Del. Gabriel Moreno

Maddy summaryHB 670 updates Maryland’s criminal code to prohibit possessing or viewing certain child pornography, including computer-generated images that appear realistic. It directly affects individuals who possess or access visual materials depicting children under 16 engaged in sadomasochistic abuse, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement - whether actual or digitally created to look real. The bill adds new penalties: a misdemeanor for first offenses (up to 5 years or $2,500 fine) and a felony for repeat violations (up to 10 years or $10,000 fine). It also clarifies that parents may possess non-exploitative images of their own children, and includes a defense for those who destroy or report such material. The law replaces and amends existing sections 11-207 and 11-208 of Maryland’s Criminal Law.

Maddy summaryHB 572 authorizes Maryland’s Attorney General to sue large fossil fuel companies (with over $1 billion in market capitalization involved in extracting or processing coal, oil, or gas) for unlawful conduct contributing to climate change, including fraud or deception. It creates the Climate Crimes Accountability Fund, financed by settlements or judgments from these lawsuits, to pay for programs addressing specific climate harms like flooding, extreme heat, drought, and waterborne pathogens. The fund is a special, non-lapsing account managed by the state, with interest earnings automatically added to it. All money must directly support climate harm prevention, mitigation, or repair efforts as defined in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 334 requires state procurement officers to mandate that all bidders and contractors certify they are not violating the U.S. or Maryland Constitution and will refrain from such actions during the contract period. This applies to every entity seeking state contracts, including affiliates and divisions of bidders. The bill adds specific certification requirements to Maryland’s procurement law (sections 13-212.2 and 13-230), making constitutional compliance a condition for bidding and contract execution. It takes effect October 1, 2026, with no defined scope for what constitutes a constitutional violation. The policy change directly affects all businesses competing for state procurement contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 517 clarifies that counties and cities in Maryland can adopt stricter local emission standards or air quality rules than state or federal levels, provided their standards are equally or more stringent. It also confirms local governments retain authority to regulate solid waste management systems without being limited by certain state provisions. The bill requires the Department of the Environment to publish clear information about this local authority on its website by October 1, 2026. This law directly affects local governments seeking to implement more protective environmental regulations within their jurisdictions. It does not change existing state standards but removes ambiguity about local regulatory power.

Maddy summaryHB 560 repeals two tax exemptions for data centers in Maryland: one that exempted sales and use tax on qualifying equipment purchases and another that allowed local governments to reduce property tax on data center equipment. This bill directly affects data centers previously eligible for these breaks, requiring them to pay standard sales and use tax on equipment and full property tax on their assets. The repeal removes Sections 11-239 (Tax-General) and 7-248 (Tax-Property) from Maryland law, eliminating the eligibility requirements and certification process for these exemptions. As a result, data centers will no longer qualify for these specific tax benefits under current law.

Maddy summaryHB 484 modifies Maryland's corporate income tax code to disallow deductions for certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising expenses that are deductible under federal law. It specifically targets expenses paid by "covered entities" (pharmaceutical sponsors or companies owning drug outsourcing facilities) for advertising "covered drugs" (prescription drugs under federal law) to the general public via media like TV, radio, social media, or digital platforms. The bill requires these expenses - already deducted federally - to be added back to Maryland taxable income, effectively eliminating the state tax deduction for such advertising. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and directly affects pharmaceutical companies engaging in DTC advertising for covered drugs.

Maddy summaryHB 384 allows minors who are parents to directly file or respond to child support court cases without needing a legal guardian. It amends Maryland law to override the standard rule requiring minors to have a representative, granting minor parents the legal capacity to initiate or defend child support actions (both temporary and permanent). This change specifically affects minor parents seeking or defending child support for their children. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.