# Maryland HB 0643: Certified Public Accountants - Licensure - Qualifications

Maryland HB 0643, Certified Public Accountants - Licensure - Qualifications, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Kriselda Valderrama (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 174) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0643-2026RS
- 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 0643
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Certified Public Accountants - Licensure - Qualifications
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 174
- Sponsor: Kriselda Valderrama (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Business Occupations and Professions, Accountants, Applicants and Applications, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (161 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More paths for Maryland accountant licenses: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland changes exam requirements and provides three paths to an initial certified public accountant (CPA) license. Exam applicants need a qualifying bachelor’s degree or higher; the separate 120-semester-hour requirement is removed. For a license, one path requires an a…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kriselda Valderrama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lily Qi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William J. Wivell (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 33 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 128 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 174
- 2026-04-10: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (33-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (128-0) (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)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Economic Matters (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_174_hb0643t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0643t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0643f.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_174_hb0643t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0643t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0643f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0643-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).