Del. Jason Buckel

Maddy summaryHB 1484 prohibits prosecutors from entering plea agreements that dismiss charges for offenses against minors (Section 3-1104). It also bans individuals convicted of offenses against minors requiring sex offender registration from knowingly operating or entering "places for children" like playgrounds, theme parks, or children's museums (Section 11-722.1). This directly affects prosecutors who can no longer dismiss such charges and convicted sex offenders who target minors. Violating the place restriction is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 extends the application window for sports wagering licenses in Maryland. It requires the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission to accept and consider applications submitted before January 1, 2028, for both physical facilities and mobile wagering licenses. The bill also maintains existing requirements for the Commission to actively seek racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in license awards and encourages minority-owned, women-owned, or small business applicants. This amendment modifies existing law (Section 9-1E-15(h)(4) of the Annotated Code of Maryland) to establish this specific deadline for applications. The bill does not create new licensing standards but sets a clear cutoff date for current application processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1396 establishes a 18-member Commission to study and recommend improvements for Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. The Commission includes diverse stakeholders like legislative leaders, education officials, county representatives, teachers, advocates, parents, and students. It will specifically examine school funding formulas (including rural/urban poverty differences), statutory staffing ratios, and educator career ladder impacts. The Commission’s findings will inform future policy decisions but will not change current law directly. This is a study commission focused on long-term fiscal sustainability and student achievement implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1390 requires Maryland public schools to excuse student absences for observing Veterans' Day, directly affecting all public school students and their families. The bill amends Maryland's education code to explicitly add Veterans' Day to the list of excused absences, alongside existing holidays like Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. Schools must now excuse absences for Veterans' Day observance without requiring a specific reason or documentation. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies uniformly across all Maryland public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1437 creates a Maryland income tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums paid by residents aged 45 or older. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit equal to 100% of eligible premiums (capped at $250 per year per insured person), covering the taxpayer, spouse, or certain family members. The credit is restricted to policies purchased after December 31, 2026, and cannot be claimed for individuals already covered before January 1, 2027, or for multiple taxpayers claiming the same person. The bill also requires annual reports to the legislature on credit usage and its impact on state medical assistance savings.

Maddy summaryHB 1358 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to allocate funds from the Hospital Employees Retraining Fund to local workforce development boards when hospitals close, downsize, or merge. It also mandates that these local boards provide grants to employers through the Apprenticeship Career Training in Our Neighborhoods Program. Additionally, the bill requires the Department to fund local workforce boards for direct worker services under the State's quick response program when job losses occur due to business reductions. This bill directly affects local workforce development boards, hospitals facing operational changes, and workers impacted by layoffs or closures.

Maddy summaryHB 1507 allows out-of-state physicians licensed to practice medicine to issue medical exemption certifications for vehicles with tinted windows darker than Maryland's standard 35% light transmittance requirement. It removes the previous 2-year expiration limit for these exemptions, making them valid indefinitely for permanent medical conditions (like photosensitivity disorders). This directly affects Maryland residents requiring dark window tint for medical reasons, who previously needed in-state physician certifications with time limits. The bill does not change the 35% light transmittance rule itself, only the process for obtaining medical exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that Maryland vehicle emissions inspections can only result in a failure for three specific reasons: missing required emissions equipment, misfueling, or failing to meet emissions standards. It restricts inspectors from citing other grounds for failure during biennial exhaust emissions tests or emissions equipment/misfueling inspections. The law applies to all vehicles subject to Maryland's emissions testing program, effective October 1, 2026. This change standardizes inspection outcomes by limiting failure determinations to these defined technical issues.

Maddy summaryMaryland's HB 1388 establishes a 5-year pilot program for rotational oyster harvesting in four designated Chesapeake Bay areas: the Lower Choptank River, Lower Main Stem Chesapeake Bay, Herring Bay, and Lower Chester. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to open one different oyster bed in these areas each oyster season (2026-2029), conduct baseline surveys before opening, and monitor areas after closing. Harvesters must replace oyster shells where they were taken to support habitat recovery. The program directly affects commercial oyster harvesters and the state agency managing Chesapeake Bay resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1525 would require Maryland to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by January 1, 2027, ending the state's participation in a regional program that sets carbon emission limits for power plants. The bill eliminates a surcharge utilities used to recover costs for energy efficiency programs (EmPOWER), directly affecting how these programs are funded. It also limits the amount of electricity that can be purchased or credited under community solar programs. Maryland could rejoin RGGI if all other PJM Interconnection states become full members or if the state becomes a net electricity exporter.