Del. Mary Lehman

Maddy summaryHB 344 changes the board composition of the Maryland Environmental Service by replacing the State Treasurer with the Secretary of Planning or their designee. This affects the Service's governance structure, directly altering who serves on its Board of Directors. The bill also modifies term rules, stating that standard 4-year term provisions no longer apply to the Secretary of Planning or the Executive Director. These changes are made through amendments to Maryland's Natural Resources Code (Section 3-103). The bill focuses solely on administrative adjustments to board membership, with no new environmental policies.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill establishes a minimum annual fee of $2.30 per ton for generators of coal combustion by-products, while exempting those that beneficially reuse the material or use it for coal mine reclamation. It creates a new Statewide Coal Combustion By-Products Coordinating Committee composed of state officials, technical experts, community representatives, and local government members to monitor sites and share information. The Department of the Environment must adopt regulations by a specified date to align with federal guidelines and must reduce fees in future years if collected revenue exceeds program operating costs.

Maddy summaryHB 858 establishes Maryland's Mattress Stewardship Program to reduce landfill waste and promote recycling. It prohibits disposing of mattresses in landfills or incinerators after specific dates (with limited exceptions), requires mattress producers to submit recycling plans to the Department of the Environment, and adds a fee to all mattresses sold in the state to fund the program. Retailers must provide consumers with recycling information after implementation, and the program creates an advisory board to oversee recycling efforts. The bill directly affects mattress producers, retailers, and consumers through new fees and disposal rules, aiming to divert mattresses from landfills - addressing a problem where only 5% of U.S. mattresses are recycled annually.

Maddy summaryHB 911 allows landlords to charge a security deposit of up to two months' rent if a tenant operates a family child care home (caring for up to eight children) on the property. It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes in single- or multifamily rentals (excluding owner-occupied small units or condo/co-op rules), requires tenants to notify landlords 30 days in advance, and mandates providing insurance certificates naming the landlord as an additional insured. Landlords are also shielded from civil liability for issues related to the tenant’s child care operations. The bill applies to residential leases starting October 1, 2025, and does not override local zoning laws.

Maddy summaryHB 338 prohibits the disposal of yard waste collected on state buildings or highways in single-use plastic containers. Instead, it requires that such waste be collected in reusable containers or compostable paper bags. The bill mandates all yard waste from these locations must be disposed of at an organics recycling facility, a natural wood waste recycling facility, or a state facility producing mulch or soil amendments. This applies to state employees and contractors handling yard waste collection on state property.

Maddy summaryHB 153 lowers the minimum age for voter registration in Maryland from 16 to 15 years and 9 months. It requires election officials to send registered minors (ages 15-17) a notification card containing information about when they will become eligible to vote (at age 18). Additionally, it mandates that election directors send eligible minors who become 18 a notice about upcoming primary elections, available voting methods, and early voting locations. The bill directly affects minors registering to vote and election officials responsible for voter communications. It amends Maryland’s Election Law sections 3-102 and 3-301, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 requires all Maryland county school districts to develop age-appropriate water safety and swimming instructional content for public school students, integrating it into health and physical education by July 2026. It also mandates each county board to create a plan by December 2025 outlining strategies to increase student access to swimming pools and facilities through community partnerships, cost-effective transportation, and resource coordination. The plan must identify public/private partners and recommend policy changes if needed. Implementation of the curriculum begins in the 2026-2027 school year, while the access plan requirement expires June 30, 2026. This bill directly affects all public school students in Maryland counties and their local school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 422 allows cyclists, play vehicles (like scooters), and unicycles to enter an intersection on a red traffic signal when a pedestrian "walk" signal is active, directly affecting these non-motorized users at crosswalks. The bill amends Maryland law to clarify that operators must yield to all vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection before proceeding. It specifically updates Section 21-1202 of the Maryland Transportation Code to permit this maneuver at intersections with pedestrian-controlled signals. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter existing requirements for cyclists to follow other traffic laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 strengthens Maryland's fair housing laws by explicitly prohibiting housing discrimination based on discriminatory *effects* - not just intent. It amends Section 20-702(b)(2) and Section 20-705(A) to state that housing providers cannot discriminate "regardless of intent" in practices like refusing rentals, setting unequal terms, or using biased advertisements. The bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt regulations supporting "affirmatively furthering fair housing" and mandates that housing authorities submit fair housing assessments as part of their comprehensive plans. This directly affects landlords, housing authorities, and any entity involved in residential housing transactions across Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1257 requires landlords renting five or more residential units to fully disclose all mandatory fees (like pet or parking fees) when advertising rental rates and providing written information to prospective tenants. Landlords must clearly state the fee's purpose, amount, type (mandatory vs. optional), and payment schedule in advance, and cannot charge any mandatory fee that wasn’t disclosed. The Department of Housing and Community Development will assist tenants with understanding the law and can impose penalties of up to $2,000 for repeat violations. This law excludes utility charges and minor lease violations from disclosure requirements, directly affecting landlords and prospective tenants in Maryland.