Maryland Bills | MyRepTracker

passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Aug 3, 2026

HB 1151: Maryland Department of Health - Study on Maryland Medical Assistance Program Reimbursement of Hospice Room and Board Services

HB 1151 requires the Maryland Department of Health to study whether reimbursing hospice houses for room and board services under the state's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) would save costs and improve patient outcomes. The study must quantify Medicaid savings per death from hospice care and analyze how reimbursement might reduce hospital deaths, emergency room visits, hospice readmissions, and increase hospice care duration. It specifically examines the impact of covering room and board expenses for hospice providers, as defined by existing regulations. The Department must submit findings to state legislative committees by September 30, 2026. This is a procedural study with no immediate policy change.

Deni Taveras (D) Teresa Woorman (D) Nic Kipke (R) Heather Bagnall Tudball (D) Lesley Lopez (D)

passed both · Maryland · Senate Aug 3, 2026

SB 448: Carroll County - Public Facilities Bond

SB 448 authorizes Carroll County to borrow up to $27 million through general obligation bonds to fund public facilities, including water and sewer infrastructure, volunteer fire department equipment/buildings, and agricultural land preservation easements. The bonds, exempt from state and local taxes, will be repaid annually through ad valorem property taxes levied on county residents. Key provisions include flexibility for the County to set bond terms (interest rates, maturity up to 30 years) and use proceeds for specific projects outlined in a resolution. This directly affects Carroll County taxpayers through annual property tax increases and volunteer fire departments receiving direct funding for equipment and facilities.

passed both · Maryland · Senate Aug 3, 2026

SB 459: Procurement - Advertising - Maryland News Organizations (Local News for Maryland Communities Act of 2026)

SB 459 requires Maryland state government units to spend at least 50% of their total budget for print and digital advertising contracts directly with qualifying local news organizations. It defines "local news organizations" as entities producing original local content, employing full-time Maryland-based staff, meeting circulation or audience requirements (e.g., 33% Maryland audience for digital outlets), and disclosing ownership. The law excludes advertising for tourism promotion or employee recruitment. It applies to all state government advertising contracts starting October 1, 2026, aiming to support local journalism through government spending.

passed both · Maryland · Senate May 31, 2026

SB 933: Judiciary Department - Commission on Judicial Disabilities - Temporary Appointment

SB 933 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish temporary appointment procedures for the Commission on Judicial Disabilities. The bill allows the Commission chair to recall a former member or request the Governor to appoint a temporary member or extend an existing member’s term when a vacancy occurs due to a member stepping aside (e.g., for conflict of interest) or when a term expires without replacement. This ensures the Commission can maintain operations without prolonged gaps during vacancies. The Commission, which investigates judicial conduct complaints and recommends discipline, directly benefits from this streamlined process for filling temporary gaps.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1630: Queen Anne's County - Speed Monitoring System - U.S. Route 301

This bill authorizes the installation and use of speed monitoring systems on U.S. Route 301 in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, specifically at or between the intersections of Maryland Route 405 and Maryland Route 19. The legislation defines these systems as devices that capture images of vehicles traveling at least 12 miles per hour over the posted speed limit and requires local government approval through a public hearing before deployment. It expands existing state law that currently allows similar systems on Maryland Route 200 and certain high-risk roads in Montgomery County to include this specific stretch of Route 301. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and applies only to violations recorded by systems meeting the specified placement and operational requirements.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 672: Prince George's County - Expanding Access to Early Childhood Education and Child Care

SB 672 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create a plan by December 1, 2026, to expand access to high-quality early childhood education and childcare for children from birth through age 3 in Prince George's County. The plan must analyze costs for parents, the county, and state; workforce needs for providers; current capacity to serve more children; and potential new revenue sources. It mandates consultation with Prince George's County and relevant state agencies during development. The bill directly affects infants and toddlers in Prince George's County, their families, and local childcare providers. The plan must be submitted to the Governor, state legislature, and Prince George's County delegation by the deadline, with implementation beginning July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 904: Education - Public Schools - Professional Development

This bill requires Maryland county school boards to submit detailed justifications and cost comparisons before entering into service contracts, including proof that they explored alternatives and a plan to assist employees who might lose their jobs. It mandates that contracts demonstrate at least 20% savings compared to using school employees, while accounting for all direct and indirect costs, and subjects contracts to public audits for compliance. Additionally, the bill directs the State Department of Education to create a new professional development system for paraeducators and support staff by July 2027, requiring paid training during school hours that includes collaboration with teachers, crisis prevention, and job skills training. County boards must then implement this system for all support professionals in their districts, with the department providing guidance on the program's specifics.

Topics ✗ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1116: Howard County - Illegal Dumping - Surveillance System Pilot Program Ho. Co. 6-26

HB 1116 authorizes Howard County to install surveillance systems at repeat illegal dumping sites and mail citations to vehicle owners captured by these systems. The bill requires the County to issue citations that give violators two options: pay a civil penalty or request a court trial. It also prohibits the Motor Vehicle Administration from registering or transferring vehicles linked to confirmed illegal dumping incidents. This pilot program applies specifically to Howard County and modifies existing Maryland law to implement these enforcement mechanisms for litter disposal violations.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 867: Economic Development - Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission - Alterations

SB 867 expands the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission's mission to specifically promote innovation in space science, space technology, and aeronautics. It restructures the Commission's membership by adding representatives from the commercial space industry (up to three) and higher education institutions, while requiring the Commission to appoint an Executive Director. The bill authorizes the Commission to provide grants to eligible entities - including aerospace businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and universities conducting aerospace research in Maryland. These changes aim to strengthen Maryland's aerospace sector by formalizing grant programs and broadening stakeholder representation on the Commission.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 790: Public Health Reform Act

SB 790, the Public Health Reform Act, requires the Maryland Department of Health to organize the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps - a statewide volunteer network for emergencies like disease outbreaks or disasters. It allows county health directors to hire staff without state approval if positions are fully funded locally and to enter contracts if the state fails to respond within a set timeframe. The bill creates the Public Health Workforce Development Fund (using interest earnings and transfers from another fund) to support workforce training, and mandates health equity impact assessments for new legislation. These changes directly affect county health departments, state health agencies, and public health emergency response systems.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 665: Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Renaming

This bill updates the official names of two state entities to better reflect the needs of all individuals with hearing disabilities. It renames the "Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to "Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing" and the "Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to "Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing." These changes apply to all references in Maryland law, including sections in Education, Health, Human Services, and State Government codes. The bill does not alter existing services, funding, or responsibilities of these entities - only their official titles.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1445: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Developmental Disabilities Administration - Home- and Community-Based Services Eligibility Determinations (Maryland Protecting People With Disabilities Act)

HB 1445, the "Maryland Protecting People With Disabilities Act," changes eligibility rules for home- and community-based services under Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program). It requires the state to continue services uninterrupted during appeals if an individual loses eligibility, prohibits automatic termination solely due to administrative errors (procedural disenrollment), and mandates data sharing between providers and the Department of Health. The bill directly affects people receiving Developmental Disabilities Administration services and Medicaid beneficiaries who risk losing community-based care due to eligibility disputes. Key provisions include extending appeal timelines (replacing 90-day deadlines with continuous service until appeal resolution) and requiring the state to reserve waiver slots for those who lost eligibility unfairly. These changes aim to align with the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court ruling protecting community integration rights.

Topics ✓ Healthcare