Bill Watch List / 2026 Session

Updated: 4/14/2026 7:41 PM

SUPPORT:

• HB750 – Protection Against Blocking Access to Religious Facilities – 2026 (Companion to SB177)
  4/13/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally block or interfere with a person’s ability to enter or exit a religious facility. (Companion to SB177)
• SB177 – Protection Against Blocking Access to Religious Facilities – 2026 (Companion to HB750)
  4/6/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally block or interfere with a person’s ability to enter or exit a religious facility. (Companion to HB750)

• HB44 – Plain Language and Transparency for Ballot Questions (Companion to SB29) – 2026
  4/13/2026 – Passed House – Awaiting a hearing in Senate Committee – Requires plain-language summaries on petition signature pages, adjusting ballot-question deadlines, and expanding public access and comment opportunities on ballot question information before elections. (Companion to SB29)
• SB29 – Plain Language and Transparency for Ballot Questions (Companion to HB44) – 2026
  4/13/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Requires plain-language summaries on petition signature pages, adjusting ballot-question deadlines, and expanding public access and comment opportunities on ballot question information before elections. (Companion to HB44)

• SB254 – Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Trafficking Prevention Education (Companion to HB355) – 2026
  1/16/2026 – Hearing 2/18 – Education, Energy, and the Environment – Results Pending – Requires public and nonpublic schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on preventing sexual abuse and assault, including awareness and prevention of human and sex trafficking, as part of the health curriculum. (Companion to HB355)

• HB289 – Interception of Video Lottery Winnings for Child Support and Restitution (Companion to SB176) – 2026
  4/9/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Allows the Central Collection Unit and Child Support Administration to intercept video lottery prize winnings from individuals who owe child support, court-ordered restitution or state debt, requires lottery operators to withhold payouts, provides notice and an appeal process for debtors. (Companion to SB176)
• HB295 – Prohibition on Unlicensed Interactive Gaming and Illegal Revenue (Companion to SB112) – 2026
  3/25/2026 – Passed House – Hearing 4/01 – Budget and Taxation – Results Pending – Makes it illegal to run or promote online gambling games without a state license, requires licensed gambling companies to disclose any ties to illegal gambling or illegal gambling profits, and allows the state to deny or revoke licenses for violations. (Companion to SB112)
• SB112 – Prohibition on Unlicensed Interactive Gaming and Illegal Revenue (Companion to HB295) – 2026
  1/19/2026 – Hearing 1/28 – Budget and Taxation – Results Pending – Makes it illegal to run or promote online gambling games without a state license, requires licensed gambling companies to disclose any ties to illegal gambling or illegal gambling profits, and allows the state to deny or revoke licenses for violations. (Companion to HB295)
• SB176 – Interception of Video Lottery Winnings for Child Support and Restitution (Companion to HB289) – 2026
  4/9/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Allows the Central Collection Unit and Child Support Administration to intercept video lottery prize winnings from individuals who owe child support, court-ordered restitution or state debt, requires lottery operators to withhold payouts, provides notice and an appeal process for debtors. (Companion to HB289)

• HB645 – Fraud in Assisted Reproductive Treatment – 2026
  3/25/2026 – Passed House – Hearing 3/31 – Judicial Proceedings – Results Pending – Makes it illegal to knowingly use one’s own sperm or egg in assisted reproductive treatment without the patient’s consent and allows victims to file a civil lawsuit for damages.

• HB670 – Child Pornography Prohibitions and Penalties (Companion to SB221) – 2026
  2/2/2026 – Hearing 2/17 – Judiciary – Results Pending – Strengthens MD laws against child pornography by expanding bans on producing, possessing, and viewing sexual images of minors, whether or not it is permanently downloaded. (Companion to SB221)
• HB1294 – Child Sexual Abuse Material and Artificial Intelligence Protections – 2026
  3/20/2026 – Passed House – Hearing 3/26 – Judicial Proceedings – Results Pending – Replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” and expands the law to cover AI-generated images that resemble real children.
• SB221 – Strengthened Child Pornography Prohibitions and Penalties (Companion to HB670) – 2026
  4/8/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Strengthens MD laws against child pornography by expanding bans on producing, possessing, and viewing sexual images of minors, whether or not it is permanently downloaded. (Companion to HB670)

