Article V Amendments Convention

HB0925

SB0886

Amendments Convention Called Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution - Delegation to the Convention

Requiring the General Assembly to appoint a delegation to an amendments convention called under Article V of the U.S. Constitution and an advisory committee under certain circumstances and in accordance with certain requirements; providing for the membership of the delegation; providing for the qualifications, oath, compensation, and duties of a commissioner to the delegation; establishing the operations of the delegation and the advisory committee; etc.

Hearing 3/03 at 12:00 p.m.

Rules and Executive Nominations

Article V Amendments Convention

SB0886

HB0925

Amendments Convention Called Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution - Delegation to the Convention

Requiring the General Assembly to appoint a delegation to an amendments convention called under Article V of the U.S. Constitution and an advisory committee under certain circumstances and in accordance with certain requirements; providing for the membership of the delegation; providing for the qualifications, oath, compensation, and duties of a commissioner to the delegation; establishing the operations of the delegation and the advisory committee; etc.

Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.

Education, Energy, and the Environment

Attorney's Fees for Constitutional Rights

HB0818

Award of Attorney's Fees and Expenses - Violation of Maryland Constitutional Right

Authorizing a court to award to a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney's fees and expenses in certain actions seeking to remedy a violation of a Maryland constitutional right; authorizing a court to award reasonable attorney's fees and expenses to a prevailing defendant under certain circumstances; and establishing that certain limits on attorney's fees under the Maryland Tort Claims Act do not apply to a certain award of attorney's fees and expenses.

Hearing 2/19 at 11:00 a.m.

Judiciary

Commission on Nondiscrimination

HB1055

Commission on Nondiscrimination - Establishment

Establishing the Commission on Nondiscrimination to monitor and study nondiscrimination laws and regulations and the impacts of the actions of the federal government on those laws and regulations and to recommend legislation to address any deficiencies in nondiscrimination protections in Maryland; and requiring the Commission to submit a report on its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 15 each year.

Hearing 3/10 at 11:30 a.m.

Health and Government Operations

Education - Antidiscrimination Policies

HB0495

Education - Antidiscrimination Policies - Policy and Notice Requirements

Requiring certain schools that have an antidiscrimination policy to ensure that the policy includes certain information and is available to certain individuals in a certain manner; requiring a school to provide a certain training regarding antidiscrimination policies to students and employees in a certain manner; and requiring, if sufficient resources are not available to provide training, a school to coordinate with a community organization with certain expertise to provide the training to students and employees at no cost.

Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)

Ways and Means

Support

Free Exercise of Religion

HB1019

Human Relations - Protection of the Free Exercise of Religion

Prohibiting a governmental authority, under certain circumstances, from burdening a person's exercise of religion; and authorizing a person aggrieved by a violation of the Act to obtain certain relief in a civil action.

Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.

Health and Government Operations

Girls Sports - Anti-Trans

HB0156

Education - Interscholastic and Intramural Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams - Designation Based on Sex (Fairness in Girls' Sports Act)

Requiring certain interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams or sports sponsored by certain schools to be expressly designated based on biological sex; prohibiting certain entities from taking certain adverse actions against a school for maintaining separate interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams and sports for students of the female sex; and providing that certain individuals have the right to bring a civil action under certain circumstances.

Unfavorable Report by Ways and Means

Oppose

Girls Sports - Anti-Trans

SB0588

Education - Interscholastic and Intramural Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams and Sports - Designation (Fairness in Girls' Sports Act)

Requiring certain interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams or sports sponsored by certain schools to be expressly designated in a certain manner; prohibiting certain interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams or sports from including certain students; prohibiting certain entities from taking certain adverse actions against a school under certain circumstances; etc.

Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.

Education, Energy, and the Environment

Oppose

Govt. Property with Confederate Names

HB0752

Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names

Establishing the Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names to develop and implement a framework to identify real property owned by the State or a political subdivision that bears a Confederate name; and requiring the Commission to make recommendations regarding the real property that should be renamed and report its findings to the Governor, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, the governing body of each county, and the General Assembly by October 1, 2032.

Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.

Health and Government Operations

HIV Transmission - Repeal Prohibition

SB0356

HB0039

Public Health - Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Carlton R. Smith Act)

Repealing the prohibition on an individual from knowingly transferring or attempting to transfer the human immunodeficiency virus to another individual.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 652

Support

Hate Crimes - Sexual Orientation Definitions

HB1452

Hate Crimes and Hate Bias - Definitions of Sexual Orientation and Hate Bias Incident

Altering the definition of 'sexual orientation' applicable to certain hate crime statutes; and defining 'hate bias incident' applicable to a certain requirement that the Department of State Police collect, analyze, and report certain information provided by certain law enforcement agencies.

Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.

