MARYLAND (WBFF) — July 1 marks the start of a wide range of new laws across Maryland, covering a variety of areas from cell phones in schools to free cancer screenings for volunteer firefighters.
Here are a few of the laws that are set to take effect:
While it is not a new law, drivers in Maryland will pay more at the pump beginning July 1 as the state’s fuel tax adjusts upward.
The gasoline tax will increase to 46.6 cents per gallon, while the diesel tax will rise to 47.5 cents per gallon. State officials say the revenue helps fund transportation projects, including road and bridge maintenance across Maryland.
Many workers will also see larger paychecks beginning Wednesday in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County is raising its minimum wage to keep pace with inflation. Employees at small businesses with 10 or fewer workers will now earn $15.95 per hour, with higher minimum wage rates applying to larger employers under the county’s tiered wage system.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said the increases reflect the region’s high cost of living.
“Federal minimum wage is still $7.25. And I think anyone with half a brain, maybe even quarter of a brain could figure out that no ones going to live on $7.25, at least not decently. Montgomery County, you know, we have higher home prices and rents. The cost of living here is not cheap and we just have to allow people to be able to afford to live here.”
Supporters said indexing wages to inflation helps workers keep up with rising housing and everyday expenses, while some business groups have expressed concerns about higher labor costs.
The Utility RELIEF Act is a legislative package that aims to save at least $150 on energy bills every year for Maryland families, according to the governor’s office.
RELIEF stands for Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families.
The law includes some immediate rebates, and some long-term changes to funding the state’s power grid.
Direct bill credits will save the average Maryland home about $150 annually, but lower-income families could save up to $1,400 by clearing past-due balances and offsetting future costs.
There are three new laws, among many, that will affect students and local public schools.
Going into the next school year, school boards will be required to develop and implement phone-free policies by the 2027-28 academic year. Though the exact policies may vary by district, all schools will be required to prohibit electronic communication device use during the school day, including access to social media. Exceptions will be allowed for disabilities, documented health issues, language translation or caregiving.
Another law involves school resource officers, or security guards.
Starting next week, it will be illegal for officers assigned as school resource officers to have any sort of sexual contact with students enrolled in that school. Convictions resulting from violating this law will be misdemeanors, with a penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine up to $3,000.
Finally, the School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act will require school systems to use the Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen new hires for positions that require a license. The Clearinghouse collects data nationally on professional educator discipline actions taken in all 50 states, D.C., Department of Defense schools and Guam. That way, the schools can see whether any person hired had been disciplined in another jurisdiction.
A new law, called the Vax Act, will allow Maryland’s Secretary of Health to provide recommendations for immunizations, screenings and preventive services, separating the state from federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
New recommendations will be determined by evidence-based scientific guidance, and it also alters health insurance coverage requirements and pharmacist administration authority.
It comes after the CDC overhauled the childhood vaccine schedule, bringing the recommended vaccines from 17 down to 11 diseases. Last year, new COVID-19 shots were approved only for those 65 and older or with a prescription, prompting some pharmacies to say they would not be able to administer them without a prescription from a doctor.
The CROWN Act, first introduced in 2019, aims to protect against discrimination against race-based hairstyles. The law is meant to legally protect hair texture and protective styles, such as braids, locs, twists and knots, worn in the workplace and public schools. Maryland implemented it in 2020.
The new law in Maryland is called the Crown and Care Act. It is also related to hair, but instead focuses on chemicals in hair products. Harmful chemicals, including formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, mercury and PFAS, were banned from cosmetic products in Maryland in 2025, but limited enforcement meant products kept being sold. This new law is meant to both expand the list of chemicals included and strengthen enforcement.
According to testimony in the Maryland state house, the chemicals are linked to long-term medical risks, including cancer, fibroids, infertility and more. Black women are disproportionately affected by these chemicals and medical risks. Chemical hair straightener use doubles the chance of uterine cancer, and Black women are 50% more likely to use them.
Testimony also said Black women develop uterine fibroids at two to three times the rate of white women, and they develop at younger ages.
This new law will save the lives of racehorses in Maryland, and even beyond the state.
Slaughtering and causing the slaughter of a racehorse for commercial purposes will be illegal starting on July 1.
However, the law doesn’t stop at state lines.
If a person tries to import, transport, purchase or sell a racehorse and either knows or should know that that horse will be slaughtered for commercial purpose, that will also be illegal.
Starting July 1, Marylanders will be able to legally manufacture cannabis for personal use in their own homes.
On July 1, the retail sale of unauthorized or unregulated consumable products, like kratom and tianeptine, will be illegal.
Retailers are not allowed to distribute, sell, display or advertise these unauthorized products.
Violations will lead to a misdemeanor, and if they are convicted, they will be subject to a fine of up to $5,000.
This new law will empower local and state elections administrators to order police to arrest anyone disturbing the peace or interfering with the work of election judges at polling places.
On July 1, a new law will enact stiffer criminal penalties for organized retail theft.
Mandates that electricity used as vehicle fuel must be sold and measured in kilowatt-hours, ending time-based pricing models at public chargers.
The bill does allow sellers to charge certain fees for some services.
This new law will require counties with volunteer fire companies to offer free preventative cancer screenings to volunteer and retired volunteer firefighters.
Counties can meet this requirement by giving an annual examination or apply for a certain grant.
The law will also require volunteer fire companies to maintain an up-to-date list of volunteer firefighters and retired firefighters.
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