# Maryland HB 0557: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process

Maryland HB 0557, Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Andrea Fletcher Harrison (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 302); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0557-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0557
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 302
- Sponsor: Andrea Fletcher Harrison (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 14
- Subjects: Business Occupations and Professions, Criminal Law - Procedures, Administrative Agencies, Certifications, Criminal Background Investigations, District Courts, Evaluations and Reviews, Federal Government, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Low-Income, Reports, State Employees, Sunset, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (141 yes, 28 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Advance license checks for job seekers: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, you can request an advance check of whether your criminal history blocks an occupational license or certificate. This covers Maryland’s departments of Agriculture, the Environment, Health, Human Services, and Labor. The decision binds the department unless your criminal hist…
- Some license applicants miss new protections: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, some Maryland license applicants are excluded from the law’s criminal-history protections and advance review process. These exclusions cover applicants before the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services or its units. They also cover initial licenses and renewal…
- License review fees with income waivers: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered Maryland departments may charge up to $100 for an advance criminal-history review. A department may waive the fee if your income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Income eligibility is determined by the District Court of Maryland, and a waiver is not…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Andrea Fletcher Harrison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel Acevero (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tiffany T. Alston (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian Boafo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Derrick Coley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Charlotte Crutchfield (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Debra Davis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julian Ivey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jeffrie E. Long (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kenneth Kerr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Denise Roberts (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kym Taylor (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Karen Toles (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Veronica Turner (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: C. T. Wilson (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 28 | 5 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 302
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (96-28) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-02-03: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-28: First Reading Economic Matters (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_302_hb0557t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0557t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0557f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_302_hb0557t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0557t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0557f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [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-HB0557-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).