Education & Employment

Maryland State Hiring Credit for Veterans

Ten points on a state selection test for an honorably discharged veteran. Two more points for a former prisoner of war. A separate noncompetitive appointment is open at a compensable service-connected rating of at least 30%.

Also called: state job, hiring preference, veterans preference, 10 points, disabled veteran appointment.

For: Veteran or service member, spouse, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

MarylandState

State Personnel and Pensions section 7-207 adds points on a selection test after the applicant already has a passing score. The Department of Budget and Management applies the credit. An eligible veteran receives 10 points. Through September 30, 2026, an eligible veteran is a veteran with an honorable discharge or a certificate of satisfactory completion of service, including a reserve component. From October 1, 2026, Chapter 490 of 2026 (HB 721, the Uniformed Services Spouses Act) replaces "honorable" with "other than dishonorable" and names the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and NOAA. For the version in force until then, General Provisions section 1-109.1 already counts as honorable a discharge the Department of Veterans and Military Families finds eligible under 38 C.F.R. 3.12. The same 10 points go to the spouse of an active-duty member, the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service-connected disability, and the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran. A former prisoner of war receives two more points. A current state employee does not get this credit. A veteran convicted of a crime after discharge or completion of service does not get it. Section 7-203 is a different path. An appointing authority may hire a disabled veteran without the competitive test when the veteran is on a United States armed forces permanent disability list at 30% or more, or VA has rated a compensable service-connected disability of at least 30%. The veteran has to be qualified for the job. The disability letter has to come from a federal department and be issued within the year before selection. The authority tells the Secretary that the job will be filled this way. A person who already holds a permanent state appointment, or who has a mandatory right to return to one, is outside this option. The Department of Budget and Management's eligibility page still quotes an older text of section 7-207(c)(2) with three groups and no line for the spouse of an active-duty member, which the statute already carried before the 2026 session. Rely on the statute. These are state personnel rules. A private employer may choose to give a veteran hiring preference. The private preference is allowed. It is not required. County and municipal jobs follow their own rules. Since October 1, 2025, Chapter 273 of 2025 (the Families Serve Act) lets a county or municipality adopt, by local law, the same 10-point credit on a selection test, with two more points for a former prisoner of war (Local Government Article section 1-204), and names counties and municipalities among the employers that may give veterans and military spouses a hiring and promotion preference (Labor and Employment Article section 3-714), which a county may, but need not, put in a local law first. The 10-point credit applies only where a local law adopts it.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Maryland State Hiring Credit for Veterans
Gate	Rule
Noncompetitive appointment at 30%	The 10-point test credit does not require a disability rating. The separate noncompetitive appointment requires a compensable service-connected rating of at least 30%, or a place on an armed forces permanent disability list at 30% or more. The rating filter does not hide the 10-point credit.

Sources

Legislation

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Chapter 490 of 2026 (HB 721, Uniformed Services Spouses Act) Opened the 10-point state selection test credit to a veteran with an other than dishonorable discharge

Watching a later dateEnactedScope changed

Signed 2026-05-12Takes effect 2026-10-01

Introduced Done, 2026-02-02, step 1 of 6
In committee Done, 2026-02-02, step 2 of 6
Passed one chamber Done, 2026-03-12, step 3 of 6
Passed both chambers Done, 2026-04-09, step 4 of 6
Signed by the governor Done, 2026-05-12, step 5 of 6
In effect Done, 2026-10-01, step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Opens the 10-point state selection test credit to a veteran with an other than dishonorable discharge.

Amends State Personnel and Pensions section 7-207(c)(1)(iii) from October 1, 2026 so an eligible veteran is one with an "other than dishonorable" rather than an "honorable" discharge, or a certificate of satisfactory completion, naming the reserve components and the Public Health Service and NOAA commissioned corps. The same act extends priority registration, community college support, legislative scholarships and Public Service Commission and private employer preferences to spouses. The Department of Budget and Management’s eligibility page still quotes an older text of the credit. Approved May 12, 2026.

Sponsor

Touches Md. Code, State Pers. & Pens. § 7-207 · Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-714 · Md. Code, Educ. § 15-124

Official record

Chapter 270 of 2025 (HB 699) Counted as honorable, for every state veterans benefit, a discharge the department finds eligible under 38 C.F.R. 3.12

Catalog reconciledEnactedScope changed

Signed 2025-05-06Takes effect 2025-10-01

Introduced Done, 2025-01-24, step 1 of 6
In committee Done, 2025-01-24, step 2 of 6
Passed one chamber Done, 2025-03-12, step 3 of 6
Passed both chambers Done, 2025-04-07, step 4 of 6
Signed by the governor Done, 2025-05-06, step 5 of 6
In effect Done, 2025-10-01, step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Counts as honorable, for every state veterans benefit, a discharge the department finds eligible under 38 C.F.R. 3.12.

Added General Provisions section 1-109.1(a)(3): with respect to any State program of benefits, rights, or privileges for a veteran, "honorable discharge" includes a less than honorable discharge where the Department of Veterans and Military Families determines the individual is eligible for State benefits under the federal character of discharge criteria in 38 C.F.R. 3.12. Items (1) and (2) already covered discharges for sexual orientation or gender identity. Effective October 1, 2025.

Sponsor

Touches Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 1-109.1

Also touches

Official record

Updated

Last updated 2026-09-30.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.