Laws Enacted on July 1, 2025

Dear Friends,

Starting today, July 1, 2025, a series of new laws go into effect across Maryland, many of which will directly impact individuals, families, and businesses statewide. These changes, passed during the most recent legislative session, include new taxes, increased fees, and expanded state authority.

One of the most consequential measures is the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act, which officially takes effect today. It includes a range of costly provisions, such as higher MVA fines, a new 3% Technology Tax, and several other fee increases, such as a vending machine tax and car-related fees, that will place an added burden on Marylanders.

Here is more than a dozen of the many bills that have gone into effect as of July 1, 2025:

1. Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act - the legislation behind many of the tax and fee increases that will impact you this year.
2. Senate Bill 295 - Income Tax - Income Tax Reconciliation Program - Established (Maryland Fair Taxation for Justice-Involved Individuals Act) establishes a program allowing individuals who were incarcerated for six months to ten years within the past two years to set up a payment plan with the Comptroller.
3. Senate Bill 849- Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program – Funding increases the funding for cancer screening for Firefighters from $500,000 to $1,000,000. This new law offers a necessary protection for firefighters who serve their communities.
4. House Bill 953 - Tax Sales - Homeowner Protection Program - Funding and Alterations Strengthens protections for vulnerable Marylanders at risk of losing their homes due to property tax debt by expanding awareness of the Homeowner Protection Program, which provides loans to individuals unable to pay their property taxes. For more information about the program, click HERE.
5. Senate Bill 900 - Maryland Behavioral Health Crisis Response System - Integration of 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Network and Outcome Evaluations creates a single point-of-entry for Marylanders in Crisis to receive the help they need.
6. House Bill 506 - Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act establishes the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming Program, Program Fund, and exempts holders of certain fishing licenses from the requirement to obtain a food establishment license from the Maryland Department of Health. Learn more HERE.
7. Senate Bill 765 - Out-of-Home Placement Providers - Individuals Enrolled in higher Education and Vocational Training Programs enables individuals formerly a part of a foster care program to return to a previous placement when the individual is on scheduled breaks from school, as long as it is agreed upon by all parties and approved by the State, offering the chance for individuals, formerly in the foster-care system to have a safe place to stay, while on break.
8. House Bill 857- Natural Resources - Pursuing Wounded Deer After Legal Hunting Hours and Using a Light - Authorization enables hunters, who are approved by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to pursue a wounded deer after hunting hours.
9. Senate Bill 335 - Natural Resources - Canada Geese - Bag Limits controls the bag limit to match the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services bag limit for all Canada geese in Maryland, including those in both the Atlantic Flyway Resident and Atlantic Population Hunt Zones, will match the federal limit set annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
10. Senate Bill 931- Public Utilities - Generation Stations - Generation and Siting (Renewable Energy Certainty Act) overrides local authority on power generation stations and reverts the decision to the Maryland Public Service Commission, if the generation is above 2 megawatts. This also allows the MPSC to switch hearings to the virtual format and requires types of notification for residents. This bill was the exact opposite of a bill I co-sponsored, Senate Bill 478 - Public Utilities- Solar Energy Generating Stations - Local Approval, which did not make its way out of the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee.
11. House Bill 879 - Task Force to Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Schools establishes a task force to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism in schools for the purpose of studying and making recommendations on practices to identify, prevent, and eliminate chronic absenteeism by students from schools in the State. Findings will be reported to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025.
12. Senate Bill 360 - Revenge Porn - Definition of Visual Representation and Civil Action defines "visual representation" in relation to revenge porn to include unaltered images of a person, or images created with or without using other existing depictions of the person that is indistinguishable from the person, from the perspective of an ordinary person; and authorizing a person to bring a civil action for revenge porn.
13. Maryland Self-Service Storage Act- Sale of Personal Property in Satisfaction of Lien- Notice Requirements requires that notice be given at least 10 days prior to the sale of an occupant’s personal property to satisfy a lien.

Comprehensive List of Services taxed by the 3% "Tech Tax"

Among the many new laws taking effect today, the implementation of the 3% “Tech Tax” stands out as particularly troubling. Maryland Senate Republicans opposed this added financial burden every step of the way, but the Democratic supermajority ultimately pushed it through as part of the BRFA, despite my strong objections on the Senate Floor.

We’ve been down this road before. A similar tech tax was enacted in 2007, quickly proved unworkable, and was repealed in 2008. So why are we repeating a failed policy?

While there are carve-outs for cloud computing, affiliate businesses, intellectual property, and quantum technology in College Park’s Discovery District, there’s still a troubling lack of clarity about what exactly will be subject to this new tax.

