# Maryland Laws Effective Oct 1

> Maryland's new laws take effect Oct 1, 2026, including police transparency rules and gun restrictions.
- Title: Maryland Laws Effective Oct 1 · The Banner | Shortify
- Summary: Maryland's new laws take effect Oct 1, 2026, including police transparency rules and gun restrictions. Maryland's laws effective October 1, 2026, include…
- Keywords: maryland, police, cash payments, gun laws, vulnerable road users, protective orders, housing act, rapping lyrics, stalking penalties, homeless housing, state government, news
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/maryland-new-laws-october-FBUXPCTX2RC47L7IEASVOAXPPI
- Author: Clara Longo de Freitas,Max Schaeffer
- Published: 2026-09-27T09:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: maryland, police, cash payments, gun laws, vulnerable road users, protective orders, housing act, rapping lyrics, stalking penalties, homeless housing, state government, news
## New Maryland laws effective Oct 1
Maryland lawmakers passed hundreds of bills during the session earlier this year that will become law on October 1, 2026.
## Police face ID requirements
Law enforcement officers must wear visible identification including agency name, last name, and badge number while on duty.
## Masked police banned
Law enforcement officers working in the state, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, cannot use face coverings or masks.
## Cash payment protections
Businesses cannot refuse cash payments for essential goods under $300 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
## Rap lyrics as evidence banned
Maryland will become the third state to restrict prosecutors using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials.
## Gun restrictions
Maryland will ban machine gun convertible pistols including popular Glock handguns by January 1, 2027.
## Stalking penalties increased
Maximum fines for stalking with prior offense double to $10,000 with prison sentences increasing from five to ten years.
## Protective orders extended
Temporary protective orders can last up to 14 days instead of seven days for domestic abuse victims.
## Housing act for homeless
Landlords cannot require drug or alcohol tests for tenants managing five or more residential units.
## Key takeaway

Maryland's laws effective October 1, 2026, include police face ID requirements, cash payment protections, and gun restrictions.