Del. Dana Stein

Maddy summaryHB 1175 requires agricultural operators in Maryland to install native vegetative buffers (strips of maintained native plants) along tidal waters within 100 feet of the water's edge. It provides financial incentives, including up to 150% reimbursement for installation costs and annual bonus payments of at least $150 per acre, for farmers who create these buffers on eligible land. The bill also prohibits fertilizer application in tidal buffer zones for nutrient management plans renewed after implementation. These changes directly affect farmers operating within Maryland’s Critical Area near tidal waters, aiming to improve water quality by reducing nutrient runoff.

Maddy summaryHB 498, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs by repealing the Maryland Economic Development Commission and creating a new Strategic Closing Fund within the Department of Commerce. It updates eligibility rules for existing programs like the Build Our Future Grant Pilot and Child Care Capital Support Fund, expands financial assistance for projects in RISE zone areas, and modifies tax credit calculations for businesses (including film production and biotechnology). The bill affects businesses seeking economic development incentives, local governments managing RISE zones, and state agencies administering these programs. Key changes include altering how certain tax credits are calculated, waiving filing fees for businesses in designated zones, and extending or terminating specific tax credit programs. The act streamlines oversight by consolidating programs under the new Strategic Closing Fund structure.

Maddy summaryHB 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.

Maddy summaryHB 931 establishes Maryland's new Covered Electronic Device Recycling Program to manage the recycling of electronics like phones, computers, and TVs. It requires manufacturers to pay registration fees into a dedicated fund and mandates that consumers pay a recycling fee when purchasing new devices, with retailers collecting and remitting this fee to the state. The Department of the Environment will administer the program, designate authorized recyclers and collectors (including retailers, local governments, and nonprofits), and disburse funds to these entities. The bill replaces older electronic recycling rules and creates a new advisory council to guide program implementation, all while prohibiting additional fees for recycling services.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires permits for sewage sludge applied to agricultural land to limit concentrations of PFOS and PFOA to the lowest of three levels: 1 microgram per kilogram, EPA health-based standards, or stricter departmental regulations. It mandates that compliance be demonstrated through independent laboratory testing of the entire sludge quantity within 14 days before land application, with exceptions for direct transport without storage or mixing. The Department of the Environment is authorized to establish additional concentration limits for PFOS, PFOA, and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances through future regulations. The law applies to anyone utilizing sewage sludge in the state and takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 958, the Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025, establishes new safety requirements for railroad operations in Maryland. It mandates a minimum two-person crew for freight trains (excluding hostler/utility service), prohibits blocking grade crossings for more than five minutes, and limits train length to 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. The bill also requires railroads to report hazardous material transportation data to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry (for emergency agencies only, not the public) and mandates installation of wayside detectors on tracks designated Class IV or higher by federal standards. Violations carry civil fines up to $25,000 per incident.

Maddy summaryHB 973, the Better Buildings Act of 2025, requires new buildings and major renovations (costing 50%+ of a structure's replacement value) in Maryland to meet all space heating, water heating, and laundry demands without fossil fuels. It mandates energy conservation standards and requires buildings to be "electric- and solar-ready," meaning they must have sufficient electrical capacity, wiring, and physical space for future installation of electric appliances and solar panels. The bill amends Maryland law to adopt these standards through the Department of Labor, aligning with but allowing stricter energy efficiency requirements than the International Energy Conservation Code. This directly affects developers, builders, and property owners constructing or significantly renovating buildings in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 752 establishes the Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names to identify and recommend renaming state and local government properties (like streets, parks, and buildings) with Confederate names. The commission, composed of 24 members appointed by the governor (including one per county), must develop a framework to identify such properties and submit recommendations by October 1, 2032. It cannot directly rename properties but will advise state and local governing bodies. The bill affects all Maryland state agencies and political subdivisions (counties, cities, school districts) owning real property with Confederate names.

Maddy summaryHB 815 increases Maryland's income tax deduction for qualifying public safety volunteers. It provides a $7,000 deduction for 2024 tax years and $10,000 for 2025 and later, directly affecting Maryland residents who volunteer with eligible public safety organizations. To qualify, volunteers must serve without compensation (beyond nominal expenses), maintain active status for at least 25 years (or meet specific point-system requirements), and be part of defined groups like police auxiliaries, fire/rescue teams, or military support roles. The bill modifies existing tax code sections to formalize these eligibility rules and reporting requirements for organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 741 redefines "hunt" to include fox chasing and creates a Deer Management Assistance Program within Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources to help farmers manage deer on private land. The bill requires the Department of Budget and Management to add a full-time employee by July 1, 2026, to administer this program. It mandates a phased transition to nonlead ammunition for all game hunting, requiring full compliance by July 1, 2029, with earlier deadlines for specific game types (e.g., pen-raised birds by 2026, upland birds by 2027). Unarmed fox chasers must hold a hunting license but are exempt from certain hunting regulations, while all hunters must use nonlead ammunition for game species by 2029.