Del. Vaughn Stewart

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 1068, the Maryland Toll Rate Reform Act of 2025, establishes a new "Transportation Facilities Overage Account" within the Transportation Trust Fund. It requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to set toll rates to maximize revenue above specific thresholds, with the extra funds directed to this account. The bill mandates that these funds be used exclusively for: (1) constructing/maintaining state highways connecting to toll facilities, and (2) transit or highway projects that relieve traffic congestion at toll locations by offering alternative commute options. This directly affects drivers using toll roads and the Authority’s revenue management, changing how excess toll revenue must be allocated rather than altering current toll amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows terminally ill Maryland residents with decision-making capacity to request medication to end their lives through a structured process. It requires two physician consultations (including a consulting physician confirming the diagnosis), a mental health assessment, and written requests spaced at least 15 days apart. Pharmacists may dispense the medication only to qualifying patients, and the law clarifies that providers acting under these rules won’t violate assisted suicide laws. Death from self-administered medication will be recorded as natural causes for insurance and legal purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 2 updates terminology throughout Maryland's legal code to use more inclusive language. It replaces terms like "clergyman" with "member of the clergy" and "churches" with "faith institutions and places of worship" in multiple statutes across various code articles (including Alcoholic Beverages, Business Regulation, Education, and Health). The bill does not change legal policies or create new requirements - it only modifies how these entities are referenced in existing law. This terminology change applies to all relevant sections of the Annotated Code of Maryland, ensuring consistency with modern, inclusive language.

Maddy summaryHB 582 updates Maryland's overtime pay exemptions for workers in administrative, executive, or professional roles by raising the minimum salary threshold to $1,128 per week (or the current federal standard under 29 C.F.R. § 541.600). It directly affects employers who classify such employees as exempt from overtime, requiring them to meet this new compensation standard. The bill modifies existing law to align Maryland's threshold with federal guidelines and takes effect October 1, 2025. This change ensures these exempt workers earn at least the updated minimum salary before overtime pay is required.

Maddy summaryHB 824 expands Maryland's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program to include "alternatively qualified individuals" who care for or bond with a child under specific circumstances. This group must have earned at least $7,200 in lifetime wages in Maryland, not qualify as standard covered employees or self-employed participants, and not receive comparable benefits elsewhere. The bill adds these individuals to the program's definition of "covered individual" (via new Section 8.3-703.1) and requires employers to allow them unpaid leave while receiving benefits. It directly affects workers who previously didn't qualify but meet the wage threshold and caregiving needs.

Maddy summaryHB 818 allows courts to award reasonable attorney fees and expenses to winning plaintiffs who sue to correct violations of rights protected by Maryland's Constitution or Declaration of Rights (e.g., cases against state agencies or local governments). It also permits fees to winning defendants only if the plaintiff's case was filed in bad faith or without legal basis. Courts must use factors from Maryland Rule 2-703(F)(3) to determine fees, and the law explicitly overrides standard fee limits under Maryland's Tort Claims Act for these cases. The bill applies only to cases filed after its October 1, 2025, effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 709 allows Maryland counties to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid "good cause" reason (like nonpayment or lease violations) to evict tenants or refuse lease renewals, rather than allowing no-cause evictions. If a county adopts such a law, landlords must disclose in writing whether they are subject to it and provide specific ownership details (including property counts) using forms developed by the state Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. The bill also mandates that landlords include this disclosure in leases and court filings related to evictions. This applies only to tenants and landlords in counties that choose to implement these local protections, not statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 restricts federal immigration enforcement agencies from accessing Maryland state and local government databases without a valid warrant. It requires state/local law enforcement agencies, DMV, and other government units to deny federal requests for personal information, photos, or facial recognition data unless accompanied by a federal or Maryland court warrant. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on all such federal requests received, including how many were denied or granted with warrants. This directly affects Maryland state agencies, local governments, and federal immigration officers seeking access to these databases.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.