Del. Linda Foley

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Maddy summaryHB 822 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove outdated language requiring belief in God from Maryland's Declaration of Rights. Specifically, it would delete provisions in Articles 36 (affecting jury service and witness testimony), 37 (affecting public office qualifications), and 39 (affecting oath administration) that courts have already ruled unconstitutional. The bill aims to align Maryland's constitution with existing Supreme Court precedents, such as *Torcaso v. Watkins* and *Schowgurow v. State*, which struck down similar religious tests. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, this amendment would formally remove these references from the state constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 891 creates a state income tax credit for qualifying local newsrooms in Maryland. It allows eligible news organizations - defined as those covering local communities, employing at least one full-time local reporter, operating for over a year, and carrying insurance - to claim a credit against their state income tax. The credit equals $25,000 for the first year an employee is covered and $15,000 annually thereafter, capped at five years per employee. This directly benefits small local newsrooms by reducing their tax burden, with credits applied against state income tax or, for exempt organizations, against payroll tax withholdings. The bill excludes newsrooms funded by political advocacy groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program allowing Montgomery and Prince George's Counties to use automated distracted driving monitoring systems to enforce laws against using handheld devices while driving. The legislation authorizes these systems to issue citations for distracted driving violations and outlines how those citations are processed through the court system, including options for defendants to contest charges. It also specifies how fines collected from these violations are distributed, allowing counties to recover program costs and use remaining funds for public safety initiatives. Additionally, the bill ensures that images captured by these monitoring systems are admissible in court without requiring additional authentication.

Maddy summaryHB 701 bans the purchase, use, and sale of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in Maryland starting in 2025. It prohibits the state from buying these devices after July 1, 2025, and phases out their use by state agencies and contractors by 2030 (with temporary exceptions for specific months each year). Retailers must notify buyers about the 2027 sales ban starting September 2025, and the bill allows local governments to enforce stricter rules. Exemptions include wildfire suppression, firefighting, and emergency response activities.

Maddy summaryHB 69 establishes a new "Postconsumer Recycled Content Program" for Maryland, requiring producers of certain plastic beverage containers and rigid plastic containers to meet minimum recycled content standards before selling in the state. Producers must register annually with the Department of the Environment and pay a fee, with funds supporting the program and a dedicated recycling trust fund. The bill sets specific recycled content percentages for covered products, allows limited waivers for producers facing supply challenges, and mandates the Department to publish compliance data online. It amends existing environmental laws to implement these requirements and strengthen recycling markets.

Maddy summaryHB 232 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. It requires beverage producers to register, pay fees, and join a stewardship organization to manage recycling, while mandating that containers sold in Maryland display refund information and that retail prices include the refund value (with limited exceptions). Retailers must include refund details on sales receipts, and local governments can create redemption facilities to help meet state recycling targets. The program aims to increase beverage container recycling, reduce litter, and fund public water refill stations through a new grant program, directly affecting producers, retailers, and consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 612 establishes Maryland's Lifesaver Schools Program, which recognizes public schools that provide specific health and safety training to students and staff. To qualify, schools must offer evidence-based first aid training, mental health support programs, schoolwide mental health assemblies, and professional development opportunities for staff during school hours. Schools must also maintain online resources for mental health support and host community outreach events, with recognition requiring reapplication every four years. The program, administered by the Maryland Department of Education, takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 804 requires condominium and cooperative housing communities (common ownership communities) with four or more dwelling units to create a smoking policy for all common areas like hallways, elevators, and entrances. The policy must be at least as strict as existing state or local smoking laws and must clearly state where smoking is allowed or banned, how to report violations, and any penalties. Crucially, the bill protects residents' rights to smoke inside their own units, regardless of the policy. It does not override stricter local smoking rules that communities might already have in place. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 613 requires Maryland courts to remove identifying information (like names, addresses, or phone numbers) from court documents in sexual assault cases, unless a judge finds "good cause" to disclose it. It specifically protects victims of sexual assault (defined as alleged victims of certain crimes under Maryland's Criminal Law Article) by mandating redaction of their personal details from all filings, including existing case documents, upon written request. The law also requires the Supreme Court of Maryland to establish rules for implementing this redaction process. This applies to both new court filings and existing cases in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings involving sexual assault. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.