MD HB435

Lowers the threshold for mandatory open movie captioning from motion picture houses with eight or more screens to those with four or more screens in Maryland

Requires qualifying theaters to provide open movie captioning for at least two screenings per motion picture each week during the first three weeks after a film premieres

After three weeks from premiere, theaters with four or more screens may provide open movie captioning with reasonable notice rather than mandatory scheduled screenings

Exemption applies to motion pictures screened fewer than five times from Friday through Thursday in a 7-day period

Takes effect October 1, 2026