# Maryland SB 0215: Veterans and Uniformed Services - Maryland Veterans Trust Fund and Application of Laws

Maryland SB 0215, Veterans and Uniformed Services - Maryland Veterans Trust Fund and Application of Laws, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 494); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0215-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0215
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Veterans and Uniformed Services - Maryland Veterans Trust Fund and Application of Laws
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-06-26
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 494
- Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Local Government - Generally, Hunting and Fishing, Civil Actions and Procedures, Primary and Secondary Education, Family Law, Insurance - Other than Health, Real Property, State Government - Personnel, Pensions and Retirement, Transportation - Highways, Armed Forces and Uniformed Services, Awards, Medals, and Prizes -see also- Gaming&Gambl; Lottery, Domestic Violence -see also- Child Abuse & Neglect, Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Federal Government, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, Landlords and Tenants, License Plates -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Protection and Peace Orders, Public Buildings and Facilities -see also- Stadiums; St Hse, Public Employees -see also- State Employees, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Sports and Recreation, Veterans, Victims -see also- Criminal Injuries Compensation
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (182 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- No trout stamp on military leave: benefit, low. If you are a Maryland resident serving in the uniformed services, you do not need a trout stamp while fishing here during your leave. You must carry a copy of your official leave order while angling. This applies starting October 1, 2026.
- Diplomas for WWII, Korea, Vietnam enlistees: benefit, low. You can apply for a Maryland high school diploma if you left a State‑accredited full‑time high school to enlist in World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam Conflict. You must show an honorable discharge. This rule starts October 1, 2026.
- Eviction rule for active duty landlords: benefit, low. This eviction rule applies only when the landlord or spouse is an active service member. They must have moved to Maryland because of service. They must plan to live in the home after the court judgment. They must file proof with the complaint. The change starts October 1, 2026.
- All changes start October 1, 2026: benefit, low. All parts of this law take effect on October 1, 2026.
- Plate fees fund Maryland Veterans Trust: benefit, low. The Maryland Veterans Trust Fund gets money from fees on some special license plates. These plates are for people who earned certain combat or top‑level uniformed services medals. The fees go to the Fund starting October 1, 2026.
- Unified definitions for service members statewide: benefit, low. Maryland uses one set of definitions for service members across many laws. The law defines 'military protection order' as orders under 10 U.S.C. 1567. Courts and family law use that same meaning. Real property rules now use the same meanings for 'active service member,' 'active duty,' and 'reserve…
- Veteran local credit ends after crimes: cost, low. If you qualify for a county or city veteran credit, you are ineligible if you are convicted of a crime after discharge or after completing service. This change starts October 1, 2026.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 138 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 494
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (138-0) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-23: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Government, Labor, and Elections) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Hearing 2/12 at 2:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment and Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2025-06-26: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_494_sb0215t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0215t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0215f.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_494_sb0215t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0215t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0215f.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-SB0215-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).