Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB596: Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Conforming the Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act to the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act; providing that a surviving individual who does not survive the death of another individual for at least 120 hours is deemed to have predeceased the other individual for purposes relating to the inheritance of property; establishing evidentiary procedures for determining an individual's death or survival in certain circumstances; providing for liability under the Act in connection with the distribution of disputed assets; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act FOR the purpose of conforming the Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act to the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act; providing that a surviving individual who does not survive the death of another individual for a certain period of time is deemed to have predeceased the other individual for purposes relating to the inheritance of property; establishing evidentiary procedures for determining an individual's death or survival in certain circumstances…
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act FOR the purpose of conforming the Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act to the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act; providing that a surviving individual who does not survive the death of another individual for a certain period of time is deemed to have predeceased the other individual for purposes relating to the inheritance of property; establishing evidentiary procedures for determining an individual's death or survival in certain circumstances; providing for liability under this Act in connection with the distribution of disputed assets; and generally relating to the Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act. BY renumbering Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 10-806 and 10-807 to be Section 10-808 and 10-809, respectively Annotated Code of Maryland (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 10-801 through 10-805 Annotated Code of Maryland (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 10-801 through 10-807 Annotated Code of Maryland (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That Section(s) 10-806 and 10-807 of Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 10-808 and 10-809, respectively. SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That …
Sponsors
- LaToya Nkongolo (R, 31) · primary sponsor
- Dylan Behler (D, 30A)
- Brian Chisholm (R, 31)
- Michael Griffith (R, HD-035B)
- Odom, Darrell (D, 27A)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 509
- : Returned Passed
- : Third Reading Passed (45-0)
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
- : Referred Judicial Proceedings
- : Third Reading Passed (129-0)
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Judiciary
- : Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (45-0) (April 13, 2026): 45 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (129-0) (March 20, 2026): 129 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB596?
- HB596 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act.
- What does HB596 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Estates - Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act FOR the purpose of conforming the Maryland Uniform Simultaneous Death Act to the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act; providing that a surviving individual who does not survive the death of another individual for a certain period of time is deemed to have predeceased the other individual for purposes relating to the inheritance of property; establishing evidentiary procedures for determining an individual's death or survival in certain circumstances…
- What is the status of HB596?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 509 (May 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB596?
- LaToya Nkongolo (R, 31), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB596?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0596?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.