# Maryland SB 0242: Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act

Maryland SB 0242, Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 694); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0242-2026RS
- 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 0242
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 694
- Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Subjects: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Health Occupations, Business Occupations and Professions, Abandoned Vehicles, Accountants, Acupuncturists, Administrative Agencies, Agents and Brokers, Agriculture, Department of, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Applicants and Applications, Appraisals, Apprenticeships and Internships, Architects and Architecture, Armed Forces and Uniformed Services, Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Assisted Living, Attorneys, Audiologists and Speech Pathologists, Calvert County, Certifications, Chemical Tests, Child Care, Chiropractors, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Contractors -see also- Construct; Electricians; etc., Cosmetologists, Counselors and Therapists, Criminal Background Investigations, Dealers -see also- Motor Vehicle Dealers and Salespeople, Dentists, Dietitians and Nutritionists, Driver Education, Education, State Board of, Electronic Funds Transfer, Electronic Government, Electricians, Electrologists, Elevators, Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqd, Energy Matters -see also- Fuel; NuclearMatt; PwrPlnts; etc., Engineers and Engineering, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Health, Equipment -see also- Charging; Med. Equip.; MV Equip; etc., Explosives -see also- Fireworks, Fertilizers, Finance Companies, Financial Institutions -see also- Banks; Credit Unions; etc., Financial Regulation, Division of, Fire Protection, Food -see also- Meat, Poultry, & Seafood; Milk; etc., Foresters, Funerals, Genetics, Goods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGds, Guns, Health, Department of, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Hearing Aids, Heating and Cooling, Home Detention, Industry and Manufacturing, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Insurance Administration, Interstate Affairs, Laboratories, Labor, Department of, Labor and Industry, Division of, Landscape Architects, Land Surveyors and Surveys, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Long-Term Care -see also- Continuing Care; Nursing Homes, Managers and Supervisors, Massage, Medical Testing and Diagnosis, Medication Technitions, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc., Midwives, Milk Products, Mining, Mortgages, Morticians, Motor Vehicle Dealers and Salespeople, Motor Vehicle Equipment, Motor Vehicle Inspection, Natural Resources, Department of, Nurses -see also- Nurse Practitioners; Nursing Assistants, Nursing Assistants, Nursing Homes -see also- AsstLiving; ContinCare; LTCare, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, and Opticians, Pawnshops, Pest Control, Pharmacists and Pharmacies -see also- Drugs, Physicians -see also- MedExmnrs; Pediatr; Psychiatrists etc., Physical Therapists, Pilots and Docking Masters, Plumbing, Podiatrists, Precious Metals and Stones, Psychologists, Publications -see also- Maryland Register; Textbooks, Public Service Commission, Public Safety and Correctional Services, Department of, Radiation, Real Estate -see also- Agents and Brokers, Real Property, Recycling, Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Retail Sales, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Sales and Use Tax, School Administration, Social Workers, Special Events, Sports and Recreation, Spouses, State Police, Department of, Substance Abuse Treatment, Supreme Court of Maryland, Surveillance, Tax Preparers, Time, Towing, Transient Merchants, Trees, Utilities -see also- Recycl; Refuse; Sewage; Teleph; Water, Veterans, Veterinarians, Vocational Rehabilitation, Wastewater, Wells -see also- Hydraulic Fracturing; Water, Wholesale Distribution, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Wreckers and Scrap Processors
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (226 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 14

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Military families can cancel key contracts: benefit, medium. If you or your spouse get military orders to move for 90 days or more to a place the service will not work, you can end or pause the contract. This covers phone, internet, TV, gym/athletic club, and satellite radio. Send written or electronic notice and a copy of the orders. Companies cannot charge…
- Faster teacher licensing for military families: benefit, medium. Active service members, eligible veterans, and eligible spouses can get an expedited Maryland educator license based on a valid out‑of‑state license in good standing. The one‑year timing limit is removed. If you are already authorized under the military licensure law, the State cannot make you file…
- Military families can work on out-of-state licenses: benefit, medium. Active service members and spouses who move to Maryland for orders can work here under a valid out‑of‑state license. You must apply to the Maryland board, show the orders (and marriage certificate for spouses), and sign a notarized affidavit. Boards can verify your license and run a criminal histor…
- Military families: broad job license exemptions: benefit, medium. Maryland adds a standard exception so people authorized under the military licensure law do not need a separate Maryland license for the same work. This covers many fields, like EMS providers, well drillers, on‑site wastewater pros, stationary engineers at resource recovery facilities, and environm…
- Faster mortgage licenses for military families: benefit, low. Active service members, eligible veterans, and eligible spouses get expedited mortgage loan originator licensing. The one‑year application limit is removed. The Commissioner can waive some state rules as long as federal minimum standards are met. If you hold a valid license in another state, you ca…
- Stronger foreclosure checks for service members: benefit, low. When someone files to foreclose on a home, the filing must include an affidavit that meets the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. This helps confirm whether a borrower gets SCRA protections. All normal documents and the $450 filing fee still apply.
- More supervisors allowed in health jobs: benefit, low. Supervision rules now say a supervisor can be anyone authorized to practice in Maryland, not only someone holding a Maryland license. This applies across medicine and allied health, like physical therapy, respiratory care, perfusion, and radiologic technology. It also broadens who may supervise psy…
- More veterans qualify for expedited health licenses: benefit, low. For health profession applications, the one‑year time limit is removed from who counts as an eligible veteran or eligible spouse. More veterans and spouses can now use the expedited process when applying for Maryland health licenses.
- New licenses for sellers and promoters: cost, medium. You must hold a promoter license to run an outdoor musical festival. Traders and exhibitors must have a trader’s license before selling. Junk dealers and scrap metal processors, and their non‑salaried agents, must be licensed; some nonresident buyers and transporters are excepted. Transient vendors…
- New $1 fee on new tires: cost, low. Starting January 1, 2026, you pay a $1 recycling fee per new tire. The State may adjust it for inflation every two fiscal years, but it cannot go over $2 per tire. Dealers must list the fee on invoices and send it to the Comptroller. Electronic filing is required for returns after December 31, 2026.
- Behavior analysts must be licensed: cost, low. To practice behavior analysis in Maryland, you must hold a Board license. An exception may apply if you are authorized under the military licensure law. Most practitioners need to apply and meet Board rules.
- Massage therapists must be licensed by 2026: cost, low. To practice massage in Maryland, you must be authorized by the Board. By October 31, 2026, you need a license or a Board registration to work in a non‑health care setting. Starting November 1, 2026, you must hold a license to practice anywhere in the State.
- New exception to sales‑finance licensing: mixed, medium. Companies acting as sales finance businesses must be licensed by the Commissioner. An exception or different treatment applies when the State’s new military mobility licensing rule covers the situation. In some cases, this changes who must hold a license.
- Stricter explosives rules and powder limits: mixed, medium. Maryland requires a license to sell or store most explosives. The law lets you keep up to 5 pounds of smokeless powder and 5 pounds of black powder for personal reloading, in the original containers. You cannot store explosives for firearms in apartments, schools, hotels, or other public buildings…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mary Beth Carozza (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Arthur Ellis (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jason C. Gallion (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 135 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 694
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (135-0) (House)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments {323125/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Government, Labor, and Elections) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections Health (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {353729/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments 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)
- 2026-01-15: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment and Finance (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_694_sb0242e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0242e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0242t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-15: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0242f.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_694_sb0242e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0242e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0242t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0242f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0242-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).