# Maryland HB 0963: Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives

Maryland HB 0963, Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Teresa Woorman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 537) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0963-2026RS
- 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 0963
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Registers of Wills - Appointment of Personal Representatives
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 537
- Sponsor: Teresa Woorman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Subjects: Estates and Trusts, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Estates and Trusts -see also- Beneficiaries, Immigrants and Citizenship -see also- Residency, Personal Representatives, Registers of Wills, Residency -see also- Immigrants and Citizenship
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (249 yes, 57 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New rules for noncitizen personal representatives: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, some noncitizens can serve as a personal representative. To qualify, you must be a lawful permanent resident, make your home in the United States, and be the decedent’s spouse, ancestor, descendant, or sibling. Noncitizens who do not meet all of these rules cannot get let…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Teresa Woorman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel Acevero (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anne R. Kaiser (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ashanti Martinez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sheila Ruth (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gary Simmons (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jen Terrasa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Greg Wims (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sarah Wolek (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 99 | 32 | 4 |
| 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 108 | 25 | 2 |

## Actions (15)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 537
- 2026-04-11: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-11: Third Reading Passed (99-32) (House)
- 2026-04-11: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {853021/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (108-25) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-13: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-10: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_537_hb0963e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0963e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0963t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0963f.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_537_hb0963e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0963e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0963t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0963f.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-HB0963-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).