These laws impact family life, tenant rights, immigration protections, hospital billing, criminal justice and even traffic safety.

Below is a breakdown of some of the most impactful changes and how they could affect Marylanders.

Family Law and Child Custody

Child Support Adjustments (HB 1191 / SB 548)

Parents who owe child support could see a new deduction when their income is calculated.

When courts calculate child support, they don’t just use a parent’s raw income: they use something called adjusted actual income. That’s the parent’s income after subtracting certain allowable deductions such as taxes, health insurance premiums and more.

Beginning Oct. 1, parents can deduct allowances for children living in their home, even if there is no formal support order for those children.

Because of this, child support obligations may be lower when parents have additional children at home.

Example: A father is in court for child support for one child. He also has two younger children living with him from another relationship. Even if there’s no child support order for those two children, the law would allow him to deduct a certain amount for them from his income before figuring out how much support he owes for the child in the case.

Custody Determinations and Modifications (HB 1191 / SB 548)

Until now, Maryland courts have relied mostly on case law to interpret the “best interests of the child” standard in custody cases.

Starting Oct. 1, judges will have to weigh a statutory list of 16 factors in custody cases, including a child’s stability, safety and relationships with parents and siblings.

Courts must also explain their reasoning in writing or on the record.

The bill also gives courts explicit authority to modify an existing custody or visitation order if:

–      There is a material change in circumstances since the original order that affects the child’s needs or a parent’s ability to meet those needs

–      The modification would be in the best interest of the child.

Also, a parent’s relocation that makes the existing custody setup impractical may itself count as a material change.

In a goal to make custody decisions less ambiguous, starting Oct. 1, judges will weigh a statutory list of factors, including the child’s stability, relationship with each parent, exposure to conflict and the ability of parents to cooperate.

As such, parents and lawyers will have more predictability, since everyone can see in statute exactly what courts must consider.

Immigration and Victims’ Rights

U-Visa Certification (SB 608)

The law expands who can certify U-Visa petitions. That authority was previously limited mostly to police and prosecutors.

A U-Visa petition is an immigration petition for nonimmigrant status in the U.S. for victims of certain crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and have been or will be helpful to the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.

Created by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000, it grants temporary status (up to four years), work authorization and a pathway to lawful permanent residency (a green card) for eligible victims and their qualifying family members.

Starting Oct. 1,  agencies like child protective services, labor departments and the Civil Rights Commission can participate in the certification process.

It also sets strict timelines: 45 days to respond in most cases, and as few as 7 days if the applicant is facing deportation or detention.

Agencies must explain denials in writing and provide language access for non-English speakers. As a result of the new law, more crime victims,  especially immigrants, will have access to protections and a clearer, faster path to legal status.

Housing and Tenant Protections

Fairer Late Fees (HB 273)

Landlords can no longer charge late payment penalties based on the full rent amount.

Maryland already capped late rent penalties at 5%, but some landlords applied that percentage to the entire month’s rent, even if most had already been paid.

What’s new: Landlords must now calculate late fees only on the unpaid portion of rent. Weekly leases remain capped at $3/week, with a $12/month maximum.

Example: Rent is $1,000, a tenant pays $800 on time, $200 is late. Before: fee could be $50. Now: fee maxes at $10.

As a result of the new law, tenants who make partial payments will not be over-penalized. Landlords will need to revise lease forms, and unenforceable clauses could lead to tenant lawsuits for damages and attorney’s fees.

Medical Debt and Hospitals

Hospital Financial Assistance (HB 268 / SB 981)

HB 268 (and its companion SB 981) changes rules about how hospitals must help patients with medical bills, how much patients must pay out-of-pocket, and when hospitals can sue to collect unpaid bills.

Hospitals must now provide discounted care for families earning up to 500% of the federal poverty level (roughly $156,000 for a family of four).

Example: If your income is 201-250 % of FPL, your out-of-pocket cost is reduced 75%. If your income is 250 – 300% of FLP, your our-of-pocket cost is reduced by 60%.

Patients will have up to 240 days to apply for aid, and hospitals are barred from suing for debts under $500. Aggressive tactics such as liens, foreclosures and credit reporting are restricted.

Moreover, hospitals must refund to patients any overpayment above $25 if the patient later qualifies for free care (within that 240-day period.)

Overall, HB 268 strengthens patient protections and ensures hospitals take more responsibility in making medical care financially manageable, especially for vulnerable populations.

Medical Debt and Liens (HB 428 / SB 349)

Creditors can no longer place liens on a person’s primary residence to collect medical debt.