Judiciary

Health Occupations - Racism Training

HB0783

SB0458

Health Occupations - Implicit Bias and Structural Racism Training

Requiring applicants for renewal of certain licenses and certain certificates issued by certain health occupation boards to attest that the applicant completed an implicit bias and structural racism training program, rather than an implicit bias training program, approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program; authorizing certain health occupations boards to adopt regulations allowing applicants renewing licenses to receive continuing education credits for completing certain training; etc.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 478

Health Occupations - Racism Training

SB0458

HB0783

Health Occupations - Implicit Bias and Structural Racism Training

Requiring applicants for renewal of certain licenses and certain certificates issued by certain health occupation boards to attest that the applicant completed an implicit bias and structural racism training program, rather than an implicit bias training program, approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program; authorizing each health occupations board to adopt regulations allowing applicants seeking license renewal to receive continuing education credits for completion of certain training; etc.

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

Rules and Executive Nominations

Indian Heritage & Cultural Grant Program

HB0794

Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs - Indian Heritage and Culture Grant Program and Fund

Establishing the Indian Heritage and Culture Grant Program and Fund to preserve Indian tribal history and culture; establishing the Indian Heritage and Culture Grant Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund and requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; authorizing the Governor to include in the annual operating budget an appropriation of $500,000 to the Fund; and requiring the Trust and the Commission to report annually on the financial status and activities of the Program and the Fund for the prior fiscal year.

Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.

Appropriations

Interference - religious facility

HB0305

SB0287

Criminal Law - Interference With Access to or Egress From a Religious Facility - Prohibition

Prohibiting a person, acting alone or with others, from preventing another from entering or exiting a religious facility; and establishing that a violation of the Act is a misdemeanor with a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both on conviction.

Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.

Judiciary

Interference - religious facility

SB0287

HB0305

Criminal Law - Interference With Access to or Egress From a Religious Facility - Prohibition

Prohibiting a person, acting alone or with others, from preventing another from entering or exiting a religious facility; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 90 days or a fine not to exceed $1,000 or both.

Hearing 1/30 at 1:00 p.m.

Judicial Proceedings

Maryland Department of Social Equity

HB1253

Department of Social and Economic Mobility - Established

Establishing the Department of Social and Economic Mobility; providing for the Secretary of Social and Economic Mobility; providing the purpose of the Department is to provide support for units of State government, individuals, and businesses for the maintenance of social equity policies in the State; establishing the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special Fund; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill a certain appropriation from the Transportation Trust Fund to the Fund; etc.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 605

Maryland Reparations Commission

HB1422

SB0587

State Government - Maryland Reparations Commission

Establishing the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and make recommendations relating to appropriate benefits to be made to individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in the State or were impacted by certain inequitable government policies; and requiring the Commission to submit a preliminary report by January 1, 2027, and a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2027.

Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.

Health and Government Operations

Maryland Reparations Commission

SB0587

HB1422

State Government - Maryland Reparations Commission

Establishing the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and make recommendations relating to appropriate benefits to be made to individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in the State or were impacted by certain inequitable government policies; and requiring the Commission to submit a preliminary report by January 1, 2027, and a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2027.

Returned Passed

Governor

No manatory religious/political meetings at work

HB0233

SB0576

Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

Prohibiting employers from taking certain adverse actions against an employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant declines to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings during which the employer communicates the opinion of the employer regarding religious matters or political matters.

First Reading Finance

Finance

Support

No manatory religious/political meetings at work

SB0576

HB0233

Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

Prohibiting employers from taking certain adverse actions against an employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant declines to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings during which the employer communicates the opinion of the employer regarding religious matters or political matters.

Recommitted to Finance (Senator Beidle)

Finance

Support

Nonprofit Support of Israeli Settlements

HB1394

Civil Actions - Nonprofit Organizations - Unauthorized Support of Israeli Settlement Activity (Not On Our Dime Act)

Prohibiting certain nonprofit organizations from aiding or abetting certain activity by the government of Israel or a citizen of Israel; authorizing the Attorney General or a certain person to bring a certain action against a nonprofit organization that violates the Act; and requiring the Secretary of State to remove a nonprofit organization from the Registry of Charitable Solicitation after receiving notice from the Attorney General or a prevailing plaintiff of a decision entered against a nonprofit organization.

Hearing 3/05 at 3:00 p.m.

Judiciary

Protect Fired Federal Workers

HB1557

Program to Protect Individuals Unemployed or Furloughed Due to Federal Actions - Establishment

Establishing the Program to Protect Individuals Unemployed or Furloughed Due to Federal Actions; requiring a credit reporting agency to place an adverse information freeze on a qualified individual's record; establishing requirements and prohibitions for certain financial institutions; prohibiting a public service company from terminating electric or gas service to a qualified individual; requiring a court to stay a foreclosure of a certain residential property; requiring the Department to administer the Program; etc.

