Rep. Lily Qi

Maddy summaryHB 1300 updates Maryland's Commission for Women by changing how its executive director is appointed and clarifying the Commission's responsibilities. It removes the Secretary of Human Services' authority to appoint the director, stating the director will be a regular state employee (not a "special appointee") and receive standard state compensation. The bill revises the Commission's duties to focus on conducting studies, supporting programs, and advocating for policies that promote equality for women, including career development, violence prevention, and economic opportunities. These changes directly affect the Commission's operations and its executive director, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 894, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, automatically designates qualifying transit-oriented developments (near rail stations with at least hourly service Monday-Friday 8am-6pm) as enterprise zones, granting tax incentives without separate approval. The bill requires the Maryland Development Corporation to prioritize redevelopment projects near transit in its loan programs and delays certain development fees for residential housing projects. It also changes local land use regulations near transit stations by altering municipal authority to restrict development in these areas.

Maddy summaryHB 306, the Jack Fitzgerald Price Transparency Act, protects car dealers from retaliation by manufacturers if they disclose on their websites that a vehicle's advertised price is the manufacturer's minimum allowable price and that the dealer may offer a lower price. The bill requires manufacturers to offer the same rebates, incentives, and financing terms to all dealers of the same vehicle brand, ensuring equal treatment. It also prohibits manufacturers from forcing dealers to alter facilities or agree to exclusive arrangements in exchange for better pricing or financing terms. This law directly affects dealers (who can now transparently advertise lower prices) and manufacturers (who must comply with equal treatment and disclosure protections).

Maddy summaryHB 548, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, requires local governments to approve housing development projects based solely on land-use laws and regulations in effect when a developer submits a "substantially complete" application. It grants developers "vested rights" to build under those original rules for a set period, protecting projects from future regulatory changes. The bill also prohibits localities from collecting development excise taxes or impact fees until a project is fully completed. This directly affects housing developers and local planning authorities across Maryland, streamlining approvals for new housing while limiting fee collection during construction.

Maddy summaryHB 898, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and expand incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the "Strategic Closing Fund" under the Department of Commerce, alters eligibility and calculation rules for tax credits (including Job Creation, R&D, and film production credits), and extends the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill allows pass-through entities to allocate tax credits to members and removes limits on film production tax credit certificates. These changes directly affect businesses, investors, and film producers seeking state economic development incentives.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 establishes a Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch within Maryland’s Coordination and Analysis Center to enhance state-wide security planning. It requires the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate responses to infrastructure attacks and sets cybersecurity reporting standards for critical infrastructure owners (like utility companies and hospitals). The bill also allows these private sector operators to join Maryland’s Information Sharing and Analysis Center to share threat data and receive security best practices. These provisions aim to improve threat identification, vulnerability assessments, and cross-sector coordination for systems vital to public safety and the economy.

Maddy summaryHB 461 establishes the Rural Readiness Program, administered by the Rural Maryland Council, to help rural communities improve their capacity for economic development. It also creates a permanent Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to provide grants for planning and capacity-building initiatives. The program assists eligible applicants - including local governments, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and regional planning agencies - with grant applications and project development. Successful participants receive a completion certificate that grants them priority for three specific state grant programs focused on rural economic growth.

Maddy summaryHB 135 allows local governments in Maryland to designate *noncontiguous* areas as development districts for tax increment financing (TIF). This means political subdivisions (like counties or cities) can now create TIF zones that include separate, disconnected parcels of land - not just connected areas - under new provisions in Section 12-201(i)(1). The bill modifies existing law to explicitly permit this by redefining "development district" to include noncontiguous areas and updating related sections (e.g., 12-203). It directly affects local governments seeking to use TIF for economic development projects across multiple, non-adjacent sites. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1180 requires Maryland's State Board of Architects to deny or suspend licenses when individuals fraudulently claim to hold a valid architecture license. It mandates that county code officials verify an architect's credentials before issuing building permits and requires the Board to maintain and share a current list of licensed architects with local officials. The bill also strengthens disciplinary actions for misconduct, including fraud, gross negligence, or convictions related to architectural practice. These changes directly affect licensed architects, local building code officials, and the public by increasing oversight of architectural practice.

Maddy summaryHB 547 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for agricultural equipment by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to add new equipment types through regulation. This directly affects Maryland farmers who purchase qualifying equipment, including technologies that reduce soil disturbance and nutrient runoff. The bill modifies existing tax rules (Section 10-208(d)) to include "enhanced agricultural management equipment" determined by the Secretary, beyond the current list of specific items like no-till planters or manure injection systems. Farmers must still meet standard requirements, such as owning equipment for at least three years and using it in agricultural production.