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Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act
The law requires the Maryland State Department of Education to issue statewide guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in public schools. Local school systems are given a 120-day countdown from the publication of these state guidelines to formally adopt their own matching AI policies, assign a central-office AI coordinator, and incorporate AI literacy into standard computer science and workforce-preparation coursework.
Residential Rental Apartments - Air-Conditioning Requirement
This law requires landlords of apartment buildings with 10 or more individual dwelling units to provide air-conditioning. For newly constructed units, the requirement begins on June 1, 2026. For existing units, landlords must provide air-conditioning if they previously equipped the unit with it or if the lease required it, starting June 1, 2026. Additionally, for units undergoing renovation that involves replacing or substantially upgrading electrical or heating systems, the air-conditioning requirement begins on October 1, 2026. During the cooling season, from June 1 to September 30, landlords must ensure that the temperature in habitable spaces within the unit does not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, either by maintaining it directly or by ensuring the tenant-controlled system is capable of doing so. The bill will not affect construction or renovations for which building permits were issued before the act’s effective date of June 1, 2026.
This law grants the State Elections Administrator and local election directors the ability to direct law-enforcement authorities inside polling environments. These election officials can now independently order the arrest of any individual who disrupts the peace or attempts to intimidate voters. It also updates rules for partisan “challengers and watchers,” allowing election officials to limit their access to polling places.
The DECADE Act aims to expand Maryland’s toolkit for recruiting and keeping businesses by increasing the size and flexibility of state economic development grants, loans and tax incentives, extending several business tax credit programs and creating new incentives tied to technology, research and redevelopment projects. The law also exempts certain information technology services and digital products from the state sales tax and allows the state to put more money into major economic development deals through a renamed “Strategic Closing Fund.” Importantly, state agencies must evaluate whether some of these tax credits and incentive programs are actually producing jobs, investment and economic growth, rather than continuing indefinitely without review.
Criminal background checks for health occupations
This law institutes a mandatory criminal history records check across many industries. Moving forward, state boards will require fingerprinting and state/federal background checks for practicing acupuncturists, dentists and dental hygienists, dietitians, nutritionists, environmental health specialists, morticians, funeral directors, pharmacists, physical therapists, podiatrists, and psychologists.
State procurement reauthorizations
This law extends Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise program and continuing requirements that state agencies consider minority-owned businesses in certain contracting, licensing and development programs, including some tied to cannabis, offshore wind, public-private partnerships and sports wagering.
Hospitals - Immigration Enforcement Action - Policy Requirement
This bill requires hospitals in Maryland to develop and implement a policy that outlines their procedures when immigration enforcement actions occur on hospital grounds, ensuring patient privacy and the safety of everyone present. Hospitals must make this policy accessible to all their staff members and provide annual training to ensure staff understand and can follow it.
Property Tax Credit - Urban Agricultural Property – The law i alters the eligibility and termination procedures for a property tax credit designed to support urban agricultural property. The bill expands the definition of “urban agricultural purposes” to include activities like hydroponics and other soilless farming methods, beekeeping, raising livestock, composting, creating pollinator habitats, and agricultural education and agritourism. Crucially, if a county or municipality decides to terminate this tax credit, they must now provide at least one year’s advance notice to the public and offer an opportunity for public comment and appeal before doing so, ensuring a more transparent process for those benefiting from the credit.
Climate Change, Homeowner's Insurance, and Emergency Management - Study
This bill mandates that the University of Maryland conduct a comprehensive study to examine the connections between climate change, the availability and cost of homeowner's insurance, and how well communities are prepared for emergencies and disasters. The research will specifically look into how climate change affects insurance costs and availability, the impact of federal disaster preparedness policies, how federal funding supports emergency management, and what local funds are available for disaster recovery. By July 1, 2027, the University System must report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, which will include an overview of the National Flood Insurance Program and private flood insurance markets, and propose actions such as tax credits or grants to encourage homeowners to make their homes more resilient to extreme weather, potential changes to insurance laws to reward policyholders who invest in resilience, and best practices for funding emergency management.
Child Labor Penalties, Private Sector Employee Labor Relations, and State Employee Labor Standards
This bill significantly revises Maryland's labor laws by increasing penalties for child labor violations, establishing new rules for private sector employee labor relations, and setting standards for state employees. Specifically, it introduces substantial civil penalties for employers who violate child labor laws, with fines potentially reaching over $70,000 per violation, and these penalties will be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill also prohibits employers from forming certain types of workplace organizations that are employer-initiated, involve supervisors and employees in addressing working conditions, can be unilaterally dissolved by the employer, and are exempt from federal labor laws like the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Furthermore, it empowers private employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) to resolve labor disputes if the NLRA is repealed or the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) cedes jurisdiction, allowing PERB to handle representation petitions, unfair labor practice cases, and certify employee organizations.
[Most of this material was taken from the Baltimore Sun and MD State Bar Association: https://www.msba.org/site/
