HB 1035: Next Generation Energy Act

This bill protects working families from unfair rate hikes and stops utilities from sneaking in shady charges. It blocks backdoor price hikes and saves ratepayers $40 million. Gas companies can only charge for real safety needs, not wasteful projects. Utilities have to justify outsourcing and can't make us pay for things like trade groups or private jets. Big users like data centers will now pay their fair share so regular folks don’t get stuck with the bill.

It also gives $200 million in direct relief to Maryland families, once in the summer and once in the winter, and locks in long-term help. As dirty power plants shut down, Maryland will speed up clean energy like solar, nuclear, and storage, while teaming up with nearby states to cut costs. And we’re making energy help easier to get for low-income families by combining programs and cutting red tape.

HB 1036: Renewable Energy Certainty Act

This bill makes sure Maryland stays a leader in clean energy while protecting our communities, land, and people from bad deals and bad actors. These bills create statewide rules for solar and battery storage projects so we can grow clean energy the right way. Right now, some counties block solar with unfair zoning laws. This bill stops that. It makes sure that if a solar project meets all the safety and environmental rules, it can’t be denied for political reasons. Solar developers and local governments worked together to write the siting rules, so it’s balanced and fair.

The bill also sets standards for where our state can build battery storage projects and how they’re reviewed. If the battery site isn’t in a commercial or industrial area, it has to follow extra safety and screening rules, and the project has to go through a strong public review process. At the same time, it makes building small-scale, community solar easier by giving those projects their own fast-track approval process, separate from big utility plans.

Best of all, this bill protects homeowners. Solar companies can’t take advantage of people anymore. The law requires a 5-year full warranty for rooftop solar systems. People have to be told how well their solar system should perform before they buy it, and all rooftop solar installers now have to get a license through the Maryland Department of Labor to prove they know what they’re doing. 

HB 1037: Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act

This bill creates a brand new, independent office inside Maryland’s Public Service Commission called the Strategic Energy Planning Office. Right now, a lot of our energy planning relies on PJM, the regional grid operator. However, PJM doesn’t always put Maryland first. This new office makes sure our state gets real facts and honest answers about our energy needs, without relying on outside companies that don’t always have our back.

Every three years, the office will release a major report looking at the risks to our energy system, like how reliable it is, what it costs, and whether we have enough power to meet demand. They’ll use data, forecasts, and expert modeling to figure out what’s coming and how to handle it in ways that protect Maryland families from rising prices and power outages. The public will get a chance to speak up before the report becomes final, and the PSC will hold a public hearing to decide next steps based on what the report finds.

HB 36: Department of Aging — Aging Services — Program Repeal and Consolidation

This bill is all about giving seniors the support they deserve in one simple, streamlined way. It cuts out red tape by ending outdated programs and replacing them with a single, easy-to-use system run by the Maryland Department of Aging. This new setup ensures every older adult in Maryland has one clear place to get the help they need, whether it's for housing, food, medical care, transportation, or other services.

The bill creates “one-stop shop” entry points in every region so older adults and their caregivers can get info, apply for services, and get help navigating the system. It also allows local agencies and nonprofits to team up with the state to ensure services are delivered where people live. Most importantly, this law ensures the system is built with older adults, not just for them. Transition planning and personal care assessments are required to support people during the shift.

HB 80: Transit-Oriented Development

Maryland is experiencing a housing crisis, and this bill would have strengthened housing construction and mixed-use development within half a mile of rail stations on high-frequency rail corridors in our state by removing outdated parking mandates and zoning barriers near rail stations.

It would set non-binding housing development targets and proposed creating a commission to help jurisdictions meet those targets.

This bill would help build more housing where people commute, cutting down on car use and expanding access to jobs and services. Unfortunately, the bill passed the House but died in the Senate. We will push for this again next year.

HB 273: Residential Leases — Late Payment Penalties — Calculation

This bill protects renters by capping late fees at 5% of unpaid rent, not the full amount due. That means if someone is short one month, they won’t be hit with unfair penalties that make it even harder to recover.

