Rep. Marc Korman

Maddy summaryHB 517 establishes the Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) Rail Authority to manage MARC rail operations, directly affecting Maryland's commuter rail service and its riders. The bill creates a new authority with a chair (the Transportation Secretary), appointed members with rail expertise, and an executive director, giving it authority over MARC facility projects including construction, maintenance, and operations. Key provisions include the authority's power to contract with the Department of Transportation, finance projects, apply for federal grants, and adhere to state transit plans. The bill does not create a workgroup as the title suggests but instead forms a formal governing body to oversee MARC rail services. This is a substantive policy change, not a procedural resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 412 requires Maryland's local election boards and canvassing boards to post meeting agendas, public testimony, and materials for votes online at least 48 hours before meetings (or as soon as possible in emergencies). It mandates live video streaming of all public meetings, except for off-site visits, project inspections, or site visits, and requires maintaining unedited video archives for five years. These rules apply directly to local election boards handling absentee ballots and canvassing boards overseeing vote counting. The bill aims to increase public transparency in election administration by making meeting details and proceedings more accessible.

Maddy summaryHB 324 requires every member of a Maryland county board of education to complete antibias training at least once during their term, starting July 1, 2025. The training must address bias related to race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and other protected characteristics, and is separate from existing training for school staff. It mandates that boards develop or update training using state-developed guidelines focused on cultural awareness, reducing implicit bias, and incorporating real-world incident data. This law directly affects county board members, not school employees or students.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 allows Maryland counties and municipalities to create local laws granting hiring and promotion preferences to eligible veterans and specific family members. It authorizes a 10-point credit on selection tests for veterans, spouses of veterans with service-connected disabilities, spouses of active service members, and surviving spouses of veterans. The bill specifies that current government employees and veterans convicted of crimes after military service are excluded from these preferences. Local governments must adopt a formal local law before implementing these hiring or promotion options.

Maddy summaryHB 932 requires the Governor of Maryland to place certain personal financial interests into a "certified blind trust" or sell them within a specific timeframe to avoid conflicts of interest. It also mandates that businesses seeking state grants, contracts, or awards report any financial ties to the Governor or "restricted individuals" to the Ethics Commission. The bill further requires the Governor-elect to consult with the Ethics Commission early in their term to establish the trust or divest interests, and obligates the Governor to sign a nonparticipation agreement for interests not covered by the trust. These changes directly affect the Governor's financial dealings and businesses interacting with state government.

Maddy summaryHB 390 expands tax exemptions for rental housing properties that maintain affordable units. It requires property owners to agree with counties to keep at least 50% of rental units affordable - defined as costing no more than 30% of a household’s income or 60% of the local median income - for a minimum of 15 years. In exchange, these properties qualify for reduced or eliminated county property taxes. The bill directly affects rental property owners seeking tax relief and county governments negotiating these agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 1424, the "Protect Our Federal Workers Act," expands state financial assistance to Maryland residents affected by federal government disruptions beyond just shutdowns. It renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and broadens eligibility to include current federal employees not paid during shutdowns *and* Maryland residents recently terminated due to federal office closures, relocations, or mass layoffs. The bill allows funds from the state’s Catastrophic Event Account to cover costs for these individuals, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This changes existing law to provide loans for both ongoing shutdowns and post-layoff financial hardship from federal facility changes.

Maddy summaryHB 992, the "Franchise Reform Act," amends Maryland's Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law to directly affect franchisors, franchisees, and the Securities Commissioner. Key changes include extending the time the Commissioner can act on violations from 3 to 5 years, requiring franchise registration exemptions to adjust for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, and prohibiting franchisors from blocking franchisees’ right to form associations. The bill also creates a pilot program to waive registration renewal fees for qualifying businesses and extends the deadline for franchise-related lawsuits. These updates aim to modernize franchise oversight while balancing enforcement timelines and cost adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 467 modifies how Maryland calculates its annual funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It replaces a fixed $167 million appropriation with a formula-based calculation tied to WMATA's operating subsidy allocation, requiring a 3% annual increase after the first year (starting from the 2019 appropriation level). The bill also requires WMATA to submit detailed performance reports and financial data to avoid withholding 35% of funds if it receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan. This funding directly affects Maryland taxpayers and WMATA, as it alters the state's annual contribution to WMATA's capital costs. The bill's implementation depends on Virginia and DC enacting similar legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 1545 allows Maryland to withhold state payments to the federal government when the federal government fails to pay overdue funds that courts have ruled it must pay. The Board of Public Works would first determine if the federal government is delinquent in paying funds owed to Maryland, based on court decisions upholding congressionally approved spending. The Comptroller could then withhold up to the amount of the overdue funds, after consulting with the Board. This bill directly affects how Maryland manages its financial transactions with the federal government when payments are overdue.