Del. Ryan Spiegel

Maddy summaryHB 920 requires developers, builders, brokers, and real estate agents to enter the final sale price of new homes into a multiple listing service (MLS) or similar database within 30 days of the sale. This applies to all new home transactions in Maryland and aims to make final sale prices publicly accessible through real estate databases used for market evaluations and appraisals. The bill defines "multiple listing service" as a database utilized by real estate professionals. It takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 794 prohibits Maryland police officers from affiliating with, supporting, or advocating for groups promoting white supremacy, racial bigotry, or violence against Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The bill requires the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to enforce this rule, specifically banning officers from participating in or promoting FBI-designated extremist groups that encourage illegal violence. It directly affects all sworn police officers in Maryland by establishing clear conduct standards for their off-duty associations. The law amends existing state code to define "white supremacist groups" and mandates the Commission to enforce these restrictions starting October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 777, the "Hot Cars Act," requires new motor vehicles with rear seating (like passenger cars, trucks, and multipurpose vehicles) sold in Maryland after October 1, 2029, to include a rear occupant alert system. This system must alert drivers to check the back seat after turning off the engine, meeting federal standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The law prohibits dealers from selling non-compliant vehicles and bars the Motor Vehicle Administration from registering such vehicles. It directly affects car manufacturers, dealers, and vehicle buyers in Maryland, with compliance tied to upcoming federal safety rules.

Maddy summaryHB 796 redefines "recycling" in Maryland law to exclude specific chemical processes that convert plastic waste into fuel or feedstock. It directly affects companies or entities planning to build new facilities using these methods. The bill prohibits constructing such facilities through processes like pyrolysis, gasification, methanolysis, hydropyrolysis, or enzymatic breakdown, as defined by the state Department. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 935 requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals, directly affecting women eligible for prerelease programs at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The bill mandates a separate facility meeting specific criteria: at least 3 acres, not within 1 mile of other prisons, and designed to house 1.25 times the 2024 prerelease-eligible population. It requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services (including gender-responsive programming) and report progress to legislative committees by a specified deadline. The facility must operate by June 1, 2023, with the Department of General Services directing procurement for its construction.

Maddy summaryHB 632 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from the definition of "medical service" requiring a Certificate of Need (CON) in Maryland. This exempts psychiatric health care facilities and providers of psychiatric or mental health services from needing state approval before establishing or operating these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the list of medical services subject to CON requirements, which currently includes services like surgery, pediatrics, and rehabilitation. This change directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health programs seeking to expand or open without prior state review. The policy shift simplifies regulatory requirements for mental health service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 659 adds a new member position to Maryland's State Board of Education, requiring the Governor to appoint an early childhood development professional with extensive experience in child care operations and curriculum development. This member must be selected from a list of three candidates provided by the Office of Child Care Advisory Council. The bill directly affects the State Board's composition and ensures representation from early childhood education professionals, who will attend executive sessions but cannot vote on personnel appeals. The appointment process requires the Department to notify licensed child care providers of vacancies, and the position takes effect July 1, 2026.

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 695 establishes the Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits (GREEN) Loan Program to provide no-interest loans to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Maryland. The program, managed by the Maryland Clean Energy Center, funds the planning, purchase, and installation of qualifying renewable energy systems (like solar panels) and energy efficiency improvements (such as HVAC upgrades or window replacements). Eligible projects must support Maryland’s environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals. The program is funded through a new special nonlapsing loan fund, with interest earnings reinvested into the fund.

Maddy summaryHB 641 establishes a three-county pilot program to test curbside voting in Maryland, directly affecting voters with mobility challenges and local election officials implementing the program. The bill requires the State Board to select one county each with small, medium, and large voter populations to test curbside voting at designated locations outside early voting centers or polling places. Key provisions mandate that locations must prioritize accessibility for historically disenfranchised communities, proximity to voters, and public transportation access, while ensuring ballot secrecy and allowing voters to complete ballots without assistance unless requested. The pilot program requires voting systems to accommodate curbside voting and specifies that election officials must set boundaries to prevent campaigning near curbside locations. This pilot will run during early voting and election days at designated sites, with implementation starting at least six months before each statewide primary election.