For the Shore, where wages are low and rent keeps rising, this helps working families stay afloat. It gives people a real chance to catch up without getting trapped in a cycle of debt or eviction.

HB 390: Affordable Housing Payment In Lieu of Taxes Expansion Act 

This bill creates powerful incentives for property owners to preserve and expand affordable rental units. It allows counties to negotiate Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements for properties that dedicate at least 25% of their units to affordability for 15 years or more. The bill doesn’t just set a floor, it empowers local governments to go further, giving them the flexibility to require even higher affordable housing targets.

With this bill passed into law, a strong new tool has been added to the toolbox to increase and protect affordable housing statewide, especially on the Eastern Shore.

HB 503: Housing Production Act

Maryland is in a housing crisis, and for working families on the Shore, it's getting harder and harder to find a place to live they can afford. HB 503 would have changed that by setting real housing production goals for every part of the state and creating a new commission to help local governments get the job done. This bill focused on building more housing near jobs, schools, and transit — the kind of smart growth we need to keep communities thriving without pushing people out.

This was one of the strongest tools introduced this year to increase housing access, and it passed the House with our full support. But on the last night of the session, Sine Die, the Senate killed it by amending all the good provisions like Vested Rights from the bill.

We’re angry, and we’re not letting this go. We’ll be back next session to fight even harder.

HB 767: Tenant Possessions Recovery Act

No one should lose everything just because they fell behind on rent. HB 767 makes Maryland’s eviction process more fair and humane by requiring landlords to give tenants 14 days’ notice before an eviction happens and 10 days to retrieve their belongings afterward. For too long, renters on the Shore and across Maryland have faced sudden eviction with no time to prepare and no chance to recover their possessions. This bill brings us in line with our neighbors and gives working families a fighting chance to land on their feet.

HB 1193: Maryland Housing Data Transparency Act

Maryland is in a housing crisis, but we can’t solve what we don’t measure. 

HB 1193 gives us the tools to finally get the data we need to address the housing shortage head-on. Starting in 2027, counties must report each quarter on the number and types of homes being built, including location, approval times, and construction costs. Municipalities can report too. Then, the Department of Planning will publish all this data in one public, easy-to-use website so everyone can see where progress is happening and where it’s being blocked.

This bill helps state and local leaders, community groups, and residents push for smarter, faster solutions by making housing development data transparent and accessible. On the Shore, this will highlight how slow permitting and outdated zoning are holding back the homes we need. With better data, we can fight harder for policy changes that deliver results.

HB 1466: Accessory Dwelling Units 

HB1466 officially makes it Maryland's policy to promote and encourage the creation of accessory dwelling units, sometimes called “Granny Flats.” This kind of small, flexible housing helps families stay together and tackles our statewide housing shortage head-on.

The bill also establishes a framework for quarterly reporting of housing development data to the Maryland Department of Planning. All that information will be available on a public, interactive website, helping us understand where housing is and isn’t getting built. This is about solving the housing crisis with facts, not fear.

HB 0176: Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act

Named in honor of a Maryland Department of Corrections employee whom a parolee killed, this bill is about one thing: protecting the people who protect us.

HB 176 makes our workplaces safer by expanding protections for public workers, especially correctional officers. It requires real safety standards, training, and regular inspections. It sets clear rules to stop workplace violence before it happens. It also lets correctional officers use body cameras, with strong rules for privacy, data storage, and use.

If a state or local agency breaks the rules, it will face real consequences. The fines will go straight into apprenticeship and training programs that help more workers succeed. Every public employee deserves a safe and respectful workplace, no matter where they serve.

HB 193: Uninsured Employers' Fund — Assessments and Special Monitor

HB 193 ensures Maryland workers' protection even when their bosses don’t play by the rules. This bill gives the Uninsured Employers’ Fund more financial strength and accountability by adjusting how employers and insurers collect assessments when workers are hurt on the job. It increases the reserves and allows the fund to collect more money when needed, ensuring it can cover future claims.

