addressing climate impacts like flooding, heat islands, drought, and disease spread (e.g., vectorborne pathogens), while also covering legal costs of the Attorney General's cases. The bill directly affects major energy corporations and directs state resources toward climate adaptation and mitigation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 656: Income, Sales and Use, and Property Taxes - Revocation of Exempt Status for Nonprofit Organizations for Supporting Terrorist Organizations

HB 656 requires Maryland's Comptroller and tax agency to regularly verify if nonprofits in the state have been designated by federal authorities as supporting terrorist organizations under U.S. law (18 U.S.C. § 2339A). If confirmed, the bill mandates revoking the nonprofit's state tax exemptions for income, sales/use, and property taxes. Nonprofits receive 90 days to contest the revocation after written notice, with reinstatement possible if errors are found or if they prove they didn’t receive the notice. The bill applies only to nonprofits formally identified by federal agencies as violating anti-terrorism laws, not general criticism of terrorism.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 629: Maryland Energy Administration - Study on Land-Based Wind Energy

HB 629 requires the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to study the potential for land-based wind energy generation across Maryland. The study must assess the state's total wind energy potential, identify specific locations for generation, and examine successful mitigation strategies used elsewhere to resolve conflicts between wind turbines and military radar systems. The MEA may use funds from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to conduct the study, with findings due to the Governor and relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026. This bill does not create new regulations but mandates a factual analysis to inform future decisions about wind energy development.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results