Del. Julie Palakovich Carr

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Maryland law to improve the process for certifying victims of qualifying crimes who apply for U Nonimmigrant Status (a federal visa for crime victims). It creates a rebuttable presumption that victims or their representatives (like parents, guardians, or next friends) are helpful to law enforcement if they haven’t refused to provide information, shortens the certification timeline to 30 days (7 days if the victim faces immigration removal), and requires certifying entities to develop language access protocols for non-English speakers. The bill directly affects victims of certain crimes and their families seeking this visa, ensuring certifications are more timely and accessible. These changes aim to streamline the state’s role in supporting federal visa applications without altering the visa program itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1044, the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2025, requires certain local governments (cities, counties, or county school boards meeting specific criteria) to obtain preclearance from the Attorney General or Anne Arundel County Circuit Court before enacting or implementing "covered policies." These policies include election methods, redistricting, voter registration rules, polling place locations, and other significant voting-related changes. The bill targets jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations, significant racial voting disparities, or large protected-class populations. It mandates that these governments submit proposed changes for review to ensure they do not discriminate before implementation. The law also prohibits voter intimidation or obstruction and allows legal action if the review process fails.

Maddy summaryHB 1043, the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2025, requires local election offices and municipalities to provide public notice before changing voting procedures that could impact protected classes (like racial minorities or voters with disabilities). It mandates 15 days’ notice for meetings considering changes to voting policies (e.g., polling locations, language assistance, or disability access) and 48 hours’ notice after adopting such changes. The bill prohibits local governments from implementing voting changes that create disparities in voting access for protected classes and allows affected individuals to file lawsuits to enforce the law. Remedies for violations require approval from the Attorney General, and the State Board of Elections must maintain a public notice website for all changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most online gambling and betting in Maryland, except for state-authorized activities like the state lottery. It requires the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to report to legislative committees by January 2026 on illegal online gambling platforms, including their prevalence, wager amounts, and enforcement challenges. The commission's rulings on whether gaming devices are legal become final, and local police must enforce these rulings or the State Police will intervene. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1360 prohibits storing road salt uncovered outdoors in Maryland, directly affecting municipalities, road maintenance crews, and any entity handling road salt for winter operations. The bill requires the Department of the Environment to create regulations for proper outdoor storage (including covered methods) and establish penalties for noncompliance. Enforcement will be handled by county stormwater authorities working with the Department, while exempting entities already covered by federal salt management plans. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to reduce salt runoff into waterways.

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 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.

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 752 establishes the Commission on State and Local Government Real Property Bearing Confederate Names to identify and recommend renaming state and local government properties (like streets, parks, and buildings) with Confederate names. The commission, composed of 24 members appointed by the governor (including one per county), must develop a framework to identify such properties and submit recommendations by October 1, 2032. It cannot directly rename properties but will advise state and local governing bodies. The bill affects all Maryland state agencies and political subdivisions (counties, cities, school districts) owning real property with Confederate names.