Here Are 8 New MD Laws Going Into Effect On Oct. 1, 2026

A fresh round of new Maryland laws is set to take effect, bringing changes for law enforcement officers, gun owners, drivers, car shoppers, renters, and people working in child care.

All of the following measures were signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore and will take effect Oct. 1.

Here’s what Marylanders can expect next month.

Child Care Workers + Criminal History Checks

With House Bill 635, any individual signing on to work with children at certain child care facilities will be required to submit a criminal history records check.

The law, which also applies to volunteers, covers registered family child care homes, licensed child care centers, and certain facilities that hold a letter of compliance.

The legislation requires that the Maryland State Department of Education also establish a centralized unit for processing and managing the record checks by June 30, 2027. Once established, the unit would be required to notify applicants within a 10-day period of their eligibility.

Background check information is confidential and may not be disseminated without the applicant's express permission.

The law also changes the age threshold for certain probationary employment qualifications for first-time child care teachers, applying the rules to centers serving preschool or school-age children who are at least 2 years old rather than 3.

It also directs the MSDE to review the background check process and report its findings to the Maryland General Assembly by Oct. 1, 2028.

Car Dealer Disclosures

The Jack Fitzgerald Price Transparency Act allows car dealerships to inform potential buyers that advertised price listings are the manufacturer's minimum allowable price, but that the dealer could offer the car for less.

House Bill 306 states that a manufacturer, distributor or factory branch may not take adverse action against a dealer for making the disclosure. However, the protection does not apply when the dealer violates advertising provisions or a state or local law intended to protect the public.

Car dealers are also prohibited from using any advertisements that are considered false or misleading, as well as listing a vehicle without the intention of selling it as advertised.

Rob Smith, president of Fitzgerald Auto Malls, previously said in a statement that the legislation is "about honesty" and giving car buyers "clear information up front online, where they are actually shopping."

Clearing Dangerous Snow, Ice From Vehicles

Senate Bill 698, cross-filed with House Bill 474, prohibits drivers from either operating or towing vehicles "without making reasonable efforts" to remove snow or ice, especially when it poses risks to other drivers.

Covered surfaces include the hood, trunk, windshield, windows, and roof. For trucks, the law also covers the cab, while for trailers and semitrailers it covers the top surfaces.

Exceptions are permitted for instances where removing the ice or snow would violate workplace safety or an individuals's health or safety.

A person cannot be found to have violated the law more than once during a 24-hour period. Police may enforce the provision as a secondary violation when detaining a driver for a separate offense.

For noncommercial vehicles, fines can range between $25 and $200, whereas a commercial vehicle could see fines of $75 and $1,000.

New Landlord Limits

The Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, SB 937, stipulates that a landlord may not ask about a prospective tenant's criminal history before a conditional offer is made.

Exceptions to the rule include crimes related to the distribution or production of certain drugs, murder in either the first or second degree, human trafficking, or an offense that requires a sex offender registration program, among others.

The law is applicable to any landlord who owns or manages five or more residential units, and does not apply to owner-occupied rental units.

If a landlord rejects a conditional offer based on criminal history, they are required to provide written notice explaining their decision. Prospective tenants are granted the chance to review the information the landlord used to arrive at their decision.

A form in line with the new legislation will be provided to landlords through the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Violations carry a fine of up to $500.

Police Face Coverings

The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission will be required to develop a new uniform policy that prohibits officers from wearing face coverings while performing their duties, with defined exceptions.

Masks are broadly defined in the legislation as any covering that obscures one's face, but specifically includes balaclavas, ski masks, neck gaiters, and tactical masks.

Exceptions to the rule include medical masks, religious garments, protective gear during tactical operations, and situations where an officer is conducting undercover work.

Law enforcement agencies operating in Maryland must adopt a policy consistent with the commission's model. Counties, municipalities and law enforcement agencies may not adopt their own competing policies on face coverings.

The measure also requires that officers wear identification on their outermost clothing while performing official duties.

Buybacks Face New Destruction Requirements

Gun buyback programs allow firearm owners to voluntarily surrender any weapons they may have in their possession as a means to prevent gun violence in local communities.

Senate Bill 775 creates a new set of rules for gun buyback programs operated by a federal firearms licensee or a law enforcement agency.

As of Oct. 1, handlers will be required to destroy each firearm, as well as each component turned over through the program. Officials will also be required to investigate whether the gun was tied to any crime or previously reported stolen before its destruction.

Any individual who does not comply with the regulation is subject to financial penalties that could be as high as $10,000 per violation. Licensed gun dealers could also face revocation.

Handgun Permits

Senate Bill 331, cross-filed as House Bill 94, changes the expiration and renewal periods for handgun permits issued to certain retired law enforcement officers.

The change applies to officers who retired in good standing from a state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency in Maryland.

Under the new provision, handgun permits expire on the last day of the permit holder’s birth month following five years after the permit was issued. The permit may be renewed for successive five-year periods if the applicant continues to meet the qualifications for receiving a permit.

Machine Gun Convertible Pistol

Senate Bill 334 takes aim at what lawmakers are calling a "machine gun convertible pistol," effectively clamping down on the sale of DIY machine guns.

The legislation defines the device as a "semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily converted by hand or by using common household tools into a machine gun by the installation or attachment of a pistol converter."

While the legislation does take effect Oct. 1, its prohibition on the "manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, receiving, or transferring" of a machine gun convertible pistol is not applicable until Jan. 1, 2027.