It also creates a special independent monitor to review how the fund is managed and make recommendations for improvement. If a company dodges workers’ comp laws, this bill ensures their leadership can’t hide behind paperwork, and they’ll be held accountable.

This bill concerns fairness, safety, and ensuring that injured workers aren’t left behind because their boss didn’t follow the law.

HB 228: Maryland Veterans Trust — Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard

This new law expands the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund to include members of the Maryland National Guard and their families. It allows the Fund to offer grants and loans directly to Guard members who need help, especially in times of financial stress or emergency.

Whether it’s helping a family stay in their home, covering a medical expense, or getting through a tough deployment, this bill ensures our state shows up for those who show up for us. The Guard has always had our backs, and Maryland is stepping up to have theirs.

HB 500: Procurement Reform Act of 2025

This bill reforms how Maryland awards state contracts better to support small businesses, workers, and diversity. It raises the small business set-aside limit to $1 million, giving more local companies a real chance to compete for public contracts. That’s a big deal for small businesses on the Shore and across the state.

It also rewards companies that treat their workers right, follow strong labor standards, and invest in their people. Every bidder now has to submit a plan for workforce and supplier diversity. The bill speeds up payments to small businesses, boosts support for veteran-owned businesses, and encourages internship and apprenticeship opportunities to grow the next generation of Maryland’s workforce.

HB 502: Maryland as a Model Employer Act 

This bill creates the new Office of Disability Employment Advancement & Policy to help more Marylanders with disabilities get good jobs in state government. For too long, people with disabilities have faced unfair barriers to employment. HB 502 changes that.

It sets real goals for hiring, keeping, and promoting workers with disabilities so that our state workforce looks more like the people it serves. Everyone deserves a fair shot at a stable, rewarding career, and this bill helps make that happen.

HB 601: Small Business Guaranty Fund

This bill makes it easier for small businesses to get the financing they need to grow, hire, and thrive. It expands how the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority can guarantee loans under the Small Business Guaranty Fund. That means more tools to back up small businesses when they apply for credit, including escrow accounts, letters of credit, and other financial instruments.

This reform helps break down the barriers that often keep local entrepreneurs from accessing capital. It also ensures that the loan terms aren’t so strict that they scare lenders away. By strengthening the Fund and prioritizing loans that create jobs and deliver tangible economic impact, this bill gives Maryland small businesses, especially those on the Shore, a better shot at success.

HB 1144: State Public Transit Service and Stations — Exclusion for Assault and Bodily Injury  

This bill protects hardworking transit operators, like bus drivers, from harm on the job. It authorizes the MTA to create policies banning disorderly and violent people from using transit. The Amalgamated Transit Workers Union prioritized this bill, and I helped it become law.

HB 1424: Protect Our Federal Workers Act

The Trump–Musk regime has launched a cruel and chaotic assault on federal workers, unlawfully firing thousands and throwing paychecks, pensions, and careers into jeopardy. This bill is Maryland’s fight-back plan.

HB 1424 strengthens the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund so that workers hit by unpaid furloughs, mass layoffs, or agency shutdowns can access zero-interest loans. It gives the Attorney General the power to sue the federal government on behalf of workers wrongfully fired or denied their pay and benefits. It also creates the Expedited Hiring Program to help displaced federal workers quickly transition into state jobs where their skills are needed. It also helps communities track and prevent foreclosures where these job losses hit hardest.

This crisis is personal for the Shore: Cecil County is home to 2,920 federal workers. Wicomico has 283, Talbot 209, Worcester 211, Dorchester 194, Queen Anne’s 133, Caroline 65, Kent 61, and Somerset 49. When these jobs are attacked, our entire region feels the hit.

Progressives in Annapolis won’t back down. We will always defend our workers, our families, and our future.

HB 161: County Boards of Education — Curriculum Guides and Courses of Study — Discrepancies

Every kid deserves a safe, healthy, and inclusive school where they can learn to thrive. House Bill 161 helps make that happen by modernizing health education in Maryland schools. It ensures that every local school system teaches age-appropriate lessons about mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, and how to stay safe online.

