ANNAPOLIS — Several new state laws took effect June 1, covering artificial intelligence guidance for schools, hospital protocols for immigration enforcement, election security measures and background checks for health care professionals.
Most bills passed by the General Assembly this year take effect July 1 or Oct. 1. A smaller group, including the four highlighted here, became law on the first day of June.
Senate Bill 720 requires the Maryland State Department of Education to issue guidance on artificial intelligence. The department must create an online platform with resources for local school systems, educators, parents and students. Guidance must address uses of AI in instruction, administration and student support. Local school systems, including those in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, will have 120 days after the guidance is published to adopt aligned AI policies. The law also establishes the Maryland AI Education Collaborative, a group of more than two dozen members tasked with studying AI applications across school systems. About $500,000 was allocated for the effort.
Senate Bill 792 requires hospitals to adopt policies describing their protocol during immigration enforcement actions at the facility. The policies must be available to all staff, and hospitals must provide annual training consistent with guidance issued by the attorney general’s office on “sensitive locations.” The State Health Services Cost Review Commission is directed to develop and publish a model policy for hospitals. Southern Maryland facilities, such as CalvertHealth in Prince Frederick, University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata and MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, will need to align their procedures with the new requirements.
Senate Bill 670 and House Bill 1001 expand authority for the state elections administrator, deputy state administrator and local election directors. These officials may now order a police officer to arrest a person who breaches the peace, violates state election law or interferes with election judges carrying out their duties. The measure applies when early voting centers open June 11 for the gubernatorial primary. Local election boards in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties will operate under the updated rules during the voting period that runs through June 18.
Senate Bill 806 and House Bill 1420 require mandatory criminal history records checks by certain health occupation boards. The requirement covers acupuncturists, funeral directors, morticians, dentists, dental hygienists, dietitians, environmental health specialists and individuals working in residential child care programs. The checks aim to strengthen public safety standards for licensed professionals.
These laws address emerging issues in education, health care, elections and professional licensing. School systems across Southern Maryland will soon develop local AI policies once state guidance is released. Hospitals in the region must prepare or update protocols for immigration enforcement scenarios while maintaining patient privacy and staff training. Election officials gain tools to maintain order at polling places and early voting sites. Health care workers in covered professions face updated licensing requirements.
Local school boards in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties will need to designate coordinators to work with the state on AI implementation. Hospitals must ensure policies are consistent with existing attorney general guidance on sensitive locations. Election directors in the three counties will have clear authority to request arrests for disruptions during the June primary voting period.
The changes take effect as Maryland prepares for its 2026 primary election cycle and as schools and health care providers adapt to new technologies and regulatory expectations.
