HB 734 extends the deadline for community solar energy systems to qualify for agricultural property tax assessment from 2025 to December 31, 2030. It applies to systems placed in service after June 30, 2022, and approved by the Public Service Commission by the new deadline. The bill ensures land used for qualifying community solar projects is assessed as actively farmed agricultural land, allowing property owners to receive lower tax rates. This directly affects landowners operating community solar systems that meet these criteria.
HB 1254 requires county school boards to justify service contracts (outsourcing school services) by submitting detailed cost comparisons showing at least 20% savings over using school employees, along with plans to assist affected staff. It mandates that boards demonstrate they considered alternatives like reorganizing services before contracting. The bill also directs the State Department of Education to develop a paid, in-person professional development system for paraeducators and support staff by July 2027, including training on collaboration, student safety, crisis prevention, and job skills. This new system must be provided during school hours and will directly affect all paraeducators and support professionals in Maryland public schools.
HB 1297 modifies Maryland's student loan debt relief tax credit by changing how unused credit amounts are recaptured. It requires taxpayers to repay only the unused portion of the credit (not the full amount) if they don't use it for student loan repayment within 3 years. The bill also authorizes the Maryland Higher Education Commission to grant extensions of this 3-year period for taxpayers unable to repay due to specific federal delays, such as litigation over the SAVE repayment plan, Department of Education understaffing, or waiting for public service loan forgiveness. This directly affects Maryland residents with qualifying student loan debt who claim the tax credit.
This bill expands Maryland's income tax deduction for retirement income by adding "9-1-1 specialists" to the list of eligible public safety employees. It modifies tax code sections to include retired 9-1-1 specialists - defined as employees handling emergency calls and dispatching services - in the $15,000 annual tax deduction for retirement income. The change directly affects retired 9-1-1 specialists who meet the age requirement (55+), allowing them to reduce their taxable income by up to $15,000. The policy takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
SB 389, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, automatically designates transit-oriented development (TOD) areas near rail stations with hourly weekday service (8 a.m.-6 p.m.) as enterprise zones - bypassing normal limits on such designations. It requires Maryland’s development corporation to prioritize loans for projects redeveloping state-owned land near rail stations and delays development taxes/fees for qualifying residential projects. The bill also adds project labor agreements as a scoring factor for TOD funding and adjusts local land-use regulations to support transit-focused development. Directly affecting developers, local governments, and communities near transit hubs, it aims to accelerate housing and infrastructure near rail corridors.
HB 1353 exempts homeless individuals in Maryland from specific fees and requirements. It prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from charging for vital records (like birth or death certificates) issued to homeless people, waives vehicle registration fees for vehicles owned by homeless individuals, and eliminates driver’s license fees for homeless applicants. The bill also allows unaccompanied homeless youth under 18 to take certain driver’s license exams sooner and exempts homeless individuals from mandatory vehicle emissions inspections. Homeless individuals must provide a written statement proving their homelessness to access these exemptions.
HB 706 (Federal Obligations Enforcement Act) authorizes Maryland's Central Collection Unit to collect delinquent federal funds owed to the state, directly affecting the state government and the federal government. Key provisions allow the Unit to place liens on federal property within Maryland, withhold state payments to the federal government, and refer delinquent funds for enforcement. The bill establishes that the Board of Public Works can determine federal delinquency when the government fails to comply with court decisions on spending. It modifies existing Maryland law to reserve state jurisdiction over federal land and creates specific procedures for collecting funds. The law focuses on concrete enforcement mechanisms for unpaid federal obligations to the state.
HB 813 authorizes Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) to cover comprehensive obesity treatment, including intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved weight management medications, starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to notify Medicaid recipients if it chooses to provide this coverage and mandates a report to the legislature by November 1, 2027, on implementation progress. This directly affects Medicaid recipients with obesity by expanding covered treatments beyond current scope. The program may use standard utilization management processes (like for other conditions) to assess medical necessity but is not required to offer the coverage.
HB 888 expands Washington County's property tax credit program for disabled veterans to include members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Public Health Service (PHS) who meet the same disability and service criteria as military veterans. The bill amends existing law to add these federal service members to the definition of "disabled veteran," allowing them to qualify for a credit equal to their VA disability rating percentage on their primary residence. This change directly affects eligible NOAA and PHS members who are disabled veterans under federal standards, as well as their surviving spouses who meet ownership and residency requirements. The credit applies to property tax on the dwelling house owned by qualifying individuals, effective June 1, 2026.
HB 1059 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to evaluate specific Asian American history training programs from seven approved organizations (including the Smithsonian and Asian American Education Project) for inclusion in its teacher professional development program. It creates a grant program providing up to $2,000 per teacher to cover costs for these trainings and up to $1,000 annually per school library to purchase age-appropriate books and resources on Asian American and Pacific Islander history. The bill mandates annual state funding of $500,000 starting in fiscal year 2028 to support these grants. The bill directly affects Maryland public school educators and school libraries by expanding access to culturally specific professional development and learning materials.
