Politics & Government
12 New Maryland Laws That Will Change Your Life In 2025
Here are 12 new Maryland laws, or packages of laws, that took effect June 1, 2025.
MARYLAND — Many of the laws adopted in the recent legislative session kicked in on June 1, ranging from procedural changes to major updates to legislation that have a real impact on Marylanders' lives.
Among the 849 bills adopted in the 2025 General Assembly that have been signed into law, most of will take effect on July 1 or Oct. 1, Maryland Matters said.
From capping damages for childhood sexual abuse to stronger penalties for drunk driving in Maryland, with 12 points assessed on the license of anyone convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, dozens of new laws are in place.
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Also new: Baltimore boosts the number of speed cameras along Interstate 83 in the city to four and gender-affirming healthcare is labeled legally protected health care in Maryland that is not subject to disclosure laws.
Here are some of the new laws, as compiled by WYPR, The Baltimore Sun and Maryland Matters:
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here are 12 new laws in Maryland that you should know:
1. Childhood Sex Abuse Claims: A key law now in place amended the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023, which expanded legal options for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, removing time limits on when a victim could file a civil lawsuit.
Under the old law, damages were capped at $1.5 million per “occurrence” of abuse in a lawsuit against a school or church. In cases involving government entities, the cap was $890,000 per occurrence. The new law cuts damages to $700,000 for private institutions and $400,000 for public institutions, Maryland Matters reported
2. The Orange Crush was named Maryland's official cocktail starting June 1. The drink of orange juice, vodka, Triple Sec and Sprite was invented in Ocean City, but Delaware previously passed a law declaring it their official state cocktail, noting the drink was invented in Maryland but perfected in Delaware. Maryland responded this year and passed a law making it the official state cocktail.
3. The Next Generation Energy Act gives ratepayers two rebates of about $40 each on energy bills starting July 1. The law also ends public subsidies for trash incineration.
4. Rental housing: Authorizes county governments to exempt property used for rental housing from the county property tax if the property owner maintains at least 25% of the rental housing units as affordable dwelling units and enters into a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the county government.5. Meeting notice: Requires each local board of elections to, at least 48 hours in advance of each open meeting, make publicly available on its website the meeting agenda, including materials that will be voted on at the meeting, unless the meeting is being held due to an emergency, natural disaster, or other unanticipated situation; boards must provide live video streaming of open meetings.
6. Toilets at wineries, breweries: Requires wineries, breweries and agrotourism establishments that sell food to provide a portable chemical toilet that is supplied with soap, water and a method to dry hands; kept in sanitary condition; properly ventilated; and placed at least 25 feet from a well.
7. Weapons at schools: Requires Maryland Center for School Safety to study how best to detect deadly weapons on public middle and high school properties and have schools rapidly report the detection of a deadly weapon to law enforcement; interim report is due to General Assembly on December 1, 2025
8. Health insurance decisions: Requires a written notice from a health insurer announcing an adverse or grievance decision must include a unique identifier of the person who made the decision; requires that beginning on October 1, 2025 a written notice from a health insurer announcing an adverse or grievance decision must include statement saying member can file an appeal and include information on how to file an appeal.
9. Telehealth coverage: Preserve Telehealth Act of 2025 makes permanent requirements that health insurers cover telehealth visits.
10. Immigration: Prevents residents’ personal data from being used for immigration enforcement; prevents immigration agents from entering specified “sensitive locations” without a warrant.
11. MTA rider bans: Anyone accused of assaulting a Maryland Transit Authority public transit operator will be banned from riding while the agency adopts a rider code of conduct and implements an internal safety program to increase protections for riders and transit operators, including ban procedures for assault, the possibility for legal action and an appeals process.
12. Delayed FMLA: The implementation of Maryland’s Family Medical Leave and Insurance program is delayed from July 1, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2027. The Sun reported lawmakers initially passed the Family Medical Leave and Insurance program in 2022, but its implementation was put on hold. The Maryland Department of Labor Secretary will announce a date between Jan. 1, 2027, and Jan. 3, 2028, to allow employees to begin receiving up to 12 weeks of benefit payments.
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