NOTE: The Office of the Governor shared the following press release:
ANNAPOLIS — Governor Wes Moore today presided over the first of four post-session bill signing ceremonies following the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session. The governor signed 146 bills into law, including the Vax Act—a key piece of the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative agenda to protect our people—and the Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act.
The legislation signed today ensures that vaccine guidance and recommendations are grounded in the best medical evidence and requires stricter safety compliance from short-term rental units, protecting the health and safety of every Marylander.
“At a time when Washington can’t find common ground on common-sense issues, Maryland is not just pushing back, but pushing forward,” said Gov. Moore. “Two of the bills I’ll sign today are centered on protecting our people. Each bill was made possible because of the people who showed up, testified, advocated, and refused to let the noise drown out the work of delivering results for Maryland.”
Included among the bills Governor Moore signed today are:
The Vax Act (HB 637/SB 385) responds to the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to discourage access to vaccines and undermine trust in vaccine science, and represents the latest in the Moore-Miller administration’s commitment to safeguard broad vaccine access.
The legislation establishes new authority for the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health to issue official recommendations for immunizations, screening, and preventive services for Marylanders based on science and clinical guidance.
The legislation also decouples the State’s vaccine authority from that of federal government bodies, providing space for Maryland’s health secretary to consider the guidance of federal agencies and entities as elective.
In addition to allowing pharmacists to continue administering critical immunizations, the Vax Act ensures that those vaccines remain covered by insurance.
The Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act (HB 1221/SB 624) requires the inclusion of certain fire prevention and detection equipment in all short-term rental units offered for short-term rental for less than 30 consecutive days.
By July 1, 2028, each county—in addition to Baltimore City—in which short-term rentals are allowed must, by local law or regulation, require the annual inspection of all short-term rental units in the jurisdiction for compliance.
The bill was introduced and enacted in honor of Montgomery County sisters Lindsay and Jillian Wiener, two sisters who tragically lost their lives in a 2022 fire at a vacation rental.
To view the complete list of bills signed into law today, visit: governor.maryland.gov/news/Pages/bill-signings.aspx.
Why no one is discussing the discussting new DMV fee changes, thought I voted for someone who cared about Marylander, I guess not….