This is about protecting all our kids, especially LGBTQ students who are more likely to face bullying or feel unsafe. When schools teach respect, inclusion, and emotional wellness, students improve, and communities strengthen. Studies prove that inclusive lessons help reduce harassment and create safer school environments for everyone.

The pandemic made it clear that mental health is just as important as physical health. HB161 responds to that need and ensures students know how to care for their well-being, ask for help, and support each other. At a time when the Trump administration is targeting LGBTQ people, this bill gives Maryland students the protection and education they need, no matter who they are or where they live.

HB 504: Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act 

This bill puts real money and action behind our commitment to strong public schools. It boosts funding for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, launches a national teacher recruitment campaign to bring more great educators into our classrooms, and creates the Academic Excellence Program to tackle urgent needs in schools nationwide.

It also strengthens support for high-poverty schools, including many right here on the Eastern Shore, and backs community programs that help our kids and families daily.

Every child deserves an excellent education, no matter their zip code. This bill brings us closer to that promise.

HB 1442: Juveniles — Truancy Reduction Pilot Programs Report 

Every kid deserves a chance to succeed, starting with ensuring they’re in school. HB 1442 strengthens Maryland’s response to truancy by making the courts report more information about local Truancy Reduction Pilot Programs. That includes the number of programs, the number of students in them, the outcomes, and what changes might help them work better.

This is especially important for the Eastern Shore, where many families face barriers to school attendance. We can make these programs stronger and more effective with better data and real accountability. Every student counts, and HB 1442 helps make sure no one falls through the cracks.

HB 01/SB 07: See Someone, Save Someone Act

This bill helps protect people from human trafficking by ensuring Maryland transportation workers know how to spot warning signs and take action. The Maryland Department of Transportation will now train workers at transit stations, airports, ports, and highway rest stops on how to recognize and report trafficking. The training will happen during regular work hours and give workers the tools to help victims safely and quickly.

To protect those who speak up, the bill ensures that workers who report in good faith can’t be sued or charged. It also ensures that public service announcements are played regularly in English and Spanish at transportation hubs across the state, so more people know how to get help. This law is about safety, awareness, and giving everyday Marylanders the power to fight back against exploitation.

HB 853: Maryland Second Look Act

This bill gives people a second chance. If they were sentenced between the ages of 18 and 25 and have already served at least 20 years, they can ask a judge to reconsider their sentence. It doesn’t mean they’ll automatically get out; it just means they get a hearing.

The judge must notify victims, listen to both sides, and consider important things like how the person has acted in prison and the crime. The judge can only change the sentence if they believe the person is no longer a threat and deserves another chance.

People who were sentenced to life without parole, committed sexual offenses, or killed a first responder in the line of duty aren’t eligible. This law is about fairness, redemption, and keeping our communities safe.

HB 179/SB 11: Organized Retail Theft Act of 2025

Retail theft has become more organized and dangerous, with groups stealing large amounts of goods across multiple counties. HB179 cracks down on these schemes by treating coordinated thefts as one serious crime, even if they happen in different counties.

If someone or a group steals over $1,500 worth of goods from stores within 90 days, whether to resell, return for cash, or trade for profit, they can now face serious felony charges, depending on how much was taken. Those convicted must also pay the victims back.

The bill also ensures prosecutors can connect these thefts and allows judges to officially recognize when a crime was part of organized retail theft. This helps law enforcement track and stop big theft operations while protecting small businesses and communities.

HB 205: Employment Standards — Firefighters — Payment of Wages and Payroll Information

HB 205 would have ensured firefighters were paid fairly and on time. It would have required counties and towns to give firefighters clear pay information and ensure overtime was calculated based on the long, demanding shifts they work. If a firefighter didn’t get their full pay, they or their union could file a grievance and receive damages. It would also strengthen transparency and accountability in local government payroll systems.

Shore Progress proudly backs our firefighters, whether it’s fighting for fair labor standards here in Salisbury or across the state. This bill passed the House of Delegates, but we’re disappointed it died in the Senate. We’ll keep fighting until our frontline heroes get the protections and pay they deserve.

