Del. Vaughn Stewart

Maddy summaryHB 1018 establishes minimum mandatory standards for the care, custody, and conditions of individuals held in Maryland's immigration detention facilities. It directly affects immigration detainees, facility operators (including private entities), and healthcare/security staff who must report violations. Key provisions require the Secretary of Public Safety to adopt regulations covering safety, housing, food, and rights; mandate facility inspections and annual certifications; and authorize the Commission to shut down facilities deemed life-threatening or health-endangering. The bill also obligates staff to report violations with disciplinary consequences for non-compliance and allows the Attorney General to sue private facility operators for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 402 establishes a Common Ownership Community Ombudsman Unit within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to handle complaints from residents of homeowners associations (HOAs), condominiums, and cooperative housing communities about final adverse decisions made by their governing bodies. The unit will monitor relevant laws, provide members with information and referrals to dispute resolution services, and either make determinations about whether decisions violate laws or refer complaints to local county commissions. The bill also requires all common ownership communities to file governing documents with the Department of Housing and Community Development and mandates the department to create a public database of these documents. Annual reports on the unit's activities, including complaint volumes and actions taken, must be submitted to the department and the General Assembly.

Maddy summaryHB 386 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA and Maryland's budget process, mandating that the Governor withhold funds if WMATA fails to submit required reports (like safety assessments and financial data) or if it doesn't develop a rail signaling workforce transition plan by July 2028. The bill also requires WMATA to provide detailed annual reports on safety, ridership, finances, and capital investments to trigger full funding. If WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, or misses the workforce plan deadline, the Governor must withhold the funds until these conditions are met.

Maddy summaryHB 1056 designates October 1 as "Purple Lights Night" in Maryland, requiring the Governor to annually proclaim this day. The bill honors individuals in the state who are victims or survivors of domestic violence and expresses support for eliminating domestic violence. It adds this commemorative day to Maryland law through a procedural change in the Annotated Code (Section 7-417), without creating new programs or funding. The bill is purely ceremonial, focusing on symbolic recognition rather than policy implementation. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 313 prohibits landlords in Maryland from charging application or screening fees unless a rental unit is immediately available or will become available within 30 days. Landlords must provide written disclosures about screening criteria, fees, and reporting agencies before collecting any fees, and must give prospective tenants specific reasons, copies of screening reports, and the right to dispute inaccuracies if denying an application. The bill also bans landlords from considering sealed court records or failure-to-pay rent proceedings in screening decisions. Violations are treated as consumer protection law violations under Maryland law, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1098 expands bankruptcy exemptions for Maryland residents by including residential property held in a revocable trust as eligible for protection. It increases the exemption cap for individuals aged 60+ with disabilities or veteran status to $300,000 (adjusted annually for inflation), while maintaining a $150,000 cap for other filers. The law automatically adjusts these amounts each year based on the Consumer Price Index, rounded to the nearest $25. This directly affects Maryland bankruptcy debtors owning homes - either directly or through revocable trusts - who qualify under the new or adjusted exemption thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 1480 strengthens child labor protections by prohibiting minors from working in specific hazardous occupations (like manufacturing hazardous substances, construction, or operating machinery) and imposing civil penalties of up to $10,000 for employers who violate these rules. It also creates a new process allowing private sector employees to petition the Public Employee Relations Board to resolve workplace disputes, while banning employers from supporting organizations exempt from federal labor law (like the National Labor Relations Act). Additionally, the bill prohibits state agencies in the Executive Branch from seeking federal waivers of the Fair Labor Standards Act. These changes directly affect employers, private employees, and state government entities in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 476 repeals Maryland's current caps on noneconomic damages in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It removes the $350,000 limit for personal injury cases (since 1986) and the $500,000 limit for both personal injury and wrongful death cases (since 1994), eliminating annual inflation adjustments. This change directly affects plaintiffs filing such lawsuits and defendants facing potential larger awards. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, applying only to cases arising after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1108 grants collective bargaining rights to workers in Maryland greenhouses (controlled-environment agricultural operations), allowing them to form unions and negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions with employers. The bill requires the state Labor Secretary to establish regulations for union elections, certification, and resolving bargaining disputes, while mandating greenhouse employers to provide rest breaks during extreme heat to prevent heat-related illness. This law directly affects greenhouse workers and their employers, creating a formal process for union representation and heat protection. It amends Maryland's labor code to include these specific protections for greenhouse workers, who previously lacked these rights under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 941 requires public restrooms in state and local government buildings, public transportation facilities (like stations), and public parks or recreation centers to provide specific hygiene products. It mandates an adequate supply of hand soap, toilet paper, towels or drying devices, water, waste containers, and menstrual hygiene products (such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and pads). The bill applies to all "public buildings" as defined - excluding schools - but covers facilities owned, leased, or operated by the state or political subdivisions. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, ensuring consistent access to essential hygiene items in publicly accessible spaces.