This bill changes Maryland's rules for using wiretapped or electronically intercepted communications as evidence in criminal trials. It allows such evidence in court if the crime involved a victim, the evidence is material to the case, the interception wasn't conducted by Maryland law enforcement, it's more probative than other available evidence, and admitting it serves justice. Prosecutors must also provide the defense with at least 14 days' notice before using this evidence. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 398 prohibits Maryland state and local law enforcement agencies from using persistent aerial surveillance (like drones recording continuous video of people's movements) in criminal investigations, except under seven specific exceptions. These exceptions include having a valid search warrant, executing arrest warrants, conducting active search/rescue operations, locating escaped prisoners, preventing imminent harm, or responding to specific terrorism threats with federal approval. The law directly affects police departments and state agencies that previously used such surveillance methods. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and defines "persistent aerial surveillance" as recording video/images showing a person's actions over time.
HB 475, the Juvenile Offender Protection Act, prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, sexual offenses against minors, and certain assaults. It directly affects individuals seeking or holding jobs with the Department of Juvenile Services who have prior convictions for the listed offenses. The law adds these restrictions to Maryland's Code, with an exception allowing hiring if the conviction was reversed or vacated. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 465 (Stop Silencing Survivors Act) creates legal immunity for individuals who in good faith disclose allegations of sexually assaultive behavior (defined as acts meeting Maryland’s criminal law standards for sexual offenses or equivalent offenses). It protects disclosers from liability claims unless proven to have acted with actual malice or intentionally shared false information. The bill also requires courts to award attorney fees and costs to successful defendants in such cases. This directly affects survivors reporting abuse, individuals sharing such information, and courts handling related civil cases. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 421 prohibits Maryland institutions of higher education from denying students access to facilities or services due to a sickle cell disease diagnosis and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to develop an awareness campaign for schools about supporting students with sickle cell disease, create educational materials for faculty/staff, and establish a framework for institutions to assess and support affected students. The law also requires schools to publicly share their policies and reporting procedures for violations. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026, directly impacting students with sickle cell disease, higher education institutions, and state health agencies.
This bill proposes changes to how law enforcement officers conduct traffic stops and handle evidence collected during those stops. It would allow police to enforce traffic laws even when a driver has not been initially pulled over for a violation. The legislation also addresses how evidence obtained during these secondary enforcement actions is treated in legal proceedings. These provisions directly affect law enforcement agencies, drivers, and the courts that process related cases. The bill aims to clarify existing rules rather than create new ones, focusing on procedural aspects of traffic enforcement.
HB 481 requires courts to mandate specific remedies when a parent unjustly denies or interferes with court-ordered visitation. It directly affects parents who violate visitation orders and the children whose access is blocked. Key provisions include ordering double the denied visitation time (same type, e.g., weekends or holidays), letting the other parent choose the new schedule, and requiring this within two years of the court’s finding. Courts may also modify custody orders or assess fees against the violating parent, all while prioritizing the child’s best interests.
HB 360 (Clean Slate Act of 2026) automates the removal of certain criminal records from public view. It requires Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and the Judiciary to expunge eligible cases by July 1, 2028, and then monthly thereafter, for people with qualifying outcomes (like dismissed charges or certain misdemeanors) that meet waiting periods (3 years for most cases, 7 years for others). The law excludes cases involving domestic violence, second-degree assault, or new convictions during the waiting period. It directly affects individuals with eligible records who no longer need to petition courts for expungement.
SB 391 exempts Dorchester County from standard public notice requirements when leasing county property under specific conditions. The bill allows the county to enter leases for 5 years or less with annual rent of $750 or less without publishing weekly notices for three weeks in a local newspaper. This directly affects Dorchester County government, streamlining its process for small-scale or low-cost property leases. The change amends Maryland’s local government code (Section 10-312(f)) to add this exemption for Dorchester County only, effective October 1, 2026.
HB 64 establishes a task force to study how delays in counting student enrollment affect school funding and how growing student populations impact funding levels. The task force includes education officials, school board representatives, teachers, parents, and county government members. It will analyze these challenges and recommend improvements to the school funding system. The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 15, 2026, after which the bill expires. This bill creates a review process but does not directly change funding policies.
HB 335 automatically considers private roads open to public travel for 20 or more years as offered for public dedication. If a county or municipality maintains such a road like a public road, it is deemed accepted as public property without further action. This affects property owners with long-used private roads and local governments responsible for road maintenance, ensuring consistent treatment across jurisdictions. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and prevents local ordinances from conflicting with these provisions.
HB 540, the "Public Service Company Transparency Act," requires investor-owned electric, gas, and combined gas/electric utilities in Maryland to increase transparency around potential rate changes. Specifically, it mandates that these companies notify customers via bill inserts or email before seeking rate adjustments, provide a detailed 10-year rate trend report showing visual graphs and cost breakdowns, and include a standardized statement on all customer bills explaining the Public Service Commission’s role. Utilities must also distribute annual rate reports to customers and post them online, while the Public Service Commission must publish an annual rate trend report using data from these filings. The bill applies only to investor-owned utilities (excluding municipal or cooperative providers) and takes effect October 1, 2026, with first reports due January 1, 2028.