HB 11: Health Insurance — Access to Nonparticipating Providers — Referrals, Additional Assistance, and Coverage

House Bill 11 makes it easier for Marylanders to access mental health and substance use care when in-network providers aren’t available. It removes the expiration date on a law requiring insurance companies to help patients find out-of-network specialists when they can’t find timely care.

Under this bill, insurers must step in, help arrange coverage, and ensure patients aren't stuck with higher costs just because a provider isn't on their approved list. The bill also bans unnecessary red tape for approved out-of-network mental health and substance use services and requires clear, upfront information for patients about their options. Shore Progress supports HB 11 because getting help shouldn’t depend on whether your provider is on a list; it should depend on what you need to get better.

HB 31: Consumer Protection — Right to Repair — Powered Wheelchairs

House Bill 31 is about dignity, access, and fairness. It gives people who use powered wheelchairs the legal right to repair their own equipment or go to independent repair shops. Right now, only manufacturers and their partners can fix certain parts of a wheelchair, and they don’t always do it quickly or affordably.

This bill changes that by requiring manufacturers to share the tools, parts, and information needed to make common repairs, things like batteries, wheels, and joysticks, on fair terms. It also includes consumer protections so people can’t be punished for fixing what they own.

Shore Progress proudly supports the right to repair, especially for Marylanders with disabilities who deserve control over their own mobility.

HB 214: Human Services — Maryland Assistive Technology Program — Establishment

House Bill 214 creates the Maryland Assistive Technology Program to make sure people with disabilities can access the devices and services they need to live, work, and thrive. This new program, run by the Department of Disabilities, will offer assessments, training, and loans for assistive tech devices like speech tools, mobility equipment, or digital accessibility support. The bill also creates a dedicated fund to support the program’s work, using state dollars and federal grants from the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act. Shore Progress supports this bill because everyone deserves the tools to live with independence and dignity.

HB 268: Hospital Financial Assistance & Debt Policies

House Bill 268 significantly improves how hospitals in Maryland handle medical debt. It expands financial help, gives patients more time and information to apply for assistance, and prevents hospitals from suing patients over small debts. It also lowers monthly medical debt payments and provides strong protections for patients’ homes, wages, and credit scores.

Under this new law, hospitals must reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients with incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty line. It also bans lawsuits against patients with less than $500 in medical debt and requires hospitals to offer fair, income-based payment plans before taking legal action. Patients have 240 days to apply for financial assistance and can’t be charged interest unless a judge approves it.

Shore Progress proudly supports this bill. It protects working families, reins in hospital abuse, and ensures that no one loses their home or ends up in court simply for getting sick.

HB 297: Maryland Health Benefit Exchange — State-Based Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidies Pilot Program — Sunset Repeal 

House Bill 297 permanently establishes Maryland’s successful health insurance subsidy program for young adults. Thanks to this program, over 64,000 Marylanders between the ages of 18 and 37 can access health coverage, many for the first time. HB297 removes the sunset date and secures full funding through 2028, ensuring this help doesn’t disappear just when people need it most.

The bill allows the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to continue providing subsidies for young adults, particularly those who don’t qualify for help through other programs. It also ensures 100% premium coverage for those with no expected contribution under federal income guidelines.

Shore Progress supports this law because healthcare is a human right, and young people deserve affordable, reliable coverage like everyone else. This program works, and it will keep working.

HB 424: Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Now Act

This session, we proudly supported HB 424, the Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Now Act. Prescription drugs are too expensive, and Maryland families are paying the price. This bill empowers the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to take real action, not just study the problem, but finally do something about it. With HB 424, the Board can set upper payment limits on high-cost medications for state and local governments and publicly funded programs like Medicaid.

That’s a big deal. It means lower costs for millions of Marylanders and a powerful new tool to fight Big Pharma's price-gouging. This is how we start putting people over profits — by standing up to corporate interests and putting the health of our communities first. Shore Progress will keep fighting until no one has to choose between medicine and rent.

