Maddy summaryHB 1359, the "Dimeka Thornton Act," requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to annually submit their current policies on police pursuits of fleeing suspects to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission by January 1, starting in 2027. The Commission must then annually report detailed data on pursuits - including reasons, outcomes, injuries, and termination reasons - to the Governor and General Assembly by June 1, starting in 2027. By January 1, 2028, the Commission must develop a model policy prioritizing officer and bystander safety, which all agencies must adopt by July 1, 2028, or exceed. This bill directly affects every law enforcement agency in Maryland, establishing standardized reporting and policy requirements for police pursuits.
Rep. Scott Phillips
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1309 establishes a Commission to study racial disparities in Maryland’s criminal justice system, directly affecting African American, Hispanic, and other non-White individuals who experience disproportionate treatment. The Commission, composed of legislative leaders, public defenders, prosecutors, court officials, and community advocates, will examine disparities in policing, arrests, sentencing, and data collection. It will specifically assess cumulative impacts of disparate practices, mandatory minimums (including firearm offenses), and propose reforms like race-neutral risk assessments and expanded judicial discretion. The Commission must make recommendations by 2028, focusing on systemic changes to improve transparency and reduce racial inequities without implementing new laws itself.
Maddy summaryHB 1154 limits restrictive housing for pregnant incarcerated individuals in Maryland correctional facilities. It prohibits placing them in restrictive housing (defined as 20+ hours locked in a cell daily) except in specific emergencies involving immediate safety risks or disease control, requiring facility staff to document why less restrictive options weren’t possible. The bill mandates medical assessments every 8 hours, access to recreation and programming for pregnant individuals in infirmary care, and requires facilities to submit detailed reports to officials within 30 days of any placement. It also prohibits placing other vulnerable populations in restrictive housing and mandates the Correctional Ombudsman to review implementation annually.
Maddy summaryHB 1575, the Community Trust Act, prohibits state and local correctional facilities and their employees from detaining individuals or sharing information with federal immigration authorities based on immigration status, except when required by a judicial warrant or for routine booking. It bans asking about citizenship, prolonging detention for immigration reasons, transferring individuals to immigration authorities without a warrant, or coercing people based on immigration status. Exceptions include when immigration status relates to legal protections under state/federal law or international treaties, allowing facilities to notify individuals or offer voluntary disclosure. Correctional facilities must adopt policies with penalties for violations, and affected individuals can seek damages or injunctions if harmed by a breach.
Maddy summaryHB 1522 removes a legal exemption that previously protected vehicle rental companies from liability for traffic violations captured by traffic control signal or speed monitoring systems. The bill repeals specific sections of Maryland law (21-202.1 and 21-809) that excluded rental companies and special plate holders from receiving citations for red-light running or speeding violations recorded by these systems. As a result, rental companies will now be directly liable for such violations, facing the same civil penalties as individual vehicle owners. This change affects all vehicle rental companies operating in Maryland, requiring them to address violations recorded by municipal or state monitoring systems. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 1477 establishes Maryland's Ibogaine Clinical Research Grant Program to fund clinical trials on ibogaine - a naturally occurring compound from the iboga plant - for treating opioid use disorder and other neurological conditions. The program, administered by the Maryland Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Families, awards up to three annual grants to eligible research institutions in Maryland that meet specific criteria (including expertise in neurological disorders and substance use treatment) and require matching funds equal to the grant amount. Funding comes from $500,000 annually (fiscal years 2028-2030) in the Opioid Restitution Fund, with recipients required to conduct FDA-overseen trials and submit quarterly progress and financial reports. The bill aligns with the "Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act" title but does not restrict trials to veterans, focusing instead on broader neurological and opioid use disorder research.
Maddy summaryHB 897 (the "Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026") requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (>69,000 volts) in Maryland to join regional transmission organizations. It mandates new application details for certain utility projects, creates a Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration, and redirects funds from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential electricity customers. The bill also requires studies on siting transmission lines and battery storage systems within existing rights-of-way and sets deadlines for the Public Service Commission to review project certificates. These provisions directly affect electric utilities, the Public Service Commission, and residential electricity customers through cost adjustments.
Maddy summaryHB 1 limits how investor-owned electric, gas, and combined gas/electric utility companies in Maryland can pass certain costs to customers through their rates. It prohibits rate recovery for most employee bonuses (except for pre-2025 contracts or union-covered employees) and caps supervisor compensation above 110% of the Public Service Commission Chair’s annual salary. The bill also requires utility boards to adopt written policies limiting spending on entertainment, office renovations, transportation (including private jets), and performance incentives, with policies submitted to the Public Service Commission for review. These rules apply specifically to investor-owned utility companies and aim to prevent ratepayers from funding certain executive or operational costs.
Maddy summaryHB 920 requires developers, builders, brokers, and real estate agents to enter the final sale price of new homes into a multiple listing service (MLS) or similar database within 30 days of the sale. This applies to all new home transactions in Maryland and aims to make final sale prices publicly accessible through real estate databases used for market evaluations and appraisals. The bill defines "multiple listing service" as a database utilized by real estate professionals. It takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 337 requires Maryland county school boards to annually submit detailed reports on school zones, student residency locations (without personal identifiers), and school capacity to state planning agencies starting July 1, 2026. It prohibits local "adequate public facilities ordinances" from delaying subdivision or site development plan approvals but allows them to delay final building permits. This directly affects county school boards, housing developers, and local planning departments by standardizing school zone data sharing and clarifying when school capacity rules can impact housing projects. The bill aims to streamline housing development while ensuring school capacity data informs planning.