Del. Linda Foley

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 1342 restricts pesticide use on Maryland state-owned properties (like parks and government grounds) by requiring that only specific "listed" pesticides or registered pesticides for defined purposes (e.g., controlling invasive species, weed management, or public health threats) may be applied. It mandates state agencies managing such properties to adopt a model plan developed by the Department of Agriculture, which requires at least 20% of unencumbered land to remain untreated with cosmetic pesticides, bans pesticides toxic to pollinators unless necessary for public health, and prioritizes native plants for pollinator habitat. The bill directly affects all state agencies managing public property, requiring them to adapt the model plan to their specific sites by October 2025. This creates concrete policy changes by limiting pesticide types, protecting pollinator areas, and aligning state practices with environmental safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 1176 extends the expiration date of Maryland's policy allowing plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of passenger count, moving the termination from 2025 to 2030. The bill requires PEV owners to obtain a $20 permit from the State Highway Administration to access HOV lanes, with limits on permit issuance to maintain lane efficiency. It also mandates annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly on how PEV use affects HOV lane operations. This policy directly affects PEV owners seeking HOV lane access and maintains existing access rules without altering vehicle eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 1406 requires utility companies applying for state approval certificates (like for power lines or water systems) to submit an environmental impact analysis and, if applicable, an existing burden report detailing impacts on vulnerable communities. This affects any entity seeking permission to build or operate utility infrastructure, particularly projects in areas with high environmental justice scores as defined by Maryland's EJ Tool. The Public Service Commission cannot approve applications without these documents and must assess whether the reports indicate significant environmental or community impacts. If approved conditionally, applicants must also enter into a mitigation fund agreement to address cumulative impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 1400, the "No Tax on Tips Act," requires restaurants and food service businesses to clearly disclose service fees (including their amount and whether they go to employees) on menus or visibly before ordering. It prohibits employers from counting tips toward meeting minimum wage requirements for tipped workers, ensuring they receive the full minimum wage without tip credits. Additionally, the bill allows tipped employees to subtract qualified tips from their state income tax bill (effectively making tips tax-free) and provides businesses a tax credit for wages and tips paid to employees. This directly affects tipped workers in restaurants and similar establishments, as well as the businesses that employ them.

Maddy summaryHB 211 grants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants and postdoctoral associates at Maryland's public universities (including the University System, Morgan State, and St. Mary's College). The bill amends Maryland law to remove these workers from an existing exclusion, creating separate bargaining units for them - distinct from faculty or undergraduate student employees. Key provisions define "graduate assistant" as a graduate student in teaching/administrative/research roles and "postdoctoral associate" as a doctoral-level employee in research positions, explicitly including them in collective bargaining protections. This change directly affects these graduate and postdoctoral workers, allowing them to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions through union representation.

Maddy summaryHB 1092 redefines "recycling" to exclude specific chemical processes that convert plastic waste into fuel or feedstock, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and enzymatic breakdown. It prohibits new construction of facilities in Maryland that use these methods to convert plastic into fuel or feedstock, effective October 1, 2025. The bill directly affects companies planning to build such facilities and alters how recycling is legally defined in Maryland law. Existing facilities are not impacted, as the prohibition applies only to new construction.

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.

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.