HB 438: Medical Debt Real Property Liens 

HB 438 protects Maryland homeowners by prohibiting creditors from placing a lien on someone’s primary residence to collect outpatient medical debt.

These types of liens can trap families in a financial crisis, making it impossible to refinance a mortgage, secure a home repair loan, or access credit, often at the exact time they’re dealing with serious illness. HB 438 ensures that no one loses financial security or access to their home just because they got sick.

HB 869: Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025

This bill proposes removing the time limitation on the requirement for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and certain insurers to provide reimbursement for health care services delivered via telehealth. It also seeks to eliminate the restriction on health care practitioners prescribing specific controlled dangerous substances for pain treatment through telehealth.

HB 930: Public Health Abortion Grant Program — Establishment

This bill creates a new grant program within the Maryland Department of Health to expand access to abortion care clinical services. It establishes the Public Health Abortion Grant Program Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to support these grants.

The bill also requires certain premium funds collected by health insurance carriers to be used to improve abortion care access and coverage under specific circumstances.

HB 1020: The Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act 

HB 1020 prohibits credit reporting agencies from including medical debt in consumer reports and bars any person from using medical debt to determine a person’s creditworthiness. The bill also prohibits hospitals and collection entities from disclosing any part of a medical debt to a credit reporting agency. All contracts for medical debt collection must include this restriction, or they are void and unenforceable.

The bill applies regardless of when the debt was incurred or whether it is current or paid off. It ensures that Marylanders are not unfairly penalized for medical bills and aligns hospital collection practices with consumer protection standards.

HB 1045: Health Insurance & Family Planning Services — Consumer Protections Updates

HB 1045 updates state insurance law to reflect changes in federal standards around family planning services, grandfathered health plans, and required disclosures like explanations of benefits. It clarifies that the Maryland Insurance Commissioner and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights can enforce consumer protections in these areas.

The bill also strengthens privacy protections by updating the definitions of “legally protected health care” and “sensitive health services” to include gender-affirming care, ensuring this information is safeguarded when disclosed.

HB 1440: Courts — Parental Accommodations

HB 1440 modernizes Maryland’s courts by removing unnecessary barriers for caregivers and families. It requires that all newly constructed or significantly renovated circuit courthouses provide a private lactation room for both employees and members of the public. It also allows breastfeeding mothers and individuals responsible for the care of young children to request an excusal from jury duty, helping ensure no one is forced to choose between parenting and civic obligations. The bill requires the Judiciary to track and report data on excusal requests and outcomes, increasing transparency and equity in the jury selection process. HB 1440 strengthens access to justice by making the court system more inclusive, trauma-informed, and family-friendly.

HB 4: Restrictions on Use — Solar Collector Systems — Alteration

HB 4 strengthens Maryland homeowners' rights to install rooftop solar by limiting unreasonable restrictions that drive up cost or reduce efficiency. Specifically, this bill prohibits restrictions on solar systems that would increase installation costs by 5% or more or reduce projected energy output by at least 10%. It empowers homeowners to challenge these restrictions with certified documentation from solar design professionals.

The bill also gives community associations clearer authority to regulate solar systems in shared common areas, allowing reasonable restrictions on placement or installation. It will enable associations to install solar on common property at their discretion, provided it’s consistent with the law.

By balancing individual property rights and community governance, HB 4 removes barriers to residential solar energy adoption while respecting shared spaces. 

HB 128: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation — Total Assessed Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emissions — Study and Reports

HB 128 directs the Comptroller, in coordination with the Department of the Environment and the Department of Commerce, to conduct a statewide study on the total cost of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland. This study will analyze the economic, health, environmental, and infrastructure impacts of emissions, both historically and projected into the future.

It aims to identify the financial burden placed on residents and the State due to climate change and assess whether major fossil fuel companies with a significant presence and emissions history should compensate Maryland for their role in the crisis. A full report is due to the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

HB 277: Environment — Water Bottle Filling Stations — Requirement

HB 277 reduces reliance on single-use plastic water bottles and promotes reusable bottles by requiring water bottle filling stations or combined water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains to be installed in new construction and renovation projects beginning October 1, 2025, where drinking fountains are required.

