Del. Vaughn Stewart

Maddy summaryHB 156 allows unaffiliated voters in Maryland to affiliate with a political party during early voting for primary elections. Specifically, unaffiliated voters can request to change their party affiliation at an early voting center and receive a provisional ballot for their chosen party. The bill amends election law to permit this change during early voting periods, requiring election judges to verify the voter's county residency before issuing the provisional ballot. This change applies only to primary elections and does not alter standard voter registration rules or deadlines for affiliation. The bill does not affect voting eligibility for other elections or nonpartisan contests.

Maddy summaryHB 323 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for residents who paid early withdrawal penalties on retirement funds due to financial exploitation. The credit covers the lesser of the state tax attributable to those penalties or the federal penalty paid, directly helping vulnerable adults (defined as older adults or those with diminished capacity due to age, disability, or health conditions) who were exploited by someone in a position of trust. It applies when exploitation involved deception, breach of fiduciary duty, or misuse of assets leading to forced early retirement fund withdrawals. This policy change provides financial relief for victims of financial exploitation by offsetting penalties they incurred.

Maddy summaryHB 979 proposes a constitutional amendment to Maryland's process for calling a state constitutional convention and adopting amendments. Currently, a majority of all voters (those who cast ballots) must support these measures. The bill would change this to require a majority of votes cast *on the question* (i.e., the votes actually cast for or against the convention or amendment) instead of a majority of all eligible voters. This change would lower the threshold for both calling a convention and approving amendments, as it bases the requirement on the votes cast rather than the total electorate.

Maddy summaryHB 36 updates Maryland's legal terminology to replace outdated terms like "clergyman" with "member of the clergy" and "church" with "faith institution" or "place of worship" across multiple sections of the Annotated Code. It specifically revises references in laws covering alcohol permits (e.g., § 26-904), cemetery ownership (e.g., § 5-602), religious corporations (e.g., § 5-301), and other areas like health, labor, and property. The bill directly affects how state laws describe religious entities, ensuring consistent language that includes diverse faith groups (e.g., explicitly adding "Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu congregation" to the definition of "faith institution"). This is a procedural terminology update with no new policy changes or rights granted.

Maddy summaryHB 1620 requires Maryland agencies to allow state or local inspectors general (IGs) to inspect public records when state/local law authorizes their access and they need it for their duties. It directly affects IG offices created by law, such as those overseeing state agencies or local governments. The key provision mandates that custodians (agency officials) must grant this access, while restricting how IGs can share any information obtained under this rule. This bill modifies Maryland's Public Information Act to clarify IG access rights without changing existing exemptions for confidential or privileged records.

Maddy summaryHB 1360 updates Maryland's lobbying reporting requirements under the Public Ethics Law. It modifies the deadlines for regulated lobbyists to file annual reports - requiring filings by February 15, March 15, May 31, and November 30 each year - to cover specific reporting periods. The bill specifies detailed categories of information lobbyists must disclose, including compensation, office expenses, meals for officials, and other lobbying-related expenditures. These changes directly affect entities registered as lobbyists under Maryland law who influence legislative or executive actions. The bill focuses on clarifying and adjusting reporting timelines and content without altering lobbyist registration thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 1488 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to replace gendered terms like "man," "his," and "him" with gender-neutral language such as "person" and "their." It specifically targets multiple articles and sections across the Constitution (including the Declaration of Rights, Executive Department, and Judiciary Department) to update outdated terminology. The bill does not change substantive rights or policies but modernizes the language to be inclusive. This is a procedural constitutional amendment focused solely on terminology, not on altering legal obligations or government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 1584 establishes a regulatory framework for delivery network companies (like Uber Eats or DoorDash) and their drivers ("operators") in Maryland. It requires companies to obtain state permits and drivers to get licenses after background checks (including criminal history and driving records). The bill mandates accessibility standards for apps/websites and requires companies to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. These provisions directly affect gig economy drivers and delivery companies operating in Maryland, creating new licensing, transparency, and accessibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 requires developers of new residential projects with at least five homes located within walking distance of a public school to submit a "Safe School Route Report" as part of their preliminary subdivision or site plan. The report must identify affected schools, assess existing pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure, propose safe routes, and detail gaps or hazards like missing sidewalks. This applies to most new housing developments but excludes projects intended as housing for older persons under federal law. Local governments cannot approve such plans without this report, aiming to improve safety for students walking or biking to school.

Maddy summaryHB 314 requires large Maryland employers (100+ employees who reduced their workforce by at least 10 due to automation) to report annual data on automation use and job losses starting in 2028. These employers must pay a $900 assessment per displaced employee (adjusted annually for inflation) to fund the Displaced Employee Retraining Fund. The fund supports retraining for workers separated from jobs due to automation technology, excluding voluntary departures or facility closures. Employers can reduce payments by 50% if they provide severance, retraining opportunities, or help place workers with smaller local employers.