• HB329 – Ban on Sexual Relationships Between School Resource Officers and Students (Companion to SB81) – 2026
  4/9/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Makes it illegal for school resource officers to engage in sexual contact or sexual acts with students enrolled in their assigned schools, and establishes misdemeanor penalties for violations. (Companion to SB81)
• SB81 – Ban on Sexual Relationships Between School Resource Officers and Students (Companion to HB329) – 2026
  4/6/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Makes it illegal for school resource officers to engage in sexual contact or sexual acts with students enrolled in their assigned schools, and establishes misdemeanor penalties for violations. (Companion to HB329)

• HB363 – Local Child Grant Authorization (Companion to SB468) – 2026
  4/10/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Allows counties in Maryland to provide a direct cash grant (instead of a tax credit) to low-income families with dependent children, with eligibility and amounts determined by each county. (Companion to SB468)
• SB468 – Local Child Grant Authorization – 2026 (Companion to HB363) – 2026
  4/10/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Allows counties in Maryland to provide a direct cash grant (instead of a tax credit) to low-income families with dependent children, with eligibility and amounts determined by each county. (Companion to HB363)

OPPOSE:

• HB372 – Emergency Room Abortion Mandate (Companion to SB169) – 2026
  4/9/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Mandates that hospital emergency rooms must perform an abortion if it is determined necessary to stabilize the mother. In plain English, if a doctor determines that abortion is medically necessary to stabilize the patient, the hospital must allow the procedure, even if the hospital normally prohibits abortions. The hospital may not transfer the mother until she has been stabilized. Violations may face civil penalties up up to $50,000. (Companion to SB169)
• SB169 – Emergency Room Abortion Mandate (Companion to HB372) – 2026
  4/3/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Mandates that hospital emergency rooms must perform an abortion if it is determined necessary to stabilize the mother. In plain English, if a doctor determines that abortion is medically necessary to stabilize the patient, the hospital must allow the procedure, even if the hospital normally prohibits abortions. The hospital may not transfer the mother until she has been stabilized. Violations may face civil penalties up up to $50,000. (Companion to HB372)

• HB36 – Removal and Replacement of “Church” and “Clergyman” in State Code (Companion to SB93) – 2026
  3/4/2026 – Hearing 3/09 – House Rules and Executive Nominations – Results Pending – Removes the words “clergyman” and “church” from the Maryland Code and replaces them with inclusive language like “member of the clergy” and “faith institutions.”. (Companion to SB93)
• HB514 – State Regulation and Enforcement of Charitable Tax-Exempt Status (Companion to SB4) – 2026
  2/3/2026 – Economics Committee Hearing: 2/18 – Results Pending – Empowers the state of Maryland to enforce existing Federal 501(c)(3) restrictions on political activity by tax-exempt organizations on behalf of a candidate or campaign, HOWEVER, an amendment to the the Senate version of the bill explicitly EXEMPTS churches from the law. (Companion to SB4)
• SB4 – State Regulation and Enforcement of Charitable Tax-Exempt Status (Companion to HB514) – 2026
  4/9/2026 – Passed Senate – Referred Rules and Executive Nominations – Empowers the state of Maryland to enforce existing Federal 501(c)(3) restrictions on political activity by tax-exempt organizations on behalf of a candidate or campaign, HOWEVER, an amendment to the bill explicitly EXEMPTS churches from the law. (Companion to HB514)
• SB93 – Removal and Replacement of “Church” and “Clergyman” in State Code (Companion to HB36) – 2026
  2/6/2026 – Passed Senate – Sent to the House – Updates the Maryland Annotated Code by replacing religious terms such as “clergyman” and “church” with inclusive language like “member of the clergy” and “faith institutions” across numerous state laws. (Companion to HB36)

• HB616 – Health Facility Financial Oversight Provisions – 2026 (Companion to SB515)
  1/30/2026 – First Reading Health – Regulates facilities that employ or contract with medical professionals but do not receive corresponding professional revenue, raising concerns that it could subject certain nonprofit pregnancy centers that provide free services to increased state oversight or operational requirements. (Companion to SB515)
• SB515 – Health Facility Financial Oversight Provisions – 2026 (Companion to HB616)
  4/10/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Regulates facilities that employ or contract with medical professionals but do not receive corresponding professional revenue, raising concerns that it could subject certain nonprofit pregnancy centers that provide free services to increased state oversight or operational requirements. (Companion to HB616)

• SB594 – Cannabis Advertising Regulation Changes – 2026
  4/13/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Changes MD cannabis advertising rules by easing some restrictions, allowing limited exterior signage at dispensaries, and updating how advertisers prove ads are not aimed at minors, while still banning ads that target people under 21.