HB 286: Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy — Planning Principles

HB 286 updates Maryland’s local and state land use planning visions by replacing outdated language with eight core planning principles: land productivity, transportation, housing, economy, equity, resilience, public spaces, and ecology. These principles are meant to guide both state and local governments in fostering sustainable growth, environmental protection, and community engagement.

Specific amendments were added to protect agricultural and environmental resources on the Eastern Shore, offered by Wicomico County. Despite those protections, every member of the Shore Delegation still voted against the bill.

HB 0386: Pesticides — PFAS Chemicals — Prohibitions

We’re disappointed the Senate failed to act on HB 386, which would have begun phasing out PFAS-based pesticides in Maryland. The bill passed the House and included a long implementation timeline, with most provisions taking effect in 2032.

This is especially frustrating for communities like Salisbury, where PFAS contamination has already impacted residential wells near the Perdue facility. These “forever chemicals” don’t break down, and their presence in our water is a serious public health concern.

HB 386 would have banned PFAS pesticides in sensitive areas like schools, daycares, and health care facilities and prevented new registrations. The Senate’s inaction leaves Shore Residents at risk.

HB 506: Clean Water Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act

This landmark legislation helps protect our Shore way of life by improving water and soil quality, supporting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening fisheries management, all critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

HB 506 creates the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program to reward Shore farmers who lead with conservation and community values. It also launches a statewide Water Quality Monitoring Program and updates fishery management tools to better respond to climate change. This bill safeguards the Bay and supports the people who depend on it.

HB 858: Mattress Stewardship Program

HB858 creates a statewide Mattress Stewardship Program to help solve Maryland’s growing waste crisis. With only 21 years of landfill space left, mattresses are clogging up our landfills, even though 75% of a mattress can be recycled into new products. This bill follows successful local models from places like Baltimore City and Montgomery County, and it will help reduce illegal dumping, extend landfill life, and cut costs for local governments.

The program is funded through a small purchase fee, not taxes. It ensures free and convenient mattress drop-off options for residents, saving money and protecting the environment. Recycling just one mattress saves 500 gallons of water and enough energy to power a home for three days. HB858 puts mattresses in the same category as tires and paint, so we can finally deal with this bulky waste responsibly across the Shore and the state.

SB 901: Reduce Trash — Zero Waste Producer Responsibility Plans 

This bill aims to reduce paper waste by creating a statewide Producer Responsibility Program for packaging and paper products. It requires producers, either on their own or through a producer responsibility organization, to submit a plan to the Maryland Department of the Environment that outlines how they will reduce environmental and health impacts. These plans must include goals for recycling, composting, reuse, waste reduction, and using postconsumer recycled materials.

SB 2: General Assembly — Special Election to Fill a Vacancy in Office

SB 2 would have created a pathway for Maryland voters to elect a replacement through a special election if a vacancy occurs in the General Assembly on or before a set date in the second year of a term. The special election would happen during the next regular statewide primary and general elections. The bill temporarily preserved the current appointment process to fill the vacancy, but empowered voters to decide who serves the remainder of the term.

Unfortunately, this bill did not pass the House. We are disappointed by its failure, as it would have strengthened democracy and accountability by allowing Marylanders, not just party central committees and the Governor, to choose our representatives.

SB 93: Election Law — Absentee Ballots — Notice to Request Application

This bill requires each local board of elections in Maryland to include a written notice about requesting a State-approved absentee ballot application with the specimen ballot or other mailings to voters. The goal is to increase awareness of the option to vote by mail.

Exceptions are made for voters with permanent absentee status, voters who have already received the notice once per election, and jurisdictions conducting vote-by-mail elections. This bill takes effect October 1, 2025. 

HB 322: Election Law — Municipal Elections — Administration

This emergency bill authorizes the State Administrator of Elections to enter into agreements with municipal governments to support the administration of municipal elections. It also allows the Administrator to lease voting systems or equipment to municipalities for use in local elections, with proceeds directed to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.

