2025 Legislative Session

The General Assembly is Maryland’s legislative body and directly represents the electorate. The state has 47 districts represented by 47 Senators and 141 Delegates.

The 2025 Legislative Session has concluded.

2025 Session By the Numbers:

Snapshot:

• 91 veteran/military family-related bills tracked.
• 28 separate bills passed (43 with cross-files) – the most ever.

Session Highlights

• SB275 – The Modernization of Military Laws Act contains language to codify and expand burial eligibility and remove the residency requirement necessary for federal cemetery funding. 
• 8 bills clarify and streamline definitions related to veterans & military families. 
• Authorizing legislation that enables local governments to enact the 2024 Families Serve Act & Time to Serve Act.
• 4 bills enable DGS, Labor, Environment, and Health Occupations Boards to create a program to add veteran status notation on occupational licenses and state badges.
• Creation of a “Veteran-Owned Small Business Reserve” program for certain State procurements.
• State discharge upgrade eligibility expanded to include existing federal criteria and circumstances for state benefits.

Bills Passed

-Anne Arundel County – Alcoholic Beverages Licenses – Veterans’ Organizations (HB515/SB0017)

Authorizes a holder of a Class C beer, wine, and liquor license in Anne Arundel County that qualifies as a veterans’ organization to convert the license to a Class C (veterans’ organization) license.

Reduces the annual licensing fees from $400 to $300.

-Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025 (HB0455/SB0085)

Requiring DVMF to designate a location for an American braille tactile flag to be placed on the grounds of one or more State veterans’ cemeteries to honor members of the uniformed services, veterans, and other individuals in the State who are blind or visually impaired.

-Department of General Services – Identification Cards – Veteran Status Notation (SB0048)

Authorizes the Department of General Services to include a notation on an identification card indicating that the holder is a veteran.

-Department of the Environment – Notation of Veteran Status (SB0089)

Authorizes the Department of the Environment to include a notation indicating veteran status on a professional license or certificate.

-Department of Veterans and Military Families – Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program – Alterations (SB309)

Adds service members and their families to the statutory purpose of the Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program, as well as adds a new reporting requirement to assess communications methods used in support of the Program.

-Educational Equality for Service Members Act (HB600/SB276)

Adds members of the uniformed services to laws and regulations regarding education.

-Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act (HB895/SB279)

Adds members of the uniformed services to the application of certain provisions of law governing the regulation of business, economic development, insurance, labor and employment.

-Funeral Establishments, Crematories, and Reduction Facilities – Disposition of Unclaimed Remains – Veterans (SB0057)

Requires, under the Business Regulation Article, a licensed funeral establishment, crematory operator, or reduction facility to take specified actions if a veterans service organization does not take possession of unclaimed cremains, hydrolyzed remains, or a portion of unclaimed soil remains that qualify for a lot in a State veterans’ cemetery.

-General Provisions – Veterans Benefits – Honorable Discharge (HB699/SB491)

Adds the federally-recognized circumstances by which a less than honorable discharge may be considered honorable for purposes of eligibility of state veterans benefits.

-Health Care Facilities – Service Member Community Members (SFC Matthew Fast Act) (SB740)

Authorizes health care facilities to screen patients on whether they are a member of the active service member community and add the screening information to their medical record.

Each health care facility may identify service member community members as a vulnerable population and comply with the standards associated with the National Patient Safety Goal to Improve Health Care Equity established by the Joint Commission.

-Health Equality for Service Members Act (HB466/SB277)

Adds members of the uniformed services to laws and regulations regarding public health, health occupations, and housing vouchers.

-Health Occupations Boards – Notation of Veteran Status and Eligibility for Benefits (SB0067)

Authorizes health occupations boards to establish a process to include a notation indicating veteran status on a professional license, certificate, registration, or public profile.

-Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact (HB345/SB174)

Adds the State to the Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact, which allows social workers to practice in member states with minimal interruption.

-Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act (HB1060/SB280)

Adds members of the uniformed services to the application of certain provisions of judicial proceedings, corrections, criminal, family, public safety, and real property laws.

-Local Government – Hiring and Promotion Preferences for Veterans and Spouses of Service Members and Veterans (Families Serve Act) (HB1443/SB872)

Authorizes counties and municipalities to grant hiring & promotion preferences to spouses of eligible service members, and to provide 10 credit points to any hiring selection test for eligible military spouses and veterans.

-Local Government – Local Personnel – Leave With Pay (HB1080/SB652)

Authorizes counties and municipalities to provide up to 15 days of disaster leave with pay to qualifying employees.

-Maryland Department of Labor – Licenses – Notation of Veteran Status and Eligibility for Benefits (SB114)

Authorizes the Department of the Labor to include a notation indicating veteran status on an occupational license or certificate.

-Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program – Eligibility – Family Members of Veterans (SB182)

Expands eligibility for the Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program to include a spouse or dependent of an eligible veteran.

-Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (HB228/SB246)

Adds current members of the Maryland National Guard and their families to the eligibility for the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund. 

-Maryland Veterans Trust – Board of Trustees – Membership (SB172)

Adds the Secretary of Disabilities to the membership of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 

-Modernization of Military Laws Act (HB448/SB275)

Establishes rules of interpretation related to the uniformed services, alters certain definitions to conform to federal definitions, and creates new clarifying definitions for eligibility for burial in a State cemetery.

-Peace Orders and Protective Orders – Military Protection Orders (HB533/SB273)

Authorizes a judge to consider whether a military protection order has been issued against a respondent when determining whether to grant a temporary peace order or a temporary protective order.

Requires a law enforcement officer to notify a certain law enforcement agency that an individual may have violated a military protection order.

-Procurement Reform Act of 2025 (HB500)

Creates a Veteran-Owned Small Business Reserve preference program for procurements by DVMF and the Military Department

Authorizes procurement units to modify the MBE participation goal and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) participation goal on a contract before or after contract execution.

-Real Property – Holding Over – Expedited Hearing and Service of Summons for Active Duty Service Members (SB0032)

Requires a District Court to hold a hearing on a tenant holding over within 45 days after a landlord makes a complaint if the landlord or the landlord’s spouse is on active duty with the United States military.

-Recreational Equality for Service Members Act (HB494/SB282)

Adds members of the uniformed services to laws and regulations regarding State parks, recreational activities, and licenses.

-State Lottery – Instant Ticket Lottery Machines – Veterans’ and Fraternal Organizations (HB328)

Alters the distribution of proceeds from ITLM sales by veterans’ organizations. 50% are retained by the veterans’ organizations, 5% goes to the Maryland Veteran Trust Fund.

-Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act (HB691/SB278)

Adds members of the uniformed services to certain provisions of law governing personnel and taxation.

-Transportation Equality for Service Members Act (HB475/SB281)

Adds members of the uniformed services to certain provisions of law governing transportation and vehicle registration.

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