ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland begins 2026 with several new laws taking effect January 1, addressing domestic violence awareness in personal service professions, earnings transparency for rideshare drivers, and free preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters in counties with self-insured health plans.
The changes stem from bills passed during the 2025 General Assembly session and signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore. While many 2025 measures activated earlier, these provisions activate on the new year to enhance community safety, worker protections, and health outcomes across the state, including in Southern Maryland counties such as Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s.
Domestic violence awareness training becomes mandatory for barbers and cosmetologists under House Bill 1547. The State Board of Barbers and the State Board of Cosmetologists require applicants for initial licensure or license renewal to complete at least one hour of approved training in domestic violence awareness. This training, available in-person or virtually, covers recognizing physical and verbal signs of abuse, handling sensitive discussions, and referring clients to local resources such as shelters and support services. The requirement supports the close, trust-based relationships stylists often build with clients, positioning them to identify potential abuse. The law, effective January 1, 2026, follows an earlier start date of October 1, 2025, for board implementation processes.
Rideshare drivers gain greater visibility into their earnings through House Bill 861. Transportation network companies, including Uber and Lyft, must furnish each driver with a weekly fare and earnings summary. These reports detail total fares and fees collected from passengers, the percentage allocated to the driver, and any company-imposed fees deducted. Companies also submit annual reports to the State Public Service Commission, promoting accountability in the gig economy. This measure helps drivers in areas like Southern Maryland, where rideshare services connect residents to destinations in the Washington, D.C., region and beyond, better understand compensation structures.
The James “Jimmy” Malone Act, House Bill 459, provides no-cost preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters in counties operating self-insured employee health benefit plans. Named after former Delegate James E. Malone Jr., a career firefighter who died of cancer in 2024, the law acknowledges elevated cancer risks from chemical and smoke exposure in firefighting. Counties must cover screenings without copays, deductibles, or coinsurance. Options include annual exams aligned with International Association of Firefighters guidelines or innovative technologies such as multi-cancer early detection blood tests via grants. Counties collect screening data for 2026 and 2027 to report to the Maryland Health Care Commission, aiding statewide research on first-responder health. Volunteer and career firefighters in Southern Maryland departments benefit from this focus on long-term wellness.
Additional measures expand health protections. House Bill 666 requires insurers to cover coronary calcium score testing, a non-invasive scan detecting early heart disease risks per American College of Cardiology guidelines. House Bill 1301 prohibits prior authorization for emergency pediatric transfers to specialized hospitals, eliminating delays in critical care. House Bill 59 strengthens housing security by protecting certain owner-occupied and heir-occupied properties from tax sales, preserving family homes through a registry process and updated redemption rules.
These laws reflect priorities from the 2025 session to support vulnerable populations and essential workers. State agencies, including the Maryland Department of Labor and the Maryland Health Care Commission, oversee implementation and provide guidance to affected parties. Residents, professionals, and local governments in Southern Maryland prepare for compliance as the provisions activate.
The domestic violence training integrates into existing licensing processes for barbers and cosmetologists, with approved providers listed on state board websites. Rideshare transparency aligns with broader efforts to regulate transportation network companies. Firefighter screenings build on known occupational hazards, where repeated exposure to toxins increases cancer incidence.
Background on these changes traces to legislative hearings emphasizing real-world impacts. The Malone Act honors a lawmaker with deep firefighting roots, including service in the Baltimore County Fire Department. Domestic violence provisions recognize salons as potential safe spaces for disclosure. Rideshare rules address common driver concerns about opaque pay calculations.
Maryland’s approach combines targeted interventions with data collection to refine future policies. As implementation begins, local stakeholders monitor effects on communities, from Calvert County salons to St. Mary’s County fire stations.
