New Maryland laws taking effect January 1, 2026
22 laws take effect January 1, 2026.
Of the 1,746 bills enacted since 2025, 1,726 have an effective date and 20 don't yet (listed below). A law here takes effect that day by its main provisions; parts of a staggered act may take effect on other dates.
Updated Oct 31, 2026 at 11:28 a.m. EDT.
Healthcare (17)
HB 1086 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Anesthesia - Prohibiting Time Limitations
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 1087 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Step Therapy or Fail-First Protocols - Drugs to Treat Associated Conditions of Advanced Metastatic Cancer
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 1243 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Coverage for Specialty Drugs
How we got this date
That this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 1301 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Maryland Medical Assistance Program, Maryland Children’s Health Program, and Health Insurance – Transfers to Special Pediatric Hospitals – Prior Authorizations
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026
HB 1355 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Hearing Aids
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 459 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act)
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 666 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Required Coverage for Calcium Score Testing
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 936 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Cancellation and Nonrenewal of Coverage - Required Notice
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 938 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Continuing Care Providers - Governing Bodies - Membership
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
HB 970 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Insulin - Prohibition on Step Therapy or Fail-First Protocols
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 374 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act)
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 60 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Required Coverage for Calcium Score Testing
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 641 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Hearing Aids
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 646 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Insulin - Prohibition on Step Therapy or Fail-First Protocols
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 773 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Benefit Plans - Calculation of Cost-Sharing Contribution - Requirements
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 921 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Step Therapy or Fail-First Protocols - Drugs to Treat Associated Conditions of Advanced Metastatic Cancer
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 975 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Health Insurance - Coverage for Specialty Drugs
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Taxes (3)
HB 546 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax - Assessments - Appeals and Corrections
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026
HB 59 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Property Tax – Tax Sales – Revisions
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
SB 605 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax - Assessments - Appeals and Corrections
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026
Traffic (1)
HB 861 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Transportation Network Companies - Weekly Fare and Earnings Summary and Operator Data Reporting
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Wages (1)
HB 1547 · 2025 Regular SessionStated
Barbers and Cosmetologists - License Qualifications - Domestic Violence Awareness Training
How we got this date
this Act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Enacted, but not yet dated (20)
These laws' texts tie their dates to something outside the legislative record (Contingent), or not enough is recorded yet to give one (Unresolved). They may take effect January 1, 2026 too; the record doesn't say.
Show all 20
- HB 103ContingentConsumer Protection - Consumer Contracts - Prohibited WaiversLater of October 1, 2026 or the taking effect of Chapter 194 of 2025, if Chapter 194's effective date is amended
- HB 1321ContingentChild Care Scholarship Program - Application Process and Copays - AlterationsChapter 594 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2026 becoming law
- HB 1367ContingentCommission on Re-Imagining Health Care in MarylandNotice of receipt of funding is received by the Department of Legislative Services on or before June 1, 2027
- HB 2100ContingentElection Districts - General Assembly and Representatives in Congressthe voters' adoption of the constitutional amendment it proposes or depends on, and the Governor's proclamation
- HB 258UnresolvedEconomic Development - West North Avenue Development Authority - Alterationstwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- HB 384UnresolvedMaryland Disability Service Animal Program - Establishedtwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- HB 399UnresolvedState Retirement and Pension System - Transfers Between Systems - Workgroup - Extensiontwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- HB 427UnresolvedTask Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances - Extension and Membershiptwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- HB 451UnresolvedMaryland Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council - Membership, Duties, and Sunset Repealtwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- HB 604ContingentArbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026Governor's proclamation that the constitutional amendment has been adopted by voters at the general election, subject to Section 5
- HB 717UnresolvedBaltimore City - Raffles - Organizations Affiliated With Professional Baseball and Football Teamstwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- HB 849ContingentChild Care Scholarship Program - Freeze in Enrollment - Exceptions and WaitlistChapter 595 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2026 becoming law
- HB 862ContingentRailroads - Required Crew for Movement of FreightEnactment of substantially similar legislation in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
- SB 157ContingentMaryland Disability Service Animal Program - EstablishedDepartment of Legislative Services receives notification, on or before October 1, 2026, that the Department of Disabilities has sufficient staff to administer the Maryland Disability Service Animal Program; effective on the date notice is received
- SB 28ContingentArbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026Governor's proclamation that the constitutional amendment, having received a majority of votes cast at the general election, has been adopted by the people of Maryland; subject to Section 5
- SB 305UnresolvedQualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Incarcerated Individual Training and Reentry Grant Fund - Extensiontwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- SB 336UnresolvedTask Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances - Extension and Membershiptwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- SB 363UnresolvedMaryland-Ireland Trade Commission - Membership and Termination - Altered and Extendedtwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- SB 4UnresolvedEconomic Development - West North Avenue Development Authority - Alterationstwo clauses set different dates for the same provision
- SB 538UnresolvedBaltimore City - Raffles - Organizations Affiliated With Professional Baseball and Football Teamstwo clauses set different dates for the same provision