Del. Jim Hinebaugh

Maddy summaryHB 1459 alters the composition of Maryland's Western Maryland Economic Future Investment Board and updates the Senator George C. Edwards Fund. The bill adds two new nonvoting members (one from each legislative district, appointed by House/Senate leaders) and clarifies that the Executive Director serves as a nonvoting member who can break ties. It also updates the Fund's purpose to explicitly prioritize "creating jobs and significant economic development opportunities" and extends the requirement for the Governor to include a $10 million annual appropriation for the Fund through fiscal year 2031. These changes directly affect Western Maryland counties and local entities seeking grant or loan funding for economic development projects through the Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1558 restricts fundraising activities for Maryland state elected officials during legislative sessions. It prohibits the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and state legislators (or their staff acting on their behalf) from receiving contributions, hosting events, soliciting funds, or depositing money raised during the session - except for specific cases. Exceptions include activities solely for their own federal or local election campaigns, contributions made electronically before the session began, and gubernatorial campaign financing under the Public Financing Act. Violations result in civil penalties paid into the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1277 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to collect an 8% surcharge on hotel rentals at Savage River Lodge in Garrett County. The proceeds must be sent to the state Comptroller for distribution to Garrett County. Garrett County must use 6% of the surcharge for county promotion and the remaining portion for its general fund. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting lodge guests, the DNR, and Garrett County's budget allocation.

Maddy summaryHB 1270 exempts three specific wildland areas (Big Savage Mountain, Bear Pen, and Dan’s Mountain) from being designated as protected wildlands if NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, Inc. obtains a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an overhead transmission line. The bill modifies Maryland’s natural resources law to allow these areas to be excluded from wildland designation only after the Public Service Commission approves the transmission line project following public review, public hearings, and consideration of factors like reliability, economics, and environmental impacts. This change directly affects NextEra’s proposed transmission line project and the regulatory process for such infrastructure in those specific locations. The bill does not alter the standard requirements for transmission line approvals but creates a targeted exemption for these three wildland areas.

Maddy summaryHB 684 modifies Maryland's State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund to focus exclusively on Deep Creek Lake and extends its expiration date from 2025 to 2027. The bill requires an annual $1 million appropriation for the fund starting in fiscal year 2027, to be used for specific restoration activities including sediment removal, invasive species prevention, and ecological improvements. The fund is structured as a nonlapsing special fund, meaning it can accumulate money without annual renewal, and must be administered by the Secretary of Natural Resources. This change ensures continued, dedicated funding for Deep Creek Lake's protection beyond the original 2025 deadline.

Maddy summaryHB 1374 expands eligibility for publicly funded prekindergarten to include 3-year-olds in certain private providers. It modifies the definition of "Tier I child" to include 3-year-olds whose families meet income requirements (≤300% federal poverty level) or are homeless, live in counties where private providers have opted to enroll them, and choose full-day programs. Eligible private providers (licensed, charging tuition ≤ "cost of quality," meeting quality standards) must sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards to enroll these children. The bill directly affects qualifying 3-year-olds, eligible private prekindergarten providers, and local departments responsible for notifying families about enrollment options.

Maddy summaryHB 403 requires Maryland correctional facilities to transfer undocumented immigrants serving sentences for certain crimes to U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) under specific circumstances. It directly affects undocumented immigrants incarcerated in Maryland facilities who have been convicted of or suspected of: terrorism/espionage, gang-related offenses under federal law, gang participation as a minor, or aggravated felonies. The bill mandates transfer if the individual meets any of these four criteria, creating a legal mechanism for state-federal coordination. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 982, the "Gun Theft Felony Act of 2025," reclassifies the theft of any firearm as a felony regardless of the firearm's value. Currently, firearm theft could be charged as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500, but this bill makes all firearm thefts automatically felonies. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Law to require that anyone convicted of stealing a firearm must restore the firearm to the owner or pay its value, with penalties including up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $25,000 based on the firearm’s value. This change directly affects individuals who steal firearms, increasing penalties for this specific offense.

Maddy summaryHB 1205 requires local social services departments to provide prospective foster parents with a child’s medical, educational, and behavioral history directly relevant to their care. It increases the maximum number of children allowed in a single out-of-home placement from two to four. The bill also strengthens sibling placement requirements, mandating written justifications if siblings cannot be placed together and allowing separated siblings to petition courts for visitation rights. These changes directly affect foster parents, children in foster care, and local departments managing foster care placements.

Maddy summaryHB 1451, the Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2025, modifies Maryland's Climate Solutions Now Act to require certain climate measures "to the extent economically practicable." It directs building owners to annually measure and report direct emissions data to the Department of the Environment starting in 2025, and sets goals for covered buildings to achieve a 20% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 (compared to 2025 levels) and net-zero emissions by 2040. The bill also updates statewide targets to reduce emissions 60% below 2006 levels by 2031 and reach net-zero statewide emissions by 2045, while adding provisions for zero-emission state vehicle fleets and school buses. These changes apply to building owners, utility contractors, and state agencies implementing climate programs.