Photo Courtesy of The Office of Governor Moore
Governor Wes Moore signed more than 274 bills into law during the fourth and final post-session bill signing ceremony of 2026. The legislation enacted during the ceremony addresses several policy areas, including housing development, worker protections, childcare affordability, school policies, and historical research and accountability. The final bill signing included two major housing measures: the Maryland Housing Certainty Act and the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act.
The Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, House Bill 894, is intended to support transit-oriented development by leveraging at least 300 acres of land near transit stations for future housing development. According to the Governor’s Office, the measure is projected to support the production of more than 7,000 new housing units and generate nearly $1.4 billion in state and local tax revenue. The legislation prioritizes state investment in high-capacity rail corridors, creates targeted zoning reforms around high-density rail stations, and expands certain financial incentives for transit-oriented development projects.
The Maryland Housing Certainty Act, House Bill 548/Senate Bill 325, is designed to provide greater predictability for residential development projects. The law establishes that a housing project must be reviewed under the laws and regulations in effect at the time a complete application is submitted. It also prohibits local jurisdictions from collecting development impact fees or excise taxes on residential real estate projects until construction is complete, which is intended to reduce upfront costs associated with new housing construction.
Several bills signed during the ceremony focused on education, childcare, and workforce issues. Senate Bill 6, State Personnel – Collective Bargaining – Nontenure Track Faculty, extends collective bar, gaining rights to certain full-time, part-time, and adjunct nontenure-track faculty at the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
House Bill 849 modifies the Child Care Scholarship Program by creating exemptions from enrollment freezes for certain vulnerable families, including homeless children, families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance or Supplemental Security Income, and siblings of children already enrolled. House Bill 1321 further modifies the Child Care Scholarship Program by creating a sliding-scale copayment structure based on income, with the goal of expanding affordability and access.
The Governor also signed the Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, House Bill 525, which requires local school systems to establish “bell-to-bell” policies restricting the use of personal electronic devices and social media platforms during the school day by the 2027-2028 school year. The law includes limited exemptions for students with disabilities, medical needs, or translation needs, and requires public engagement during policy development. It also prohibits students from being suspended or expelled solely for violating the policy.
Another measure signed into law, House Bill 552/Senate Bill 776, establishes the Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children. The commission, staffed by the Office of the Attorney General, will research the history and operations of the institution, including resident deaths and burials on the grounds. The commission is tasked with providing a public accounting of the children who died there and developing recommendations related to truth-telling, healing, and systemic reform.
https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-signs-legislation-expand-housing-access-and-strengthen-education-during-final-bill
