Maryland and DC regional legislative changes

On October 1, 2026, several new laws are set to take effect across the Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia region.

In Maryland, new legislation includes employment protections for emergency medical personnel with medical marijuana certifications, prohibiting discrimination based on certification or metabolite tests. The state is also implementing the Predatory Pricing Act, which bans dynamic pricing for groceries based on personal data and prevents businesses from refusing cash for essential goods under $300 during certain hours. Additionally, law enforcement regulations will require visible identification and prohibit officers from wearing face coverings.

Maryland is also enacting reforms regarding criminal evidence and juvenile justice. The Protecting Artists’ Creative Expression Act (PACE Act) restricts the use of a defendant’s creative works, such as music or poetry, as evidence unless a judge determines the work was intended to be literal and has a close connection to the crime. The Youth Charging Reform Act will shift certain serious offenses from adult court to the juvenile justice system and implement restrictions on confining juveniles in facilities with sight or sound contact with adult inmates.

In the District of Columbia, changes include a reduction in the duration and maximum weekly benefits of paid family leave, alongside new regulations for rental housing pet fees under the Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024.