Rep. Terry Baker

Maddy summaryHB 863 reclassifies the theft of a firearm as a felony under Maryland law, previously treated as a lower-level offense. It establishes felony penalties based on the firearm's value: up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine for theft valued at $1,500-$25,000, up to 10 years for $25,000-$100,000, and up to 20 years for $100,000 or more. Convicted individuals must also return the firearm or pay its value to the owner. The bill directly affects anyone who steals a firearm or knowingly possesses stolen firearms, raising penalties for these offenses under Section 7-104 of Maryland’s Criminal Law.

Maddy summaryHB 820 would require Maryland's Secretary of State Police to add a special endorsement to handgun permits for current or retired U.S. government employees who hold or held Top Secret or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance. This endorsement allows permit holders to carry a handgun in any location where law enforcement officials are permitted to carry while performing their duties. The bill specifies that eligibility requires either current employment with such clearance or 10 consecutive years of clearance prior to retirement. It directs the Secretary to adopt implementing regulations and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 455 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to certify nonprofit organizations meeting specific criteria as scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). It mandates the Department to annually submit a list of certified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury starting in 2027 and requires the Comptroller to provide online guidance for taxpayers claiming federal tax credits for donations to SGOs. The bill directly affects nonprofit SGOs seeking certification, eligible students receiving scholarships, and Maryland taxpayers claiming federal tax credits. Key provisions include standardized application processes for SGOs, annual financial reporting requirements, and public reporting of scholarship data like recipient schools and award amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 632 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from the definition of "medical service" requiring a Certificate of Need (CON) in Maryland. This exempts psychiatric health care facilities and providers of psychiatric or mental health services from needing state approval before establishing or operating these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the list of medical services subject to CON requirements, which currently includes services like surgery, pediatrics, and rehabilitation. This change directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health programs seeking to expand or open without prior state review. The policy shift simplifies regulatory requirements for mental health service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 725 requires Maryland correctional facilities to provide federal immigration authorities with at least 48 hours' notice before releasing an individual, if requested by those authorities, and to transfer the individual to federal custody. This applies specifically to individuals in state or local correctional facilities who are subject to federal immigration enforcement requests. The bill mandates that transfers occur without extending the individual’s custody beyond their scheduled release date. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 719 prohibits Maryland state and local government entities, including county sheriffs and agencies, from adopting "sanctuary policies" that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It repeals existing laws that previously limited police from asking about immigration status during routine stops or detaining individuals solely for immigration violations. The bill requires local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration detainers when legally required and removes barriers to federal agents accessing sensitive locations (like schools) with valid warrants. This directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and local government agencies in their daily interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 673 prohibits local or state governments from restricting the sale, purchase, or use of consumer goods (such as vehicles, appliances, or other products) solely based on their energy source - like gasoline, electricity, natural gas, or propane. It repeals existing Maryland laws requiring low-emission vehicle programs and sales rules for zero-emission medium/heavy-duty trucks, ending those specific regulatory requirements. The law applies retroactively to all current restrictions and directly affects consumers, dealers, and manufacturers of energy-source-dependent goods. It does not alter federal emissions standards but removes state-level barriers to using diverse energy sources for everyday products.

Maddy summaryHB 726 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to name a new bridge replacing the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge the "Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge" upon its completion. This bill directly affects the Maryland Transportation Authority, which must implement the naming after the new bridge opens to traffic. The law amends state transportation codes to include the bridge's official name and sets a deadline: if the bridge opens by December 31, 2031, the naming takes effect immediately after notification to the legislature. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on the bridge's official designation with no additional policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 690, the "Economic Competitiveness Act of 2026," lowers Maryland's corporate income tax rate gradually over several years. It directly affects corporations doing business in Maryland that pay state corporate income tax. The bill reduces the rate from 8.25% (for tax years 2026-2027) to 7.75% (2027-2028), then to 7.25% (2028-2029), 6.75% (2029-2030), and finally to 6.25% starting in 2030. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, as specified in the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 656 requires Maryland's Comptroller and tax agency to regularly verify if nonprofits in the state have been designated by federal authorities as supporting terrorist organizations under U.S. law (18 U.S.C. § 2339A). If confirmed, the bill mandates revoking the nonprofit's state tax exemptions for income, sales/use, and property taxes. Nonprofits receive 90 days to contest the revocation after written notice, with reinstatement possible if errors are found or if they prove they didn’t receive the notice. The bill applies only to nonprofits formally identified by federal agencies as violating anti-terrorism laws, not general criticism of terrorism.