Del. Aaron Kaufman

Maddy summaryHB 1177 requires Maryland's State certification agency to create an outreach program, working with the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, the Military Department, and the Department of Veterans and Military Families. The program aims to increase participation by veteran-owned small businesses in Maryland's small business reserve program, which prioritizes contracts for qualifying businesses. The bill mandates annual reports to state officials detailing the outreach program's status and the number and value of contracts awarded to veteran-owned businesses. This bill amends Maryland law to implement these requirements, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1429 requires car and farm equipment manufacturers to provide independent repair shops and vehicle owners with the tools, information, and data needed for diagnosis, service, and repair. Specifically, it mandates that manufacturers install open data platforms in vehicles with wireless diagnostic systems to allow third parties access to repair data, and prohibits farm equipment makers from withholding or misrepresenting part numbers. The bill also requires manufacturers to give consumers a document explaining their rights to access vehicle data at the time of purchase. These provisions aim to make repairs more accessible by reducing manufacturer control over repair information.

Maddy summaryHB 614 requires every county board of education in Maryland to collect monthly data on energy usage in school buildings and submit it to the Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Commission must then create rules specifying exactly what data to collect and how often to report it. After gathering this data, the Commission must analyze it and provide specific recommendations to county boards for improving school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school districts and the state Commission, aiming to standardize energy reporting and drive efficiency improvements in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 444 prohibits Maryland state and local governments, including county sheriffs and agencies, from entering into new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It requires existing agreements to be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the law’s effective date (June 1, 2026). The bill specifically targets contracts, memorandums, or agreements that allow local entities to assist in federal immigration enforcement under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. This directly affects local law enforcement agencies and government bodies that previously collaborated with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to prevent state/local resources from being used for immigration enforcement under federal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1386, "Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law," makes it a felony for repeat drug distributors to provide heroin, fentanyl, or similar drugs when that distribution causes death or serious injury to another person. It applies only to individuals with prior convictions for distributing controlled substances under Maryland law. The law holds every person who transferred the drugs before the harm occurred liable, mandates a maximum 20-year prison sentence (served consecutively to other sentences), and clarifies that the law covers cases where drugs were mixed with other substances or distributed directly to the victim. This bill directly affects repeat drug distributors whose actions result in fatal or severe injuries, not general users or first-time offenders.

Maddy summaryHB 1146, the "Sacred Places Safety Act," prohibits committing any crime of violence (as defined in Maryland law) within medical facilities or places of worship. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts in these locations, which include hospitals, clinics, and nonresidential religious gathering spaces. The bill increases penalties by making such violations a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in addition to penalties for the underlying violent crime. This law takes effect June 1, 2026, and applies to all relevant locations statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 13 as Korean American Day in Maryland. It requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation urging educational and cultural organizations to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. The bill is procedural and commemorative, with no funding or new policy requirements. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not directly impact individuals or create new legal obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1575, the Community Trust Act, prohibits state and local correctional facilities and their employees from detaining individuals or sharing information with federal immigration authorities based on immigration status, except when required by a judicial warrant or for routine booking. It bans asking about citizenship, prolonging detention for immigration reasons, transferring individuals to immigration authorities without a warrant, or coercing people based on immigration status. Exceptions include when immigration status relates to legal protections under state/federal law or international treaties, allowing facilities to notify individuals or offer voluntary disclosure. Correctional facilities must adopt policies with penalties for violations, and affected individuals can seek damages or injunctions if harmed by a breach.

Maddy summaryHB 504 repeals provisions requiring two physician members on Maryland's State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists. The bill removes the requirement for physician members who must hold specific certifications (e.g., American Board of Otolaryngology) and be actively practicing in the state. This changes the board's composition from 15 to 13 members by eliminating the physician slots, directly affecting future appointments for physicians seeking board roles. The bill does not alter the board's regulatory duties over licensed professionals in these fields.

Maddy summaryHB 524 designates September as African Heritage Month in Maryland by requiring the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing African Americans' contributions to the state. The bill directs the Governor to urge educational and cultural organizations to host programs and activities during this month. It updates Maryland's legal code (specifically renumbering sections in Article 7 of the General Provisions) to include this requirement, effective July 1, 2026. This is a procedural recognition measure with no new funding or regulatory changes.