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*sb0694*
SECOND PRINTING
SENATE BILL 694
D3, P3 6lr0748
By: Senator Smith
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026
Returned to second reading: March 3, 2026
Senate action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Human Relations – Violations of County Discrimination Laws – Complaints 2
FOR the purpose of establishing that filing a certain complaint with the Maryland 3
Commission on Civil Rights satisfies certain prerequisite s to commencing a civil 4
action alleging the violation of a county discrimination law; and generally relating 5
to county discrimination laws. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – State Government 8
Section 20–1004(a) and (c) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – State Government 13
Section 20–1202 and 20–1203 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – State Government 18
Section 20–1204 19
2 SENATE BILL 694
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
Article – State Government 5
20–1004. 6
(a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged discriminatory act may file 7
a complaint with the Commission. 8
(c) (1) (i) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a 9
complaint shall be filed within 6 months after the date on which the alleged discriminatory 10
act occurred. 11
(ii) A complaint filed with a federal or local human relations 12
commission within 6 months after the date on which the alleged discriminatory act occurred 13
shall be deemed to have complied with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. 14
(2) (i) A complaint alleging an unlawful employment practice other 15
than harassment shall be filed within 300 days after the date on which the alleged 16
discriminatory act occurred. 17
(ii) A complaint filed wi th a federal human relations commission 18
within 6 months or a local human relations commission within 300 days shall be deemed 19
to have complied with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. 20
(3) (i) A complaint alleging harassment against an employer shall be 21
filed within 2 years after the date on which the alleged harassment occurred. 22
(ii) A complaint filed with a federal human relations commission 23
within 6 months or a local human relations commission within 2 years after the date on 24
which the alleged hara ssment occurred shall be deemed to have complied with 25
subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. 26
20–1202. 27
(a) This section applies only in Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince 28
George’s County. 29
(b) In accordance with this section, a person that is subjected to a discriminatory 30
act prohibited by the county code may bring and maintain a civil action against the person 31
that committed the alleged discriminatory act for damages, injunctive relief, or other civil 32
relief. 33
SENATE BILL 694 3
(c) (1) An action under subsection (b) of this section shall be commenced in the 1
circuit court for the county in which the alleged discriminatory act occurred within 2 years 2
after the occurrence of the alleged discriminatory act. 3
(2) (i) Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, an action under 4
subsection (b) of this section alleging discrimination in employment or public 5
accommodations may not be commenced sooner than 45 days after the aggrieved person 6
files a complaint with: 7
1. the county unit responsible for handling violat ions of the 8
county discrimination laws; OR 9
2. THE COMMISSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 20–1004 10
OF THIS TITLE. 11
(ii) Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, an action under 12
subsection (b) of this section alleging discrimination in real estate may be commenced at 13
any time. 14
(d) In a civil action under this section, the court may award the prevailing party 15
reasonable attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, and costs. 16
20–1203. 17
(a) This section applies only in Baltimore County. 18
(b) In accordance with this section, a person that is employed by an employer with 19
fewer than 15 employees and that is subjected to a discriminatory act prohibited by the 20
county code may bring and maintain a civil action against the employer that committed the 21
alleged discriminatory act for relief as provided under subsection (d) of this section. 22
(c) (1) An action under subsection (b) of this section shall be commenced in the 23
Circuit Court for Baltimore County within 2 years after the occurrence of the alleged 24
discriminatory act. 25
(2) Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, an action under subsection 26
(b) of this section may not be commenced sooner than 60 days after the aggrieved person 27
files a complaint with: 28
(I) the county unit responsible for handling violations of the county 29
discrimination laws; OR 30
(II) THE COMMISSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 20–1004 OF 31
THIS TITLE. 32
4 SENATE BILL 694
(d) (1) In a civil action under this section, the court may award the prevailing 1
party: 2
(i) injunctive relief; 3
(ii) compensatory damages, including back pay; or 4
(iii) both injunctive relief and compensatory damages. 5
(2) A prevailing party may not be awarded punitive damages under this 6
section. 7
(3) The court may award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees. 8
20–1204. 9
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES IN ANY COUNTY OTHER THAN BALTIMORE 10
COUNTY, HOWARD COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OR PRINCE GEORGE’S 11
COUNTY. 12
(B) A COMPLAINT FILED IN A CCORDANCE WITH § 20–1004 OF THIS TITLE 13
SATISFIES ANY REQUIR EMENT TO EXHAUST REM EDIES BEFORE FILING A CIVIL 14
ACTION IMPOSED BY A COUNTY OR LOCAL UNIT RESPONSIBLE FOR HAND LING 15
VIOLATIONS OF COUNTY OR LOCAL DISCRIMINATION LAWS. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2026. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.