Del. Mary Lehman

Maddy summaryHB 1213 lowers Maryland's transfer tax rates for specific affordable housing properties to increase housing accessibility. It creates a new "deed-restricted property" category requiring 15% of units to be affordable to households earning ≤80% of the area median income (defined as housing costing ≤30% of income). The bill reduces tax rates for these properties: 0.25% (under $1M), 0.375% ($1M-$10M), and 0.5% ($10M+) versus standard rates for similar properties. It also adds a 0.5% tax rate for transfers involving certain low-income housing tax credit developments, directly benefiting first-time homebuyers and affordable housing developers.

Maddy summaryHB 807 requires all Maryland teacher preparation programs to integrate specific training in teaching English language learners (ELLs) into their curricula. This includes adding dedicated instruction on ELL competencies - such as language development, equitable literacy opportunities, and working with linguistically diverse students - starting in the 2028-2029 academic year, along with a mandatory three-credit course focused on ELL teaching methods. The bill directly affects all undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs in Maryland, mandating they incorporate these competencies throughout their coursework, not just in a single course. It aims to ensure future teachers gain practical skills to support ELL students in classrooms across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1066 authorizes Maryland municipalities to conduct local elections using secure electronic voting systems that meet strict security standards. The bill defines a "qualified electronic transmission system" as one with end-to-end encryption, verifiability, biometric ID verification, and paper record backup. Municipalities may use these systems for elections but are prohibited from using voter data collected through them for any purpose beyond election administration or voter participation statistics. This bill directly affects local governments in Maryland planning to adopt electronic voting methods for municipal elections, effective July 1, 2026.

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 704 establishes Maryland's Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program within the State Department of Education. It provides state funding to cover the difference between federal reimbursement rates for free and paid school meals, directly supporting Maryland schools with high poverty rates (25%+ students qualifying for free meals) that participate in the federal child nutrition program. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2028 to complement federal funds, with funds distributed based on school poverty concentration and geographic diversity. Schools must report on program outcomes, meal debt resolution, and reasons for opting out of federal eligibility, with annual reports published online.

Maddy summaryHB 937 establishes a workgroup to study emergency preparedness for youth camps and RV parks in Maryland. The workgroup, composed of state agency representatives, legislators, and industry stakeholders (including camp and park owners), will create a county-by-county inventory of these facilities, review emergency policies from other states, and make recommendations for potential new laws. It will report findings to the legislature by December 31, 2027. This bill does not create new regulations but initiates a study to inform future policy. The workgroup expires automatically on September 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 853 creates a State Board of Common Ownership Community Managers within Maryland’s Department of Labor to license and regulate professionals managing residential communities. It directly affects condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations (excluding timeshares) by requiring community managers to hold licenses, mandating community registration under certain conditions, and requiring contracts to include fidelity bonds or theft insurance. Key provisions include setting licensing standards, specifying required contract terms for management services, and establishing a dedicated fund to cover board operations. The bill aims to standardize oversight for community management services across Maryland’s residential communities.

Maddy summaryHB 350, the "Voting Rights Act of 2026," applies to local elections in Maryland counties and cities, protecting the voting rights of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. It prohibits election methods that weaken the voting power of these groups, preventing them from electing preferred candidates or influencing election outcomes. Courts will determine violations by examining past election patterns and federal voting rights standards, rather than requiring proof of discriminatory intent. If a violation is found, courts can order remedies like changing election systems, but must respect existing statewide election practices.

Maddy summaryHB 568 expands Maryland's public campaign financing program to include candidates for State Senate and House of Delegates, who were previously ineligible. The bill establishes specific qualifications (like residency and contribution limits) that candidates must meet to receive public funds from the Fair Campaign Financing Fund. It sets limits on the total public contributions these candidates can receive during elections and requires the State Board of Elections to distribute funds in a specified manner. The fund is financed through voluntary contributions, tax checkoffs, and campaign finance penalties, making it available to qualifying legislative candidates alongside existing gubernatorial candidates. This change directly affects candidates running for state legislative office by providing a new public financing option.

Maddy summaryHB 636 modifies Maryland's ethics rules to allow members of the General Assembly, candidates for the Assembly, and newly elected members to earn income from state or local government jobs under specific exemptions. It creates four categories of allowable income: educational instruction, merit-system positions, human services roles, or logical career transitions from prior employment. The Joint Ethics Committee must approve these exemptions, while certain existing relationships or post-term employment meeting education/licensure requirements remain excluded. This bill directly affects legislators' ability to hold outside public-sector jobs without violating current ethics prohibitions.