You can view a detailed breakdown of the tax categories in this announcement from the Comptroller HERE. This tax will impact all Marylanders, and history has already shown us it doesn’t work.

Important Update from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)

Historic Car Tag Changes

Effective July 1, 2025, the MVA is implementing updated fees and changes to the eligibility requirements for historic vehicle tags, as outlined in the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) of 2025.

Under the new law, vehicles must now be model year 1999 or earlier to qualify for historic (Class L) registration, a change from the previous threshold of “at least 20 years old.” As a result, vehicles with model years 2000–2005 will no longer be eligible for historic plates. To comply with this law, the MVA is taking the following steps:

• Vehicles with registrations expiring before June 30, 2025: Owners were permitted to renew for one year with historic registration.
• Vehicles with registrations expiring on or after July 1, 2025: No immediate action is needed until the current registration expires. At that time, the historic tags must be returned to an MVA branch, and the vehicle must be re-registered under standard Class A (passenger) or Class M (multi-use) plates.
• A safety inspection is required within 90 days of registration expiration.
• A Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) notification will also be issued, as required.

The MVA has started notifying impacted customers with historic tags to help them prepare for these changes.

Here is the updated chart for the MVA registration fees, effective July 1, 2025. Additional MVA fees can be found HERE.

Additional Vehicle Related Fees include:

• Excise Tax Increase to 6.5%
• Title Fee Increases to $200.00
• New Hybrid Surcharge of $200.00
• Vehicle Emissions Fee has increased to $30.00 with new late penalties
• New EMS Surcharge of $40
• New Tire Purchase Fee $5/tire
• New EV Surcharge of $250.00

Hunting Updates: New Laws and Application for Mentorship Program

Interested in Learning to Hunt?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers a "Mentored Hunt Program." The Mentored Hunt Program introduces first-time and returning hunters to safe, responsible hunting through hands-on learning and mentorship. Participants are paired with experienced hunters and receive instruction on firearm safety, hunting techniques, and species-specific strategies, along with guided range time and one-on-one support.

With hunting participation in decline, this program helps preserve an important tradition while supporting wildlife conservation. By welcoming new hunters from all backgrounds, it promotes hunting as a sustainable, field-to-table lifestyle and ensures future funding for conservation efforts.

• Firearms/Archery Skills
• Processing
• Regulations/Licensing
• Outdoor Skills
• Equipment
• Hunting Techniques
• Prey Behavior
• Where to Hunt
• Taking an Ethical Shot
• Anything else you need to become a confident hunter

Interested in taking up hunting as a hobby or curious to learn how to hunt Maryland's lands? Check out the application process here: Mentored Hunt Program

NEW Laws that took effect July 1!

It is now legal to pursue a wounded deer after hunting hours, so long as you are legally permitted to do so by Maryland DNR.

Canada Goose Migratory Hunting bag limits will now match the national bag limits set by the United States Department of Fishing and Wildlife.

I'm looking forward to attending the Kingsville Parade, and the Bel Air Parade this year!

Hope to see you there!

For a full list of 4th of July Events in Maryland, Click HERE.

Kingsville Fourth of July Celebration

• Pre-parade music and celebration at 9:30 a.m. at the Judges Viewing Stand at the intersection of Belair, Jerusalem and Bradshaw Roads
• The Parade will proceed from Bellvue Ave promptly at 11 a.m. and proceed down Bradshaw Rd for the National Anthem at the reviewing stand
• A-10 Flyover at 11:10 am.
• It will continue on Jerusalem Rd ending at St Pauls Church near Chapman Rd.
• Fireworks will be held on July 5th at dusk, around 9 p.m.

Bel Air 4th of July Celebration

• Flag raising ceremony at 6:45 a.m. at Bel Air Town Hall on Hickory Avenue.
• Pancake breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m. at Bel Air High School. (If you're new to Bel Air, this is a CLASSIC tradition that benefits
• Bel Air July 4th Parade at 6 p.m. starting at Idlewild Road and South Main Street.
• Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. launching from Rockfield Park; viewing areas around Bel Air.

Thinking about Crabs this Independence Day weekend?



Support these local businesses in District 7!

Share your go-to crab places. I'll be sure to post them to Facebook



If you're out of town this weekend, check out all of Maryland's Crab Houses at Crabs & Seafood | VisitMaryland.org!

Baltimore County

Bill's Seafood in Perry Hall

Bird River Inn in Middle River

Conrad's Crabs

Vince's Crab House

Harford County

Conrad's Crabs

Crab Barrell Fallston

Crab Depot

Seafood Stop

Vince's Crab House

I hope this information helps as you navigate these new laws. Wishing you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July, hope it’s a special one! I look forward to seeing you around the district.

Best regards,



Senator J.B. Jennings