Del. Lorig Charkoudian

Maddy summaryHB 143 requires the Maryland Public Service Commission and Maryland Energy Administration to study two key areas related to electricity supply. First, it mandates a study on whether electric companies should be required to contract for at least 80% of their electricity supply capacity for the next five years. Second, it directs a study on Maryland’s potential options for leaving the PJM regional grid operator, including forming a multistate compact or joining another regional transmission organization. The agencies must report their findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 31, 2026, to inform future decisions. This bill does not change current policies but prepares the state for potential shifts in electricity market participation.

Maddy summaryHB 40 updates Maryland's regulations for overhead transmission lines over 69,000 volts. It redefines "qualified generator lead line" to include lines using advanced transmission technologies (like grid-enhancing software, high-performance conductors, or energy storage) that connect out-of-state renewable energy sources to Maryland's grid. The bill requires applicants for construction permits to include specific details in their applications, mandates the Public Service Commission to consider certain evidence before approving projects, and obligates line owners to submit regular reports to the Commission. These changes directly affect utility companies seeking to build or upgrade transmission infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 268 requires Maryland hospitals to provide free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and reduced-cost care to patients with income between 201% and 500% FPL who experience financial hardship (defined as medical debt exceeding 25% of family income over 12 months). Specifically, for patients earning 201% to 250% FPL, hospitals must reduce out-of-pocket expenses by at least 75%. The bill also updates notice requirements for hospitals' financial assistance policies and prohibits hospitals from filing civil actions to collect debts below a specified threshold. These changes directly affect hospitals and patients facing medical debt, aiming to improve access to care for low- and middle-income residents.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 (Maryland Values Act) requires Maryland correctional facilities to detain and transfer individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and have been convicted of a violent crime to federal immigration authorities within 48 hours when requested. It prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining people or prolonging arrests based on immigration status during routine stops or investigations, and bans transferring individuals to federal immigration authorities except for the defined "covered individuals" (those with violent crime convictions and unlawful presence). The bill also terminates existing immigration enforcement agreements between Maryland entities and federal authorities by a specified deadline. This directly affects state/local correctional facilities, law enforcement officers, and individuals with certain immigration statuses and violent crime convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 850 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry to create and maintain a public data dashboard tracking information about contractors and apprentices working on state public work projects. Contractors must submit weekly data on employee wages, staffing levels, and apprentice details - including trade, certification, demographics, and registration dates - to the Commissioner. The dashboard must be updated monthly, posted prominently on the Labor Department website, and retain 24 months of historical data. This law directly affects all contractors awarded state public work contracts, aiming to increase transparency around wage practices and workforce composition.

Maddy summaryHB 56 allows the Maryland State Department of Education to directly manage master contracts for purchasing local food for schools, including food grown within 200 miles of schools, from certified local farms, and certified Chesapeake invasive species. This change removes the need for the Department to seek approval from other state procurement units for these specific purchases. The bill also requires the Department to coordinate with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and report annually to the legislature on the value and number of these contracts. The policy directly affects school meal programs, local farmers, and Chesapeake invasive species providers in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 707 (Eric’s ID Law) requires Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration to add a voluntary notation for nonapparent disabilities - such as developmental or intellectual disabilities - on driver’s licenses, ID cards, and moped permits. Applicants can choose to indicate this disability without providing proof or paying extra fees, and the notation will appear on the document’s bottom. The law prohibits the Administration from disclosing this information to insurers or using it to refer applicants to medical boards. It also mandates public outreach to inform people about this option. This directly affects individuals with nonapparent disabilities who apply for or renew these documents.

Maddy summaryHB 527 requires the Maryland Transit Administration to provide three months of free rides on the Purple Line for residents living within a quarter-mile of the tracks, and free advertising space on Purple Line vehicles and stations for businesses within the same quarter-mile radius. The program would begin when Purple Line service starts and last for three months, applying to all qualifying residents and businesses near the transit line. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects local residents and small businesses adjacent to the Purple Line corridor. The bill creates a temporary incentive to encourage ridership and support nearby commercial activity during the initial service period.

Maddy summaryHB 9 clarifies key terms for Maryland's Food System Resiliency Council, defining "healthy food priority areas" as predominantly lower-income neighborhoods with limited access to affordable healthy food, and "wasted food" to include donations, composting, animal feed, and other management methods. The bill updates reporting requirements for the Council, removing outdated mandates and adjusting ongoing reporting obligations. It directs the Council to address food insecurity (especially post-pandemic), develop equity-focused policies to eliminate racial disparities and food deserts, and create a strategic plan to boost local food production and procurement. The Council must collaborate with affected communities and food organizations, with reports to the General Assembly. This bill primarily affects the Council, local food organizations, and residents in underserved food-access areas.

Maddy summaryHB 428 prohibits medical providers from placing liens on owner-occupied homes for unpaid medical debt. It requires courts to specify if a money judgment involves medical debt and mandates including the defendant’s primary residence address in such complaints. The bill adds a new provision (§ 14-203.1) stating that liens on homes where owners live cannot be created for medical debt, and courts must remove such illegal liens while potentially awarding damages. This applies prospectively from October 1, 2025, directly affecting Maryland homeowners and medical providers seeking debt collection.