Del. Jheanelle Wilkins

Maddy summaryHB 55 allows individuals with completed misdemeanor or felony sentences to petition courts for expungement (clearing criminal records) at any time if they demonstrate "good cause." Courts must consider factors like the crime's nature, the person's rehabilitation, public safety risk, and how the conviction impacts employment, housing, and education. If denied, the decision cannot be appealed, and the person cannot reapply for five years for the same conviction. This bill directly affects people with past convictions seeking to improve their job prospects, housing options, and access to public assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 1110 automatically restores voting rights for individuals released from Maryland state correctional facilities who were previously registered to vote in the state. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to electronically send weekly lists of released individuals (including their new addresses) to the State Board of Elections. The Board must then automatically reactivate these voters' registration at their new addresses, granting them active voter status without needing to re-register. This applies to people released from facilities like Patuxent Institution or the Baltimore City Detention Center, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1077, the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, prohibits landlords from requiring or using criminal history checks during initial rental applications. It allows landlords to consider certain criminal convictions only after making a conditional lease offer and mandates they review any explanations provided by renters about their records. The law also bans landlords from rejecting applicants based solely on criminal history (except for specific offenses listed in the bill) and requires them to provide written notice about how criminal history will be evaluated. Violations are treated as consumer protection law breaches, subject to enforcement by the Attorney General, who must annually publish data on housing applications.

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.

Maddy summaryHB 387 imposes an excise tax on firearms dealers' gross receipts from firearm sales within Maryland and to Maryland residents. The tax revenue will fund three existing state programs: the Coordinated Community Supports Partnership Fund (Education), the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund (Health), and the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund (Public Safety). The bill creates new tax provisions under "Title 7.7" in the Tax-General Article to collect and distribute these funds, replacing previous language in multiple code sections. This directly affects firearms dealers through the new tax obligation and directs funding to community safety and health programs. The policy change is a concrete tax mechanism for reallocating firearm sales revenue to specific public safety initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 797 extends the deadline for submitting sports wagering license applications to January 1, 2027, requiring the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission to accept and consider applications received before that date. It also delays the termination of minority business enterprise (MBE) program requirements for sports wagering from 2024 to July 1, 2026, meaning licensees must still develop MBE participation plans within six months of receiving a license. The bill directly affects sports wagering operators, minority-owned businesses seeking contracts, and the Commission managing license approvals. It modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 9-1E-07 and 9-1E-15) to extend these specific timelines without creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 834 prohibits commercial egg producers with more than 5,000 hens from confining egg-laying hens in small cage systems (like battery cages) after a specific date, requiring them to use cage-free housing systems that provide roaming space and natural behavior enrichments. It also bans businesses from selling shell eggs or egg products derived from non-compliant farms after the same date. Small farms producing under 5,000 hens annually are exempt from these requirements. The law applies to all commercial egg production and sales within Maryland, with exceptions for medical research, veterinary care, and agricultural exhibitions.

Maddy summaryHB 612 establishes Maryland's Lifesaver Schools Program, which recognizes public schools that provide specific health and safety training to students and staff. To qualify, schools must offer evidence-based first aid training, mental health support programs, schoolwide mental health assemblies, and professional development opportunities for staff during school hours. Schools must also maintain online resources for mental health support and host community outreach events, with recognition requiring reapplication every four years. The program, administered by the Maryland Department of Education, takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 524 adds a new member to Maryland's State Board of Education, requiring one of the 14 regular board positions to be filled by an early childhood development professional with extensive experience in child care operations and curriculum. This member must be appointed by the Governor (with Senate consent) from a list of three qualified candidates provided by the Office of Child Care Advisory Council. The bill directly affects the State Board of Education, which sets K-12 education policy, and early childhood professionals who meet the specified qualifications. It does not change voting rights but ensures the board includes expertise in early childhood development.

Maddy summaryHB 710, the "Voting Rights for All Act," requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to create a toll-free hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request materials, and report rights violations. It directly affects people incarcerated for felony convictions by removing their disqualification from voting registration during their prison sentence (previously barred under Section 3-102). The bill repeals the existing ban on voting while incarcerated (Section 16-202) and amends eligibility rules to allow registration for those serving felony sentences. Key provisions include mandating collaboration with correctional facilities to administer the hotline and updating voter eligibility criteria to align with this change. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.