HB 1341 prohibits public school security personnel - including school resource officers, security employees, and certain law enforcement officers - from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee records for immigration purposes. The bill requires security staff to immediately contact school officials if presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order for immigration-related information. It amends Maryland's Education Code to clarify that school security cannot be used for immigration investigations under federal §287(G) and must comply with state privacy laws. This directly affects school security staff and protects students, employees, and their families from immigration enforcement activities within public schools.
HB 1037 (Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act) gives Maryland's Public Service Commission authority to oversee broadband and internet-based phone service (VoIP), which it previously could not regulate. The bill requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to report on network reliability, outages, pricing, and emergency preparedness plans, and to maintain infrastructure meeting safety and reliability standards. The Commission can audit providers and order corrective actions if services are deemed unsafe, unreliable, or inadequate. ISPs must submit annual reports on progress, with the Commission reporting to the legislature each year starting in 2028 on improvements in service quality and network resilience.
HB 1456 requires real estate websites, social media platforms, and other commercial entities to verify that the person advertising a residential property for sale or lease is either the legal owner or their authorized agent before publishing the listing. Commercial entities must maintain this verification for at least three years and immediately remove any listing published without proper verification. Violations would be treated as unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties. This bill directly affects online property listing services and real estate platforms that publish residential property advertisements. It aims to prevent fraudulent listings by mandating ownership verification as a standard practice.
HB 295 prohibits operating, conducting, or promoting "interactive games" (internet/mobile games simulating casino games, lotteries, or sports betting) in Maryland. It requires license applicants and holders to annually report business relationships with entities supporting such games and disclose any revenue from jurisdictions where interactive gaming is illegal. The bill bars the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission from issuing licenses to entities accepting revenue from high-risk jurisdictions (e.g., terrorism sponsors or Financial Action Task Force "call for action" areas). This directly affects gaming license applicants, current licensees, and businesses operating in or connected to illegal gaming markets. The law aims to prevent Maryland-based operations from engaging with unregulated or prohibited gaming activities.
HB 382 (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act) requires broadband providers serving 10,000+ Maryland customers to establish low-cost internet programs by December 1, 2026. These programs must offer minimum speeds of 100/20 Mbps (for households of two or fewer) or 200/20 Mbps (for larger households), at least 1.2 terabytes of data, and low latency for eligible low-income consumers. Eligibility includes households meeting federal poverty guidelines (350% of federal poverty level), qualifying for SNAP/food assistance, Medicaid, or low-income energy programs. Providers may raise prices by no more than 2% annually with 30 days’ notice, and cannot require automatic payment plans for program enrollment.
HB 10 updates Maryland law to include qualified digital publications as valid platforms for publishing required legal advertisements and notices (like court filings or government announcements). It establishes specific standards for digital publications to qualify, requiring them to produce original local news content (at least one article weekly), employ staff dedicated to local reporting (30+ hours/week), and meet other criteria like public interest focus. This directly affects counties and municipalities that must publish such notices, ensuring digital outlets meet comparable standards to traditional print newspapers. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, with special provisions for Prince George’s and Dorchester Counties.
