2026 Legislation

HB0962: Local Public Campaign Financing - County Boards of Education

Allows counties to expand their existing public campaign financing systems to include candidates for elected school boards, giving local governments the option to provide public funding for those races just as they already can for county executive and council elections. Participation would remain voluntary, but candidates who opt in would follow stricter campaign finance rules and rely more on small-dollar contributions rather than large private donations. Overall, the goal is to make school board elections more accessible, transparent, and less dependent on big money, while aligning them with public financing models already used in several Maryland counties.

HB0963: Registers of Wills – Appointment of Personal Representatives

Removes an outdated provision in our Estates and Trusts Article that prevents certain otherwise qualified individuals from serving as personal representatives based solely on citizenship status. It ensures families can manage their loved ones’ estates while maintaining all existing safeguards and court oversight.

HB 965 Office of Health Care Quality Stakeholder Advisory Council - Establishment

Establishes a stakeholder advisory council within the Office of Health Care Quality to provide ongoing feedback on oversight of hospitals and long-term care facilities. It brings together frontline workers, patients, advocates, and industry representatives to review data, elevate concerns, and improve accountability, while maintaining existing regulatory authority and oversight structures. The council would also hold regular public meetings, increase transparency, and issue recommendations to strengthen the quality of care across Maryland’s health care system

HB1042: Health Occupations – Structural Racism Training – Funding Sources

This bill clarifies that a structural racism training requirement for health professionals we passed last year must be funded through external sources, not the State budget, helping protect the policy in a tight fiscal year.

HB1083: Montgomery County Board of Elections – Membership

This bill would alter the membership of the Montgomery County Board of Elections to consist of seven regular members, turning the substitute members into regular members.

HB1438: State Board of Education – Public High School Graduation Requirements

This bill requires the State Board of Education to review graduation requirements for public high school students to ensure that they align with that students actually need to succeed after graduation. This helps ensure our educational policies reflect real-world career readiness.

HB1530: Higher Education – Undocumented Students – Out–of–State Tuition Exemption Eligibility

This bill reduces the number of years of tax documentation undocumented students must provide to qualify for in-state tuition, making higher education more accessible while maintaining accountability.

HB1569: Parking Enforcement - Vehicles in Custody or Control of Auto Repair or Storage Facility

This bill establishes clear rules for parking and enforcement when a vehicle is in the custody of an auto repair or storage facility, providing clarity for both businesses and consumers.