Nearly 100 bills signed into Maryland law by Gov. Moore at end of 2025 legislative session, including public safety and immigration issues

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed more than 90 bills into law Tuesday following the end of the 2025 legislative session. 

When the session got underway in January, lawmakers shared several priorities, including addressing a $3 billion deficit, increasing economic growth, and lowering crime.

Maryland bills signed into law

Of the 94 bills that Gov. Moore signed Tuesday, several aim to improve public safety and reduce crime in the state. 

An immigration enforcement legislation was passed with moments to spare. As passed, the Maryland Values Act includes language to help sensitive locations like schools and churches determine how to respond if immigration agents show up, and privacy protections for migrant data.

Here is a look at some of the highlights of legislation lawmakers have sent to the governor's desk:

Energy package

Lawmakers passed a package of measures aimed at addressing energy needs, including initiatives to generate more power from nuclear, natural gas, solar and battery storage. It also includes a small rebate on state ratepayers' electric bills, with two installments adding up to an average of about $80.

Abortion funding

The Maryland Department of Health would have access to $25 million for an abortion grant program to help providers pay costs for the uninsured. The money comes from part of the federal Affordable Care Act that has collected fees from insurers to pay for abortion services for their policyholders.

Health care for young adults

Lawmakers approved a measure to make permanent a program that provides subsidies to help young adults get affordable health insurance.

Prescription drugs

A state board would have its authority expanded to set upper price limits for prescription drugs statewide, instead of only for state and local governments.

Sentencing second look

People convicted of a crime between the ages of 18 and 25 who have served 20 years or more of a prison sentence would be able to petition for a reduction in sentence if they have not been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole or are a sex offender. The bill does not apply to offenders convicted of killing first responders.

Criminal records

Many more state residents would be able to expunge criminal records after completing their sentences. The measure also will require the state to automatically shield records from public view for roughly 175,000 people who were pardoned by the governor last year for minor cannabis convictions.

Slavery reparations

A statewide commission would study and recommend potential reparations for slavery and the lingering effects of racial discrimination.

Sex abuse lawsuits

Future liabilities from claims of sexual abuse at state and private institutions would be limited with caps on settlements from $890,000 to $400,000 for cases filed after May 31 for state institutions and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions.

More bills signed

House Bill 421 and corresponding Senate Bill 36 dictate that the money from the state's 911 Trust Fund be used to support the 988 suicide prevention hotline. 

HB189 and Senate Bill 187 require the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to disqualify a person from driving a commercial vehicle for one year if they are found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. 

House Bill 136 and Senate Bill 199 require that the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy assume the responsibility of paying a healthcare provider for caring for victims of alleged rape or sexual assault. This used to be the responsibility of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. 

House Bill 12 allows the Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission to issue citations to individuals who violate a law preventing the sale of certain THC products.   

Lawmakers trimmed the Blueprint for Maryland's future, agreeing to delay the implementation of a set amount of weekly planning time for teachers by three years. 

Some of the other bills being signed on Tuesday address smaller policy changes. 

Senate Bill 258 and House Bill 40 change the fee for sport fishing licenses from $20.50 to $32 for residents and from $30.50 to $55 for nonresidents. 

Another bill, SB196, clarifies that fees collected from electronic transactions are owed to the state rather than a third party. 

At the last minute, Maryland lawmakers scrapped a proposed provision that would have barred counties from entering into 287(g) agreements to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

2026 Budget passes on Sine Die 

The Maryland General Assembly passed the 2026 budget on Sine Die, the final day of the session. 

The budget included tax and fee increases along with some spending cuts to close the $3.3 billion deficit. 

"I'm proud of the budget deal we crafted with the Maryland General Assembly to flip the deficit we inherited into a surplus, while ensuring 94% of Marylanders get either an income tax cut or see no change in their income taxes," Gov. Moore said in a statement.

"Our expungement bill will provide second chances to more Marylanders, so they can become part of our economic future," the governor added. "We made record investments in education while addressing commonsense adjustments to the Blueprint, which will improve education for all Maryland students."

The $67 billion budget creates new tax brackets for the highest earners in the state, which some Republican lawmakers continued to express concerns about. 

Those who make $500,000 per year will be taxed at 6.25%, while those making $1 million will be taxed at 6.5%. Currently, Marylanders who make over $250,000 are taxed at 5.75%.

"It's really scary for the six million Marylanders this new budget falls on," said Del. Stuart Schmidt, a Republican from Anne Arundel County. "I mean, the highest tax increase we've ever had in the state of Maryland, it's scary."

There will also be a 3% tax on IT and data services, a new 2% tax on capital gains for people with income over $350,000, and an increase in the cannabis and sports betting taxes.

There's also about $2 billion in cuts to state spending, which includes $298 million in cuts to special funds, a transfer of $200 million from the dedicated purpose account to the general fund, and abolishment of 364 state positions.

The Associated Press contributed to this story