Del. Jason Buckel

Maddy summaryHB 1535 requires Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to develop a mobile application for anglers holding licenses for nontidal waters (under § 4-604) or Chesapeake Bay/coastal fishing (under § 4-745) to submit required reports. It directly affects all licensed recreational fishermen who currently must submit reports under existing regulations. The bill mandates the app be created by July 1, 2026, but does not change what reports are required or who must submit them - only the submission method. The app will allow license holders to report via mobile device instead of traditional methods.

Maddy summaryHB 1256 creates an Angel Investor Tax Credit in Maryland, allowing investors to claim a credit against their state income tax for qualifying investments in Maryland companies. The credit applies to investments in companies operating in specific economic sectors (to be designated by the Department of Commerce), with the Department required to maintain an online portal for applications and evaluate additional qualifying sectors. Investors must make their investment within a set timeframe after receiving a tax credit certificate, and the bill establishes a reserve fund for the credit program that earns interest. The credit directly affects angel investors who fund qualifying Maryland businesses and the state's economic development efforts, with provisions for recapturing credits if requirements aren't met.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 modifies Maryland's homeowners' property tax credit program by raising eligibility thresholds. It increases the assessed value cap for qualifying homes from $300,000 to $480,000, raises the income threshold for the first tax credit bracket from $8,000 to $12,500, and raises the combined gross income limit from $60,000 to $95,000. The bill also raises the net worth limit for eligibility from $200,000 to $320,000. These changes will directly affect more middle-income homeowners who previously exceeded the lower limits, expanding access to the credit starting June 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1302 removes a requirement that disabled public safety/judicial officers, their surviving spouses, or cohabitants must have been domiciled in Maryland for 5 years before a disability or death event to qualify for a property tax credit. The bill directly affects disabled officers (e.g., law enforcement, firefighters) who became disabled on duty, surviving spouses who haven’t remarried, and cohabitants who lived with a fallen officer for 180+ days. Key changes eliminate the 5-year residency rule while keeping other eligibility criteria, such as the dwelling being their primary residence and acquired within 10 years of the qualifying event. This makes the credit more accessible to qualifying residents without requiring long-term Maryland residency prior to the qualifying incident.

Maddy summaryHB 1019 creates a grant program and dedicated fund to help Maryland school districts transition from diesel school buses to either propane-powered or zero-emission buses. The program provides grants to cover the extra costs of purchasing or operating these cleaner buses, as well as for infrastructure installation (for zero-emission buses), planning, and pilot programs. Funding comes from state appropriations, interest earnings, donations, and legal settlements specifically earmarked for this purpose. The bill updates existing law to explicitly include propane-powered buses in the transition program, which previously only covered zero-emission vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 1027 requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to establish a telephone voting system for absentee ballots, specifically for voters who certify having a print disability (a condition preventing reading standard printed materials). The bill mandates the State Board to select, certify, and acquire a system meeting strict security and accessibility standards - including ballot secrecy, accuracy, paper trail requirements, and toll-free access - after independent testing by a federally approved lab. Eligible voters must submit a form certifying their disability to be added to a list, and the State Board must send them detailed instructions, a toll-free number, and voting dates 75 days before absentee ballots are mailed. The bill also requires the State Board to implement a public education campaign about the system and report progress to legislative committees by December 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 964, the Secure the Vote Act of 2026, repeals existing requirements for ballot drop boxes (including those at Baltimore City's centralized booking facility) and modifies election rules. It adds new requirements: voters must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register (per Section 3-201.1), obtain photo ID for in-person voting (Section 2-111), and restricts absentee voting to those unable to vote in person due to specific circumstances. The bill also mandates signature verification for absentee ballots, establishes new audit procedures for voter registration lists, and prohibits non-citizens from registering to vote in municipal elections. These changes apply to all Maryland voters and election officials statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 970 renames Maryland's "Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard" to the "Clean Energy Portfolio Standard" and changes related terms like "renewable energy credits" to "clean energy credits." The bill explicitly adds electricity generated from certain nuclear power plants as an eligible Tier 2 source for meeting the standard, expanding the types of energy that can count toward compliance. This change directly affects utilities and energy providers required to meet the state's clean energy targets, applying retroactively to prior compliance periods. The bill focuses on updating terminology and eligibility criteria within existing energy policy frameworks.

Maddy summaryHB 454, the "SAVE Our Elections Act of 2026," requires Maryland to join the federal SAVE Program (Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement) to verify U.S. citizenship for voter registration applicants. It directly affects individuals applying to register to vote in Maryland, mandating that the State Board of Elections use the federal SAVE system to confirm citizenship during the registration process. Key provisions include requiring the State Administrator to enroll in SAVE, establishing a verification process for applicants, and creating an appeal mechanism for voters who dispute citizenship determinations. The bill replaces current self-declaration requirements with federal verification, amending election law sections governing voter registration eligibility and processing.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland election laws to require voters presenting their names at the polls to prove their identity before receiving a regular ballot. To do this, voters must show a valid government-issued photo ID or, if they lack one, provide a non-government photo ID along with a document like a utility bill or bank statement that shows their name and address. If a voter cannot provide the required identification, the election judge must refer them to vote using a provisional ballot instead. The legislation also clarifies rules for assistance, allowing voters to bring written materials into the polling place and specifying who may help those with disabilities or language barriers.