The law protects homeowners from losing their home due to medical bills (or having their home burdened by a lien) under contract claims for medical debt.

Court complaints must disclose if the debt is medical and note the defendant’s primary residence. Credit card debts (ordinary cards) generally won’t be regarded as “medical debt” under this bill (unless it’s a health care-specific card).

This does not apply to old liens already in place but prevents new ones.

So medical debt protections are less likely to apply for credit card bills that are not specifically used for medical care.

Impact: Maryland homeowners will not risk losing their homes solely over unpaid medical bills.

Criminal Justice and Drug Laws

Drug Paraphernalia (HB 260 / SB 1009)

This new law is lessening the severity of penalties for many paraphernalia-related offenses under certain circumstances.

A first offense now carries only a fine of up to $500, while subsequent violations are capped at 1 year in jail or a $1,000 fine (down from 2 years/$2,000).

“Intent to administer” is removed from the list of prohibited intents.

As a result, fewer Marylanders will face jail time for low-level paraphernalia violations. The law could also reduce the number of cases that go to trial for paraphernalia alone, reducing burdens on courts and jails.

Caveats / boundaries:

It does not eliminate all penalties for paraphernalia use or distribution in contexts tied to drug use or drug dealing.

Some paraphernalia laws might still carry stricter penalties if other offenses are involved (e.g. dealing, trafficking, as part of other crimes).

Cannabis Reforms (HB 413 / SB 925)

Starting Oct. 1 adults  (21+) may manufacture personal-use amounts of cannabis products at home (without volatile solvents).

The law also creates pathways for incarcerated individuals convicted under older, harsher cannabis and cocaine laws to seek reduced sentences.

Moreover, it modifies the penalties for being a volume dealer or drug kingpin in relation to cannabis.

Impact: Expanded personal freedoms for cannabis use and relief for those serving outdated drug sentences.

Second Look Act/Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (HB 853)

Starting Oct. 1, young adults (18–24 at the time of offense) who have served at least 20 years may petition for a reduced sentence. (Excludes life sentences, sex offenses and certain special cases.)

Expungement and Cannabis Pardons (SB 432)

Starting Oct.1, certain convictions may be expunged after sentence completion, and pardoned cannabis convictions can no longer appear on Maryland’s public Case Search system.

As a result, people with certain convictions may get relief from the stigma or legal consequences by having the records expunged.

Firearm Trafficking (SB 443)

Transporting firearms into Maryland for illegal sale or trafficking will be classified as a felony starting Oct. 1.

The new law also requires that prosecution for trafficking a regulated firearm must be begun within 3 years after the offense (i.e. a statute of limitations).

Unlawful firearm trafficking into Maryland is now a felony. Prosecutors must act within 3 years (statute of limitations).

The law is intended to balance prosecutorial burden and fairness (by having time limits), while ensuring tough penalties for illicit weapons trafficking.

Impact: Stricter penalties for gun trafficking, but with clear time limits for prosecution.

Traffic and Driving

Reckless and Aggressive Driving (SB 590)

Reckless driving could now lead to jail time.

Starting Oct. 1, if you commit certain dangerous driving behaviors, you could face tougher (or at least different) penalties and more points added to your license. Those points could lead to suspensions or higher insurance rates.

Additionally, more types of traffic offenses can be used as building blocks (“elements”) for more serious charges, making it easier to escalate a case from a simple traffic ticket to a reckless/aggressive driving charge.

All in all, Maryland drivers will now  face higher risks of fines, license suspension, and insurance hikes for unsafe driving.

Motor Vehicles – Speed Monitoring Systems – Penalties (HB 182)

Beginning Oct. 1, Maryland drivers caught speeding by automated speed monitoring systems will face a new, tiered fine structure.

The change comes with the passage of House Bill 182, signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore on May 13, 2025.

Previously, all speed camera violations in Maryland carried a flat $40 civil penalty, regardless of how much a driver exceeded the speed limit.

Under the new law, fines will still be issued as civil citations (not criminal charges and no points on a license), but the amount will now depend on how far over the speed limit a driver is traveling.

Drivers going between 12 and 15 miles per hour over the limit will pay $40.  Those speeding by 16 to 19 miles per hour will face a $70 fine.  The penalty for traveling 20 to 29 miles per hour over the limit rises to $120. Violations between 30 and 39 miles per hour over the limit will result in a $230 fine and anyone driving 40 miles per hour or more over the limit will pay $425.