House adopts favorable reports on dozens of bills, sends one measure to final passage after roll call

Annapolis — The Maryland House of Delegates on March 16 adopted favorable committee reports and advanced dozens of bills across multiple policy areas, and recorded the final passage of House Bill 445 after a roll-call vote.

The House received supplemental budget number 2 from Governor Westmore, submitted under Article 3, Section 52(5) of the Maryland Constitution, and referred the matter to the Appropriations Committee and to conference where applicable. The chamber also appointed conference committees to resolve differences on several budget bills.

Why it matters: The session moved a broad package of bills — on criminal law, elections, education, economic development, tax credits and regulatory changes — through third reading or past the third reading stage. Most measures were advanced without extended floor debate but some drew questions on technical or fiscal points.

Votes at a glance (selected bills mentioned on the floor and their disposition):

- House Bill 445 (criminal law — interference with public-safety answering points) — Final passage. The clerk reported 129 votes in the affirmative on a roll call; the bill was declared passed.

- Senate Bill 813 (Howard Community College, Board of Trustees — meetings and contracts) — Favorable report adopted; ordered past third reading.

- Senate Bill 215 (cannabis reform revisions) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 219 (uninsured employers fund assessments and special monitor) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 305 (virtual currency kiosk registration and regulation) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 830 (workers' compensation claims application form; authorization for release of information) — Favorable report adopted; ordered past third reading after floor questions about fiscal impacts (see separate article).

- Senate Bill 846 (business regulation; cellular phone carriers authorized users) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 423 (Maryland Medical Practice Act and Maryland Physician Assistance Act revisions) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 491 (veterans benefits; honorable discharge) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 764 (state mineral designation) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 854 (health occupations; direct-entry midwives) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 963 (abandoned and neglected cemeteries fund) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 456 (dental services; qualification for Maryland Dental Care Program) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 302 (Maryland Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer incentive program alterations) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 313 (election law; post-election tabulation and risk-limiting audits) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 378 (State Library Agency Family Literacy Pilot Program) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 502 (property tax credit for certain public safety and rescue personnel expanded to judicial officers) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 516 (property tax; daycare centers, childcare homes and childcare centers) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 605 (digital advertising; gross-revenue tax assessments and appeals) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 663 (earned income tax credit: notice of eligibility alterations) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 667 (gaming; slot machine and skills-based amusement devices) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 774 (property tax; payment in lieu of taxes agreements for broadband service providers) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 911 (property tax exemption for blind individuals alteration) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 1008 (economic development; small business guarantee fund alterations) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 68 (public schools; restorative practices and comprehensive plans) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 183 (SDAT notification of constant yield tax rate alteration) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 257 (election law; notice to permanent absentee voters) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 307 (Anne Arundel County Board of Education student member scholarship increase) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 598 (property tax; low-income housing tax credit valuation) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 719 (Somerset County property tax; emergency services tax) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 730 (Charles County gaming permit review board repeal) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 32 (real property; expedited hearings and service for active-duty service members) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 125 (residential real property; local limits on summoning law enforcement) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 348 (criminal law; visual surveillance with prurient intent modifications) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 356 (public health; repeal of HIV transfer prohibition, Carlton R. Smith Act) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 443 (trafficking regulated firearms felony classification) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 566 (real property filing fee for residential mortgage foreclosure increase) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 581 (civil actions; tortious injury to or death of a pet, "Buddy's Law") — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 187 (DUI commercial driver's license disqualification) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 197 (Maryland Correctional Training Commission membership) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 432 (expungement and Maryland Judiciary case search reforms) — Favorable report adopted; ordered passed the third reading after floor questions (see separate article).

- House Bill 1519 (prior authorizations of state debt alterations; appropriation committee amendments adopted) — Committee amendments adopted; bill printed for third reading.

- Senate Bill 49 (consumer protection; automatic renewals; committee amendments adopted) — Favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 299 (cannabis agents; security guard definitions) — Committee amendments adopted; favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 689 (mortgage disclosures and assumption rules) — Committee amendments adopted; favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 1026 (consumer credit and licensing; Maryland secondary market stability act) — Committee amendments adopted; favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- House Bill 1199 (physician licensing for internationally trained physicians; committee amendments adopted) — Favorable report as amended; printed for third reading.

- Senate Bill 252 (childcare staff-to-child ratio repeal; amendment aligns ratio with State Dept. of Education) — Favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 262 (special elections; clarification allowing a special election concurrent with regular county elections) — Favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 369 (public libraries; automated external defibrillator program) — Favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 861 (Western Maryland economic development fund and board alterations) — Favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 533 (police accountability; time limit for filing administrative charges) — Special ordered for further consideration the following day.

- Senate Bill 608 (nonimmigrant status petitions; criminal procedure clarifications) — Committee amendments adopted; favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 811 (task force on returning citizens and reentry services; extension of report deadline) — Favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

- Senate Bill 181 (correctional services; geriatric and medical parole) — Committee amendments adopted; favorable report as amended adopted; ordered passed the third reading.

Other floor activity and recognitions: The House observed Arbor Day and read a resolution recognizing Melissa Nash as the 2025 Maryland Tree Farm Inspector of the Year; the chamber also welcomed student and community groups and announced committee voting schedules for the day.

Looking ahead: Many bills advanced to third reading and final passage; several bills were amended on the floor. The House special-ordered Senate Bill 533 for additional consideration tomorrow.