# Maryland SB 0275: Modernization of Military Laws Act

Maryland SB 0275, Modernization of Military Laws Act, is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-06 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 253); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0275-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0275
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Modernization of Military Laws Act
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-10
- Last action: 2025-05-06, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 253
- Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Elections, Human Relations, Bi-County Agencies, Armed Forces -see also- Military Department; Veterans, Cemeteries, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Dependents -see also- Minors; Vulnerable Adults, Discrimination, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, Governor, Group Homes -see also- Foster Care; JuvFacil; SubsAbTrt, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Legislative Services, Department of, Military Families, Political Candidates, Public Benefits -see also- FoodStmps; Housing; MedAsst, Recruitment and Hiring, Reports, Service Animals, Spouses, State Employees, Veterans and Military Families, Department of, Veterans, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (177 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More reserve families qualify for cemetery burial: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, qualified reserve members and their eligible spouses and dependents gain access to Maryland State veterans’ cemeteries. The reserve member must have completed the service contract, served other than dishonorably, and not qualify for national veterans’ cemetery burial. The…
- Updated veteran eligibility and military protections: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland uses the federal veterans-law definition of “veteran” for state veterans’ benefits, rights, and privileges. The provision does not identify specific benefit amounts or who gains or loses eligibility from that change. The law also broadens military-status protecti…
- Broader admission to Maryland veterans’ homes: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland removes the express honorable-discharge requirement for admission to its veterans’ homes. Veterans must still meet Maryland residency requirements set by the Secretary’s regulations. Spouses of eligible veterans also remain eligible to seek admission.
- Coordinated benefits help for military families: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland’s Secretary of Veterans and Military Families must develop coordinated policies for major life changes. These policies guide veterans, service members, and their families, including help securing benefits earned through uniformed-services and reserve service. Thi…
- Easier military voting and absent candidate filing: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland election law recognizes qualifying military Common Access Cards for active-duty uniformed-services members and eligible reservists. Absent uniformed-services voters can register and request an absentee ballot together using the recognized card or Federal Post Car…
- Job preferences for veterans and some spouses: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland must favor honorably discharged uniformed-services veterans when hiring staff for veterans’ homes. The Public Service Commission may also give veterans a preference in hiring and promotion, but is not required to. That optional preference also covers spouses of v…
- Burial fee applies to reserve families: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland collects a burial fee for qualified reserve members and their eligible spouses or dependents. The fee applies to burial in a State veterans’ cemetery and is due at burial. It equals the National Cemetery Administration’s annual plot allowance; the law does not st…
- Updated command rules for Maryland’s militia: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, the Governor remains commander-in-chief of Maryland’s land and naval militia. The exception covers any part of the militia in active service of the uniformed services. This updates command authority without establishing a household benefit or charge.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jack Bailey (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jason C. Gallion (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: J.B. Jennings (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johnny Mautz (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johnny Ray Salling (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-31 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 133 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025-03-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (13)

- 2025-05-06: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 253
- 2025-03-31: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Third Reading Passed (133-0) (House)
- 2025-03-28: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2025-03-28: Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations (House)
- 2025-03-15: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Referred Health and Government Operations (House)
- 2025-03-06: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Favorable with Amendments {523524/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-03-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2025-01-14: Hearing 1/23 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-01-10: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2025-05-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_253_sb0275t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2025-03-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0275t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2025-01-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0275f.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_253_sb0275t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0275t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0275f.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [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-SB0275-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).