# Maryland HB 0596: Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act

Maryland HB 0596, Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by LaToya Nkongolo (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 509) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0596-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0596
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 509
- Sponsor: LaToya Nkongolo (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: Estates and Trusts, Civil Actions and Procedures, Beneficiaries, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Death -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful Death, Deeds, Estates and Trusts -see also- Beneficiaries, Evidence, Liability, Notices, Personal Property, Postal Service, Real Property, Retirement -see also- Mandatory Retirement, Time, Vital Records -see also- Death; Divorce; Marriage
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (174 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- How to prove death and timing: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, a certified death certificate is strong proof of death, date, time, and identity. A record showing someone died at least 120 hours after another counts as clear proof of survival, unless other evidence disputes it. If a person is missing for five continuous years and a ca…
- Five-day rule to inherit property: mixed, high. Beginning October 1, 2026, a person must outlive another by at least 120 hours (five days) to take property. If no one is proven to have survived that long, joint property is split: with two owners, each half follows that owner’s estate; with more owners, equal shares. The rule does not apply if it…
- New rules for payors in estate disputes: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, payors (like trustees, insurers, businesses, employers, and government agencies) are protected when they pay in good faith before receiving proper written notice. Proper notice must be by certified or registered mail with proof, or served like a court summons. After notic…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: LaToya Nkongolo (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Chisholm (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Griffith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 129 | 0 | 7 |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 509
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (129-0) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-02: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-28: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_509_hb0596t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0596t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0596f.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_509_hb0596t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0596t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0596f.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-HB0596-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).