Rep. Cheryl Pasteur

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 612 creates a new Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training Program within Maryland's Department of Labor for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Director of Correctional Education to consult with the State Correctional Ombudsman when operating education programs and mandates the Department of Labor to establish two new positions: one to support correctional education staff and another to assist certified peer recovery specialists. The program provides funding for training, compensation for participants, and prepares incarcerated individuals to work in behavioral health and community recovery services after release. This directly affects incarcerated individuals in Maryland's correctional system by offering structured career pathways through peer support training.

Maddy summaryHB 562, the "Maintenance of Effort Modernization Act," updates Maryland's method for calculating annual inflation adjustments in local school funding. It replaces the current formula with a new standard that uses the lesser of three measures: the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan Area, a government spending index, or 5%, with 0% if neither index rises. This change requires county governments and Baltimore City to adjust their annual local school funding appropriations based on this new inflation metric, starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all Maryland counties and Baltimore City, which are responsible for maintaining local school funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 350, the "Voting Rights Act of 2026," applies to local elections in Maryland counties and cities, protecting the voting rights of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. It prohibits election methods that weaken the voting power of these groups, preventing them from electing preferred candidates or influencing election outcomes. Courts will determine violations by examining past election patterns and federal voting rights standards, rather than requiring proof of discriminatory intent. If a violation is found, courts can order remedies like changing election systems, but must respect existing statewide election practices.

Maddy summaryHB 745 makes Maryland's senior income tax credit refundable, allowing eligible residents aged 65 or older to receive a cash refund if the credit exceeds their state tax liability. The credit applies to single seniors with federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 ($1,000 credit) and married couples filing jointly with income under $150,000 ($1,750 credit, or $1,000 if only one spouse qualifies). In specific fiscal years when state revenue estimates fall more than 3.75% below projections, the credit amount is reduced to $500 for singles ($50,000-$100,000 income) or $875 for married couples ($100,000-$150,000 income). This change ensures seniors receive the full credit amount as a refund rather than losing unused portions under previous non-refundable rules.

Maddy summaryHB 935 requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals, directly affecting women eligible for prerelease programs at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The bill mandates a separate facility meeting specific criteria: at least 3 acres, not within 1 mile of other prisons, and designed to house 1.25 times the 2024 prerelease-eligible population. It requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services (including gender-responsive programming) and report progress to legislative committees by a specified deadline. The facility must operate by June 1, 2023, with the Department of General Services directing procurement for its construction.

Maddy summaryHB 926 modifies Maryland's income tax code to adjust how itemized deductions are calculated for certain taxpayers. It requires individuals who itemize deductions to further reduce their Maryland itemized deductions by either the amount of real property taxes paid (capped at $10,000) or $10,000, for tax years 2025 through 2029. This applies to Maryland taxpayers who claim federal itemized deductions, including homeowners who deduct property taxes. The bill also maintains a separate phase-out for high-income earners (exceeding $100,000 single/$200,000 married) where deductions are reduced by 7.5% of the excess AGI. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 930 modifies Maryland’s income tax code to decouple from federal changes affecting education expenses. It prohibits the Governor from joining a federal tax credit program for elementary/secondary education scholarships and adjusts how employer contributions to education accounts (like Maryland’s Prepaid College Trust or College Investment Plans) are treated. Specifically, it adds tax on unused distributions from these accounts if not used for qualified education expenses, while excluding contributions and qualified distributions from taxable income. This directly affects Maryland residents using these education savings accounts and ensures state tax rules differ from federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 819 establishes a commission to examine Maryland's expungement laws, which allow individuals to clear criminal records from public records. The commission includes 12 members - such as two people with criminal records currently ineligible for expungement, state officials, public defenders, and experts in employment and reentry - to review current processes, compare them with other states, and develop a new system that would streamline eligibility and expand access. It must submit a report to the Maryland General Assembly by December 31, 2027, outlining findings and recommendations. The bill expires on June 30, 2028, requiring the commission to complete its work within two years.

Maddy summaryHB 824 would allow individuals convicted of distributing controlled substances (like drugs) to clear those felony convictions from their criminal records through expungement. Currently, such convictions are excluded from expungement eligibility, but this bill would add them to the list of eligible offenses under Maryland law. The change modifies specific sections of Maryland's Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure codes to explicitly include distribution convictions in the expungement process. This directly affects people with past felony drug distribution convictions who seek to remove these records from public access.