• HB649 – Equal Educational Opportunity Enforcement Act – 2026
  3/27/2026 – Passed House – Hearing 4/01 – Results Pending – Gives the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights authority to investigate and enforce bans on discrimination and retaliation based on gender identity and sexual orientation in public and non-religious educational institutions.

• HB488 – Congressional Districting Constitutional Amendments – 2026
  2/4/2026 – Passed House – Referred to Senate Rules – Proposes changes to the Maryland Constitution to clarify rules for congressional districts, sets district boundaries for upcoming elections, and allows the Maryland Supreme Court to review congressional redistricting plans.

• SB775 – Gun Buyback Firearm Destruction Requirements – 2026
  4/13/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Requires law enforcement agencies and licensed firearm dealers conducting gun buyback programs to destroy all firearms and parts they receive, verify whether guns are tied to crimes before destruction, and face license revocation for violations.

• HB332 – No Kings Act – 2026 (Companion to SB346)
  3/30/2026 – Hearing 4/1 – CANCELED – Allows people to sue government officials in civil court if their constitutional rights are violated while the official is acting in an official role. (Companion to SB346)
• SB346 – No Kings Act – 2026 (Companion to HB332)
  4/10/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Allows people to sue government officials in civil court if their constitutional rights are violated while the official is acting in an official role. (Companion to HB332)

• HB432 – Repeal of Municipal Authority to Prohibit Vagrancy (Companion to SB463) – 2026
  2/20/2026 – Passed House – Referred Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee – Removes the authority of Maryland municipalities to make vagrancy (homelessness) illegal. Cities and towns would still be able to enforce laws related to public safety, disorderly conduct, and nuisances. (Companion to SB463)
• SB463 – Municipalities – Vagrancy – Repeal of Authority to Prohibit (Companion to HB432) -2026
  3/31/2026 – Passed Senate Second Reading – Removes the authority of Maryland municipalities to make vagrancy (homelessness) illegal. Cities and towns would still be able to enforce laws related to public safety, disorderly conduct, and nuisances. (Companion to HB432)

• HB1589 – Birth Certificate Modernization Act (Companion to SB626) – 2026
  2/15/2026 – Introduced – Allows individuals to change their designation with proof of transition treatment, an intersex condition, or a court order, and permits ID cards to list “male,” “female,” or “unspecified/other.” (Companion to SB626)
• SB626 – Birth Certificate Modernization Act (Companion to HB1589) – 2026
  4/13/2026 – Passed House and Senate – Senate Rejected the House Amendment – Allows a person to change the sex listed on their birth certificate. Adults can do this by signing a sworn statement, while minors need a parent or guardian to request the change. It also allows IDs to list “male,” “female,” or “unspecified/other.” (Companion to HB1589)

WATCH:

• HB355 – Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Trafficking Prevention Education (Companion to SB254) – 2026
  3/16/2026 – Passed House – Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment – Requires public and nonpublic schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on preventing sexual abuse and assault, including awareness and prevention of human and sex trafficking, as part of the health curriculum. (Companion to SB254)

• HB192 – Exemption for Accredited Religious Institutions from Higher Education Approval (Companion to SB208) – 2026
  2/27/2026 – Passed House – Referred to Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee – Allows certain accredited religious educational institutions to operate and enroll students in online religious programs without obtaining a certificate of approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, provided the instruction is sectarian and limited to religious purposes. (Companion to SB208)
• SB208 – Exemption for Accredited Religious Institutions from Higher Education Approval (Companion to HB192) – 2026
  1/21/2026 – Hearing 1/28 – Education, Energy, and the Environment – Results Pending – Allows certain accredited religious educational institutions to operate and enroll students in online religious programs without obtaining a certificate of approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, provided the instruction is sectarian and limited to religious purposes. (Companion to HB192)