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

Rules and Executive Nominations

Protect Our Federal Workers Act

HB1424

SB0683

Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions (Protect Our Federal Workers Act)

Renaming the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund to be the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund; authorizing funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account to be expended to assist in funding costs connected to a relocation, closure, or mass layoff of a unit of the federal government; establishing the Expedited Hiring Program in the Department of Budget and Management; authorizing an appointing authority to recruit for certain vacant positions in State government; etc.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 97

Protect Our Federal Workers Act

SB0683

HB1424

Catastrophic Event Account and Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund, Protection of Federal Benefits, and Powers of the Attorney General - Alterations (Protect Our Federal Workers Act)

Renaming the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund to be the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund; authorizing funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account to be expended to assist in funding costs in connection with a closure, relocation, or mass layoff of a unit of the federal government, or other similar circumstances; and altering the purpose of the Fund and the eligibility criteria to receive loans from the Fund.

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

Budget and Taxation

Religious Freedom, Tests, Oaths

HB0822

Declaration of Rights - Religious Freedom, Religious Tests, and Oaths and Affirmations

Altering and removing references requiring a belief in God from certain provisions relating to religious freedom, religious tests, and oaths and affirmations.

Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.

Health and Government Operations

Remove Discrimination in Education Act

HB0086

SB0435

Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools - Title VI Coordinators

Requiring the governing board of each institution of higher education in the State and local school systems to designate a Title VI Coordinator to ensure compliance with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; and authorizing a person alleging discrimination under certain provisions of law to file a complaint with a Title VI Coordinator of a local school system, as applicable.

Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (Appropriations)

Appropriations

Remove Discrimination in Education Act

SB0435

HB0086

Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools - Title VI Coordinators (Remove Discrimination in Education Act)

Requiring the governing board of each institution of higher education in the State and local school systems to designate a Title VI Coordinator to ensure compliance with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; and authorizing a person alleging discrimination under certain provisions of law to file a complaint with a Title VI Coordinator of a local school system, as applicable.

Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.

Education, Energy, and the Environment

Reparations Commission

SB0469

State Government - Maryland Reparations Commission - Establishment (Harriet Tubman Community Investment Act)

Establishing the Maryland Reparations Commission to develop and administer a program to provide compensatory benefits to the descendants of individuals enslaved in the State; providing that any individual whose ancestors were enslaved in the State is eligible to receive certain benefits; authorizing the Commission to seek the assistance of State agencies to develop and evaluate processes and applications; requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill such sums as necessary to carry out the Act; etc.

Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment)

Education, Energy, and the Environment

State Board, etc.-Diversity Requirements

HB0696

SB0490

State Boards, Committees, Commissions, Task Forces, and Workgroups - Elimination of Citizenship Requirements and Establishment of Diversity Requirements

Eliminating citizenship requirements for boards and commissions; and requiring that members of boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups reflect the full diversity of the State to the extent practicable.

Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.

Health and Government Operations

State Board, etc.-Diversity Requirements

SB0490

HB0696

State Boards, Committees, Commissions, Task Forces, and Workgroups - Elimination of Citizenship Requirements and Establishment of Diversity Requirements

Eliminating citizenship requirements for boards and commissions; and requiring that members of boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups reflect the full diversity of the State to the extent practicable.

Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.

Education, Energy, and the Environment

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

HB0434

SB0167

Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.

Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.

Judiciary

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

SB0167

HB0434

Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.

Hearing 1/15 at 12:00 p.m.

Judicial Proceedings

Terrorist-supporting - Nonprofits

HB1192

Income, Sales and Use, and Property Taxes - Rescission of Exempt Status for Nonprofit Organizations for Supporting Terrorist Organizations

Requiring, as practicable, the Comptroller and the Director of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to jointly determine on a regular basis whether a certain nonprofit organization in the State has been found to be a certain terrorist-supporting organization; requiring that the Comptroller and the Director rescind a terrorist-supporting organization's tax-exempt status with respect to certain Maryland income tax, sales and use tax, and property tax exemptions; etc.

Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.

Ways and Means

Oppose

Unhoused Individuals - Rights, etc.

HB0487

SB0484

Unhoused Individuals - Rights, Civil Action, and Affirmative Defense

Providing that all unhoused individuals have certain rights; authorizing the Attorney General or an individual harmed by a violation of the Act to bring a certain civil action against a political subdivision, a unit of State or local government, or a government official; establishing an affirmative defense of necessity to certain criminal charges relating to trespass or disturbing the peace; and repealing the authority of a municipality to prohibit vagrancy.

Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.

Judiciary

Unhoused Individuals - Rights, etc.

SB0484

HB0487

Unhoused Individuals - Rights, Civil Action, and Affirmative Defense

Providing that all unhoused individuals have certain rights; authorizing the Attorney General or an individual harmed by a violation of the Act to bring a certain civil action against a political subdivision, a unit of State or local government, or a government official; establishing an affirmative defense of necessity to certain criminal charges relating to trespass or disturbing the peace; and repealing the authority of a municipality to prohibit vagrancy.

Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m.

Judicial Proceedings