MD HB1297

Requires conflict of interest and lobbying provisions adopted by counties, municipal corporations, and school boards to be "equivalent to or exceed" state law requirements, strengthening the previous standard of being merely "similar to" state provisions

Mandates that local governments and school boards authorize removal of governing body members from office for violations of conflict of interest provisions

Requires local ethics commissions and school board ethics commissions to make public any recommendation to remove or expel a member of the governing body

Expands requirements previously applicable only to Calvert County to all Maryland counties, municipal corporations, and school boards statewide

Changes school board lobbying regulations from optional ("may adopt") to mandatory ("shall adopt") and takes effect October 1, 2025