Governor Wes Moore, joined by Senate President Bill Ferguson and Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, recently presided over the third bill signing ceremony of 2025. There were nearly two hundred bills signed on Tuesday, including SB 880; SB 148; and SB 51, which our firm worked diligently on during session on behalf of our clients- the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland and the Maryland Certified Public Accountants. Governor Moore also signed legislation focused on strengthening Maryland’s public education system and ensuring veterans and military families in Maryland have access to state benefits. Additionally, Moore signed a bill that raises the bar for ethical standards for those serving as Governor of the state of Maryland.
“Today, we are hardening and honoring a true spirit of selfless service in Maryland,” said Gov. Moore. “The legislation we signed this afternoon uplifts the aspirations of our students by closing the teacher shortage, improving academic achievement, and investing responsibly in our schools. And as we elevate the leaders of tomorrow, we are also ensuring that the leaders of today are accountable to the people they serve, not their personal financial interests.”
Key Legislation signed on Tuesday includes:
SB880 – Governor’s Office for Children – Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland – Grant Funding
This legislation secures essential funding for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland by requiring the Governor to include a minimum of $250,000 in the annual budget beginning in FY 27 and continuing for several years after. This appropriation of funds will go to the Governor’s Office for Children to provide grants and funding for the operating expenses of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland.
SB 148 – State Board of Public Accountancy – Emeritus Status
Senate Bill 148 authorizes the State Board of Public Accountancy to grant “emeritus status”, which is an honorary title given to individuals who retire from a position of distinction, to retired certified public accountants. In order to obtain this status, individuals must meet specific age and experience criteria and are no longer actively practicing. It exempts emeritus licensees from continuing education and reinstatement fees, while prohibiting them from practicing, signing financial documents, or offering accounting services unless reinstated.
SB 51 – Accountants – Licensed Out-of-State Practice Privileges – Qualifications
Senate Bill 51 updates the qualifications for certified public accountants licensed in another state to practice in Maryland. This bill allows practice privileges in the state of Maryland if the individual passed the Uniform CPA Exam, thus removing the prior requirement for NASBA verification of substantial equivalence. The legislation simplifies out-of-state licensure recognition and maintains conditions for jurisdictional oversight and compliance with Maryland law.
HB 504 – Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act
The Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act aims to tackle the state’s teacher shortage by creating a pipeline of fully licensed educators through a national recruitment initiative and the Grow Your Own Educators Program, which offers debt-free pathways to teacher licensure. Additionally, the legislation enhances the Community Schools program by implementing administrative improvements that promote more consistent statewide execution, ultimately boosting student achievement.
HB 932- Public Ethics – Conflicts of Interest and Blind Trust – Governor
This legislation strengthens accountability by requiring the governor to place financial interests in a blind trust or divest from those that pose a conflict of interest, as determined by the State Ethics Commission. It also enforces transparency with penalties for the governor and businesses that fail to meet ethics and disclosure rules.
This bill expands the scope of Maryland’s Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program for veterans to also include active service members and their families. It requires the Department of Veterans and Military Families to create and maintain an online registry that provides targeted information and updates, and mandates annual reporting on registry usage and communication efforts.
