Rep. Marc Korman

Maddy summaryHB 488 establishes the geographic boundaries for Maryland's eight congressional districts for the 2026 elections. It specifies exact county and election district portions, using census tract data to define district lines where precincts are split, based on boundaries as they existed on January 13, 2026. This bill directly affects voters in Maryland's congressional districts by determining which communities are grouped together for electing U.S. Representatives. It replaces previous election law sections (8-702 through 8-709) and clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative districts, not congressional ones.

Maddy summaryHB 559 revises how Maryland distributes highway user revenue funds for capital grants to Baltimore City, counties, and municipalities. It changes the percentage allocations from the Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account across specific fiscal years: Baltimore City’s share increases to 12.2% for 2026-2027 (down to 9.5% after 2028), counties’ share rises to 4.8% for 2026-2027 (then 3.7%), and municipalities’ share grows to 3.0% for 2026-2027 (then 2.4%). These adjustments apply to funds calculated annually based on highway user revenues like fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. The bill directly affects local governments receiving these state-funded transportation grants.

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 155 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to adopt policies prohibiting officers from wearing face coverings (like opaque masks or helmets) during routine duties, with specific exceptions. The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission must create a model policy emphasizing transparency and excluding religious items, medical masks, or safety gear (such as helmets for motorcycle operations). Officers violating this rule face potential fines or loss of civil immunity, but exceptions cover religious garments, medical protection, and occupational safety needs. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1316 requires the University of Maryland's National Center for School Mental Health, in collaboration with Maryland's State Department of Education, to create and annually update a student technology and social media resource guide for public school students in PreK-12. The guide must cover common technology products (including social media, AI tools, and smart devices), explain privacy/safety risks, and provide age-appropriate best practices for safe usage. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, the guide will be published in phases (focusing first on personal tech, then educational tools, and finally as an interactive format), posted on school websites, and distributed to schools and parent-teacher organizations each year. The bill allocates $100,000 for 2027 and $125,000 annually for 2028-2029 to fund this initiative.

Maddy summaryHB 527 requires the Maryland Transit Administration to provide three months of free rides on the Purple Line for residents living within a quarter-mile of the tracks, and free advertising space on Purple Line vehicles and stations for businesses within the same quarter-mile radius. The program would begin when Purple Line service starts and last for three months, applying to all qualifying residents and businesses near the transit line. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects local residents and small businesses adjacent to the Purple Line corridor. The bill creates a temporary incentive to encourage ridership and support nearby commercial activity during the initial service period.

Maddy summaryHB 313 removes a time limit requiring Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration to make vintage-style license plates available, allowing them to be offered indefinitely. It requires owners of qualifying historic vehicles (including passenger cars, small trucks, historic vehicles, multipurpose vehicles, and street rods) to pay a $100 one-time fee and a $25 annual renewal fee for these plates. The fees cover administrative costs and fund Maryland’s Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account. The plates must resemble the black-letter-on-yellow design used on vehicles in 1910. This bill directly affects owners of eligible historic vehicles seeking these specialized license plates.

Maddy summaryHB 516 strengthens privacy protections for footage captured by Maryland's automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras, school bus monitors, and traffic signal cameras). It requires agencies to deny public access to recorded images unless specific exceptions apply, such as for traffic enforcement investigations or court proceedings. The bill also prohibits state/local agencies from using these images for non-enforcement purposes without a warrant, subpoena, or court order, and mandates data destruction after a set period. This replaces and amends existing Maryland law to clarify privacy safeguards for automated enforcement programs.

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 411 designates chromite as Maryland's official state mineral, effective October 1, 2025. The bill formally adds "Chromite is the State Mineral" to Maryland law (Article 7-326 of the Annotated Code), recognizing chromite's historical significance in the state. It highlights chromite's discovery in Baltimore County in 1808, its role in Maryland's early chromium industry (including Isaac Tyson, Jr.'s contributions), and its presence in multiple counties. This is a ceremonial designation with no regulatory or financial impact - it does not create new laws, affect businesses, or change existing policies.