What’s changing on October 1 in Maryland

Here’s a rundown of the most notable Maryland laws that take effect on October 1, 2025—what they do, who’s affected, and where they came from.

• Reckless, negligent & aggressive driving penalties get tougher (Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act). Maryland expands what counts as reckless/aggressive driving and increases points and penalties. Driving 30+ mph over the limit can now trigger criminal consequences under the new framework.

• Speed-camera tickets move to a sliding scale. Instead of a flat $40, automated speed citations will scale with how fast you’re going: $40 (12–15 mph over), $70 (16–19), $120 (20–29), $230 (30–39), and $425 (40+ over).

  
  

Criminal justice reforms

• “Second Look” resentencing for emerging adults. Certain people convicted at ages 18–24 who have served 20+ years (with key exclusions) may petition courts to reduce their sentences; courts must weigh set factors and victim input.

• Expungement Reform Act. More misdemeanors become expungeable sooner (after sentence completion), and pardon-based cannabis convictions must be removed from public Case Search (that Case Search component takes effect Jan. 31, 2026).

• Lower penalties for drug paraphernalia. First offenses are civil (up to $500); subsequent offenses are capped at 1 year and/or $1,000 (down from 2 years/$2,000). “Intent to administer” is removed from prohibited intents.

  
  

Guns & public safety

• Gun trafficking reclassified as a felony. Bringing regulated firearms into Maryland to unlawfully sell/traffic is now a felony (up to 10 years and/or $25,000); prosecutions must start within 3 years.

Cannabis & controlled substances

• Home production for personal use permitted (with safety limits). Adults 21+ may make personal-use cannabis products at home only without volatile solvents; the bill also updates penalties for high-volume cannabis distribution.

  
  

Family law & custody

• Child custody—clear statutory factors. Judges must now apply a codified 16-factor “best interests” test and explain decisions; courts get clearer authority to modify orders when there’s a material change tied to the child’s needs.

• Child support calculations adjust. Courts may account for children living in a parent’s home (even without a separate support order) when calculating adjusted actual income. (This change is part of the same reform package.)

  
  

Tenants & housing

• Fairer late fees for rent. The 5% cap now applies only to the unpaid portion of rent—not the whole monthly amount—so partial payers aren’t over-penalized. Weekly leases remain capped at $3/week (max $12/month).

  
  

Medical debt & hospitals

• Broader hospital financial assistance & billing safeguards. Discounts extend up to 500% of the federal poverty level; hospitals are barred from suing for < $500, must allow 240 days to apply for aid, and must refund certain overpayments.

• Protecting homes from medical-debt liens. Creditors cannot place new liens on a primary residence to collect medical debt under contract claims.

  
  

Immigrant victims of crime

• Faster, broader U-Visa certifications. More agencies (e.g., child protective services, labor departments, Civil Rights Commission) can now certify, with deadlines (often 45 days, or 7 days if deportation is imminent) and required explanations for denials.

  
  

Business & corporate (for in-state companies and REITs)

• MGCL updates. Corporate law tweaks include clarifying when secured-party asset transfers don’t need stockholder approval and simplifying articles of merger contents.

  
  

A few more you may hear about

Public radio’s 2025 tracker highlights additional items taking effect Oct. 1—everything from organized retail theft penalties to animal-cruelty updates and court procedures. If you want a deeper dive beyond the big changes above, I can break those out next.