HB 434 prohibits Maryland landlords from using computer programs (algorithmic devices) that rely on nonpublic competitor data - like actual rent prices or occupancy rates - to set rent, lease renewal terms, or occupancy levels for new residential leases. It directly affects residential landlords who might use such tools to adjust pricing or lease conditions. The law defines "nonpublic competitor data" as information not widely available, such as rivals' rent amounts or tenant turnover rates, and excludes tools used for affordable housing programs or anonymized industry reports. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland's consumer protection law, with enforcement starting October 1, 2026, for new leases only.
HB 425 prohibits Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration from requiring drivers or license applicants to report a sleep apnea diagnosis. This bill amends Maryland's transportation code (Section 16-118) by adding a new subsection (C-1) that explicitly bans the Administration from mandating such notifications. The law directly affects individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea who hold or apply for driver's licenses. The key change removes an existing reporting obligation, making it unlawful for the DMV to ask about this medical condition. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 469 requires all owners of residential condominium units (excluding detached units) in Maryland to maintain specific insurance coverage. This includes minimum $500,000 personal liability coverage, $25,000 loss assessment coverage, 12 months of loss-of-use coverage for alternate housing, and dwelling coverage for owner-improvements. The condo council can purchase insurance for non-compliant owners and charge the premium as an assessment, while requiring annual proof of coverage from unit owners. The bill aims to ensure adequate insurance for individual units and shared property risks within residential condominium communities.
HB 510 requires Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration to partner with Virginia to obtain data on Maryland residents who own vehicles improperly registered in Virginia. The bill creates a searchable database of this information, making it available to law enforcement for automated speed enforcement citations. It increases penalties for drivers or owners of such vehicles, raising the maximum fine for speeding violations from $40 to $250 for offenses recorded by automated systems. This directly affects Maryland residents who register vehicles in Virginia instead of Maryland, impacting how speed violations are enforced and fined for these specific vehicles.
SB 330 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies to remove certain investigation records from police officers' personnel files three years after specific findings: when an administrative committee decides not to charge an officer, or a trial board finds misconduct allegations "unfounded" or "exonerated." It directly affects police officers whose misconduct complaints were resolved without administrative action. The bill amends Maryland's Public Safety laws to mandate this removal, replacing prior rules that prohibited expungement or destruction of such records. Key provisions specify the exact timeline (3 years post-determination) and define terms like "unfounded" (allegations unsupported by fact) and "exonerated" (officer acted lawfully). The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 367, the Wicomico County Highway Pedestrian Safety Act, prohibits people from standing in roadways, shoulders, median dividers, or intersections in Wicomico County that the county or a local municipality has officially designated as "inherently dangerous" (meaning posing a serious injury risk that cannot be avoided with ordinary care). The law directly affects pedestrians and drivers in Wicomico County by restricting standing in these high-risk areas. Key enforcement requires police to have proper traffic signs meeting state specifications installed before issuing citations, ensuring public notice of prohibited zones. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026, and applies only to Wicomico County.
SB 318 requires Maryland state agencies proposing capital projects over $2 million in cost or exceeding 75 feet in height to develop community engagement plans and conduct specific outreach activities within a 1-mile radius of project sites. This includes providing plain-language project summaries, maps, environmental impact descriptions, and holding public meetings with virtual options, plus 45-day mail notices, online postings, and a 30-day comment period. Agencies must submit annual reports detailing outreach efforts and public feedback to the Department of Budget and Management, which compiles and shares these reports with local governments and the legislature. The law applies to projects with potential impacts on noise, visibility, environment, or community character, excluding certain budgeted grants or local initiatives.
SB 347 changes how Maryland handles driver's license suspensions for unpaid child support. It requires the Child Support Enforcement Administration to verify suspension is appropriate and send written/electronic notice to the obligor (person owing support) before notifying the Motor Vehicle Administration. The bill adds specific grounds for investigation, including inaccurate arrears, the child living primarily with the obligor, or undue hardship due to disability or inability to pay. It also establishes a formal process for obligors to request an investigation and appeal suspensions through the Office of Administrative Hearings. This directly affects individuals with child support arrears who face potential license suspension.
SB 44 would require forfeiture of pension benefits for public employees convicted of specific crimes committed while performing job duties. It applies to members of systems like police, teachers, correctional officers, and judges' pensions. The bill establishes procedures for courts to review requests for partial benefit payments within one year of conviction, considering factors like crime severity and financial need. It also protects existing court orders for spousal support or child custody from being altered by the forfeiture.
SB 355 changes Maryland's marriage license application process by requiring both individuals planning to marry to appear in person at a circuit court clerk's office, rather than allowing just one party to apply. This affects all couples applying for a marriage license in Maryland, as both must now provide personal details like names, addresses, birth dates, and marital history during the application. The bill preserves existing options for non-resident couples (who can use an affidavit from one party in their home county) but updates the standard process to mandate both parties' physical presence. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 581 requires Baltimore County election officials to verify both a voter’s signature and a witness signature on absentee ballot envelopes before counting the ballot, with exceptions for active-duty military personnel overseas and their spouses/dependents living overseas. The bill mandates that officials compare voter signatures against registration records to confirm validity. It applies exclusively to Baltimore County absentee ballots and modifies existing election law to enforce these signature requirements. This policy change directly affects all Baltimore County voters requesting absentee ballots, ensuring additional verification steps for ballot processing.
SB 377 expands Maryland's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income residents without qualifying children by raising the income level at which the credit begins to phase out. It directly affects eligible Maryland workers earning below the new, higher income thresholds who previously lost credit benefits too quickly. The bill establishes annual inflation adjustments starting in 2026 to keep the credit's value current, calculated using the federal cost-of-living adjustment formula. This change ensures the credit remains accessible for more low-income workers without children as living costs rise.
