Annapolis, Md. — Governor Wes Moore signed 146 bills into law Tuesday during the first of four post-session bill signing ceremonies following the conclusion of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly legislative session.
The ceremony took place April 14, 2026, in the Governor’s Reception Room. Among the measures were the Vax Act and the Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act, both highlighted as priorities focused on public health and safety.
“At a time when Washington can’t find common ground on common-sense issues, Maryland is not just pushing back, but pushing forward,” Gov. Moore said. “Two of the bills I’ll sign today are centered on protecting our people. Each bill was made possible because of the people who showed up, testified, advocated, and refused to let the noise drown out the work of delivering results for Maryland.”
The Vax Act, formally House Bill 637 and Senate Bill 385, establishes authority for the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health to issue official recommendations for immunizations, screenings and preventive services based on scientific and clinical guidance. It decouples the state’s vaccine authority from federal government bodies, treating federal guidance as elective. The legislation also ensures continued insurance coverage for recommended vaccines and allows pharmacists to administer critical immunizations.
Supporters described the measure as a response to shifting federal policies under the Trump-Vance administration and an effort to keep Maryland’s public health decisions grounded in evidence. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act, House Bill 1221 and Senate Bill 624, requires fire prevention and detection equipment in all short-term rental units offered for less than 30 consecutive days. By July 1, 2028, every county and Baltimore City where such rentals are permitted must adopt local laws or regulations mandating annual inspections for compliance.
The legislation honors two Montgomery County sisters, Jillian and Lindsay Wiener, who died in a 2022 fire at a vacation rental lacking working smoke detectors. Their mother, Alisa Wiener, attended the signing ceremony. Gov. Moore presented her with one of the signing pens.
No direct Southern Maryland-specific impacts from these two bills were detailed in official announcements, though the short-term rental requirements would apply statewide, including in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties if local jurisdictions allow such rentals. Calvert County, for example, has seen growth in vacation and short-term rental properties near the Chesapeake Bay, where fire safety standards could affect tourism-related housing.
The broader package of 146 bills addressed topics ranging from health insurance codification to stormwater management for agritourism, according to the governor’s office list. Full details of all signed legislation are available through the Maryland Governor’s Office.
This first ceremony followed a legislative session that ended the previous evening with a late-night sine die marked by partisan debate and procedural tensions. Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Senate President Bill Ferguson, joined the governor in emphasizing accomplishments on health care, housing and cost-of-living issues.
Maryland’s approach with the Vax Act marks a state-level adjustment in vaccine policy coordination at a time of national discussion over federal health recommendations. The short-term rental measure adds a layer of consumer protection in an industry that has expanded with online booking platforms.
Southern Maryland residents can monitor local county council actions in the coming months, as Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s will need to consider implementation of the rental inspection requirements if they have not already addressed short-term rentals through zoning or licensing rules. Local fire departments, including those in Prince Frederick and surrounding areas that responded to recent structure fires, routinely emphasize the importance of working smoke alarms and fire safety equipment in all residential settings.
Gov. Moore is scheduled to hold three additional public bill signing ceremonies in the coming weeks as he reviews the remaining legislation passed during the 90-day session.
