Governor Moore Signs Legislation to Expand Housing Access and Strengthen Education During Final Bill Signing

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today signed more than 274 bills into law during the fourth and final post-session bill signing ceremony of 2026. The legislation enacted today focuses on expanding housing supply to lower costs, defending workers’ rights, and strengthening education. Among the bills signed are two landmark measures central to the administration’s housing priorities: the Maryland Housing Certainty Act and the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act.

“The 2026 legislative session proved that when we choose partnership, we can deliver real results for our people,” said Gov. Moore. “The bills we are signing today will make Maryland more affordable, protect the dignity of work, and invest in our children’s futures. While this marks the final bill signing of our administration’s first term, our work to leave no one behind is far from over. We will continue to build a state that is safer, stronger, and more competitive for every Marylander.”

Included among the bills Governor Moore signed today are:

The Maryland Transit & Housing Opportunity Act (HB 894) leverages at least 300 acres of station-adjacent land, enabling the production of more than 7,000 new housing units and unlocking nearly $1.4 billion in state and local tax revenue. The bill prioritizes state investments in high-capacity rail corridors to advance transit-oriented developments—proposing targeted zoning reforms around high-density rail stations and extending robust financial incentives to spur expedited development. The legislation extends financial incentives, including designating certain transit-oriented developments as Enterprise Zones and prioritizing MEDCO financing loan program projects for transit-oriented developments.

Maryland Housing Certainty Act (HB 548/SB 325) provides critical predictability for housing development projects. The legislation establishes that the approval or denial of a project is governed only by the laws and regulations in effect when a complete application is submitted. It also prohibits local jurisdictions from collecting development impact fees or excise taxes on residential real estate projects until after construction is complete, easing upfront financial barriers to building new homes.

State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty (SB 6) uplifts the dignity of work by extending collective bargaining rights to thousands of full-time, part-time, and adjunct nontenure-track faculty across the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The legislation allows adjuncts and lecturers—who teach the majority of classes at the state’s public universities—to organize and bargain for fair pay and benefits.

Child Care Scholarship Program - Waitlist Exemptions and Prioritization (HB 849) protects vulnerable families by making homeless children, families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance or Supplemental Security Income, and siblings of already enrolled children exempt from enrollment freezes. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Education to establish a waitlist system during any freeze that prioritizes applicants with the greatest financial need and those working at least 20 hours a week as child care providers for the next available slots.

Child Care Scholarship Program - Copayment Alterations (HB 1321) modernizes the program’s application process and significantly improves child care affordability. The new law changes the department’s copayment structure to a sliding scale based on income, a reform that will help cover approximately 3,700 additional children across the state by the end of Fiscal Year 2028.

Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act (HB 525) requires counties to establish “bell-to-bell” policies at all elementary, middle, and high schools by the 2027-2028 school year. The policies will ban the use of personal electronic devices and social media platforms during the school day, with limited exemptions provided for students with disabilities or specific medical and translation needs. The legislation requires counties to engage with the public on the development of their policies, and prohibits a student from being suspended or expelled solely for violations of the policy.

Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children (HB 552/SB 776) establishes a commission staffed by the Office of the Attorney General to research the history, operations, and resident deaths at the institution. The commission will provide a public accounting of the children who died and were buried on the grounds, promoting healing and reconciliation through truth-telling and systemic reform recommendations.

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