The bill removes the authority of local boards of elections to lease voting systems and updates deadlines for municipalities requesting to include local offices or questions on a State ballot. It ensures municipal election procedures align with State standards, including voter registration and voting methods. This bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

SB 633: Stop Scam PACs Act

This law helps stop fake PACs from tricking voters and brings more honesty to our political system. This bill is needed because there have been examples of these scam PACS all over the country, including here in Maryland, where in Catonsville, a PAC organizer stole over $1 million by falsely promising donors a dinner with Donald Trump.

Under this law, if a group uses a candidate’s name or photo without permission, they must clearly say so on the message. The bill also requires groups to disclose where donations go and who is getting paid. It allows the State Board of Elections to investigate potentially corrupt activity and fine groups that break the rules. This law brings more honesty, transparency, and accountability to our elections.

HB 579:  U Non-immigrant Status Protections

Shore Progress proudly backed HB 579 to protect and empower Maryland’s immigrant communities. This bill makes it easier for undocumented victims of crime to apply for U visas, a program meant to help people who’ve suffered and cooperated with law enforcement. 

With dangerous federal crackdowns happening across the country, HB 579 helps keep our neighbors safe from fear and targeting in trusted places like schools, libraries, health clinics, shelters, and houses of worship. No one should be afraid to get help or support their family. This law says loud and clear: all Marylanders deserve safety and dignity, no matter where they were born.

SB 828: Protecting Sensitive Locations Act 

This bill enshrines due process protections for Marylanders from immigration enforcement at sensitive locations like schools, courthouses, libraries, and health centers. It prohibits certain schools, libraries, and units of State government operating at these sensitive locations from allowing federal immigration personnel to access nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant or in the case of an emergency.

The bill also blocks state and local agencies from selling personal information and location data that could be used to track or target individuals unfairly. The Attorney General is required to develop guidance on immigration enforcement and interactions with federal personnel, and all affected institutions must adopt policies consistent with that guidance.

SB 977: Maryland Data Privacy Act

SB 977 stops government agencies from helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement spy on Marylanders. It prohibits schools, libraries, and other state entities from giving ICE access to private areas or personal data without a valid warrant. The bill also blocks law enforcement and public agencies from sharing sensitive information, like facial recognition scans or location data, that could be used to target people based on immigration status.

With SB 977, Maryland is drawing a line: no more warrantless surveillance or backdoor data deals that put our immigrant neighbors at risk.

HB 1222: Maryland Values Act

HB 1222 protects vulnerable Marylanders by defining “sensitive locations” that cannot be entered by federal immigration officers without a valid warrant issued by a federal court or in an emergency. These include nonpublic areas of state-funded or state-operated schools, libraries, shelters, and health care facilities.

The bill also prohibits state and local government agencies from selling or sharing personal information and location data that could be used for immigration enforcement. It requires the Attorney General to issue guidance on responding to federal immigration actions and ensures that public agencies adopt consistent policies to protect Marylanders' rights.

While the bill's original version included a ban on 287(g) agreements, that provision was removed. Only Cecil County on the Eastern Shore participates in a 287(g) program. This bill does not prevent local governments from voluntarily entering into such agreements. Still, it makes clear that they are not required or necessary for coordination with ICE.

HB 1222 ensures that everyone in Maryland, regardless of immigration status, can access schools, health care, libraries, and government services without fear.

HB 0262: Department of Agriculture — Maryland Agricultural Commission and Young Farmers

This bill reforms the structure of the Maryland Agricultural Commission and expands representation for young, urban, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers. It replaces the existing Young Farmers Advisory Board with a newly established Committee on Young Farmers, which is tasked with identifying issues and advising the Commission on matters affecting young and beginning farmers across Maryland.

The bill also adds seats to the Commission for new and beginning farmers, urban and small farmers, veteran farmers, and socially disadvantaged farmers. It ensures that the voices of the next generation of agricultural leaders are directly included in shaping state policy. The Committee on Young Farmers will meet quarterly and include members under 45 who earn most of their income from farming.