# Maryland HB 0448: Modernization of Military Laws Act

Maryland HB 0448, Modernization of Military Laws Act, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-06 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 254); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0448-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0448
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Modernization of Military Laws Act
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-16
- Last action: 2025-05-06, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 254
- Sponsor: Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 23
- Subjects: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Elections, Human Relations, Bi-County Agencies, Armed Forces -see also- Military Department; Veterans, Cemeteries, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Dependents -see also- Minors; Vulnerable Adults, Discrimination, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, Governor, Group Homes -see also- Foster Care; JuvFacil; SubsAbTrt, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Legislative Services, Department of, Military Families, Political Candidates, Public Benefits -see also- FoodStmps; Housing; MedAsst, Recruitment and Hiring, Reports, Service Animals, Spouses, State Employees, Veterans and Military Families, Department of, Veterans, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (183 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Broader access to Maryland veterans’ homes: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland removes the separate honorable-discharge requirement for admission to its veterans’ home. Veteran applicants must still meet the applicable veteran definition and Maryland residency rules set by the Secretary. Spouses of eligible veterans can also qualify. The la…
- Reserve members gain clearer discrimination protections: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland counts reserve membership in the uniformed services as military status for housing and job discrimination protections. This replaces the narrower reference to reserve components of the armed forces. The provision does not set a payment or damages amount.
- Hiring preferences for veterans and spouses: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland veterans’ homes must give hiring preference to veterans honorably discharged from the uniformed services. The Public Service Commission can also give hiring and promotion preferences to veterans and qualifying spouses. Qualifying spouses include spouses of vetera…
- Alternative filing for candidates away from Maryland: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, candidates unable to file in person can use an alternative candidacy filing process. This applies when illness, uniformed service, or temporary absence from Maryland prevents in-person filing. Candidates must submit an affidavit fully explaining what prevented them from f…
- Coordinated benefits guidance for military families: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland’s Secretary of Veterans and Military Families must develop coordinated policies for major life changes. These policies must guide veterans, service members, and families and help them secure benefits earned through uniformed service, including reserve service. Th…
- Reserve families gain burial access with fees: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland state veterans’ cemeteries offer burial access to qualified reserve members and eligible spouses and dependents. Members must complete their service obligation, serve under conditions other than dishonorable, and lack eligibility for national veterans’ cemetery b…
- New eligibility rules for Maryland veterans: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland uses the federal definition of veteran in 38 U.S.C. § 101 unless another law provides otherwise. This definition affects access to state benefits, rights, and privileges. For State Government Article § 9-957, veterans must also live in Maryland or receive care at…
- Governor’s militia command excludes active uniformed service: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, the Governor’s command over Maryland’s land and naval militia excludes portions in active uniformed service. This sets a boundary on state command authority. It does not create an individual household benefit or duty.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Tiffany T. Alston (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Heather Bagnall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Harry Bhandari (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Chisholm (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bonnie Cullison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Pam Lanman Guzzone (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terri L. Hill (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas S. Hutchinson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Anne R. Kaiser (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kenneth Kerr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lesley J. Lopez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Matthew Morgan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ashanti Martinez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa E. Reilly (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Samuel I. Rosenberg (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Ross (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Steve Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kathy Szeliga (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Deni Taveras (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jamila J. Woods (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa Woorman (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-04 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-12 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 139 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (13)

- 2025-05-06: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 254
- 2025-04-05: Returned Passed (House)
- 2025-04-04: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Third Reading Passed (139-0) (House)
- 2025-03-11: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2025-03-11: Favorable with Amendments {483526/1 Adopted (House)
- 2025-03-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations (House)
- 2025-01-21: Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2025-01-16: First Reading Health and Government Operations (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2025-05-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_254_hb0448t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2025-03-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0448t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2025-01-16: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0448f.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_254_hb0448t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0448t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0448f.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0448-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).