Del. Adrian Boafo

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 1318 creates a new "Class C-PCL" license for premium cigar lounges in Maryland, allowing businesses that primarily sell cigars and pipe tobacco to serve beer, wine, and liquor on-site. It directly affects tobacco retailers seeking to add alcohol service, requiring them to generate at least 60% of daily revenue from cigars/accessories and install proper ventilation. The license exempts these lounges from Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act, but mandates visible smoking notices, employee acknowledgments of secondhand smoke exposure, and an annual $2,000 fee. Local licensing boards may issue one such license per 150,000 county residents, with a temporary ban on new alcohol licenses for tobacconists extended until June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1015 requires all Maryland public middle schools to begin instruction no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and public high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It directly affects every public middle, high, and charter school in Maryland, mandating later start times unless a waiver is granted. County boards and charter schools must also implement public awareness campaigns about sleep deprivation and the benefits of later start times. Waivers for earlier start times are permitted only for compelling reasons, such as natural disasters or severe weather, as determined by the State Board of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1428 (End Hedge Fund Control of Maryland Homes Act of 2025) imposes an excise tax on the acquisition and excess ownership of single-family homes in Maryland by certain entities (like hedge funds), with tax revenue funding a new down payment assistance program. The bill requires sellers to accept offers from individuals, community development organizations, nonprofits, or small real estate businesses during the first 30 days of listing, provided those buyers own less than 3% of residential properties in the county. It also modifies the state transfer tax rate for certain home sales and establishes a dedicated, nonlapsing fund for down payment and settlement expenses. The law directly affects large-scale property owners and home sellers, aiming to increase affordability for first-time buyers through these tax and sales mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1408 prohibits employers from taking discriminatory employment actions against fire and rescue public safety employees who use medical cannabis for a qualifying health condition, as certified by a licensed healthcare provider under Maryland law. The bill amends state disability discrimination protections to explicitly include medical cannabis use for these employees, preventing actions like termination or demotion based solely on off-duty medical use. This applies only when the employee has a valid written certification from a "certifying provider" (e.g., a physician) and uses cannabis in compliance with state regulations. The law specifically targets fire and rescue workers, extending protections previously less clear for this public safety group.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 requires electronic smoking device manufacturers in Maryland to submit annual certifications to the Attorney General and maintain funds in a special escrow account under certain circumstances. It mandates the Attorney General to create and publish a public directory of manufacturers and treats violations as unfair trade practices enforceable under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. The bill directly affects manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and retailers of vaping products by adding certification, directory, and financial accountability requirements to existing licensing rules. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of the vaping industry while aligning enforcement with consumer protection standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1261 amends Maryland's employment discrimination law to prohibit practices that have a discriminatory effect on workers, regardless of whether the employer intended harm. It updates Section 20-602 to explicitly state that discrimination is banned "regardless of the actor’s intent" when it results in unequal treatment, affecting employers, labor organizations, and training programs across the state. The bill adds Section 20-601(l) to clarify that unintentional violations of these rules do not constitute unlawful employment practices under specific circumstances. This changes how discrimination claims are evaluated, focusing on actual impact rather than employer intent while maintaining existing protections for workers based on race, gender, disability, and other protected categories.

Maddy summaryHB 1407, the NO FAKES Act, gives individuals the right to control how their voice or visual likeness is used in digital replicas (like AI-generated images or voices that mimic them), including after death. This right continues for up to 15 years after death (10 years initially, extendable by 5 more years if the likeness was actively used publicly in the prior two years) and can be managed by heirs or licensees. Online platforms must designate an agent to handle violation complaints and may restore mistakenly removed content. The law does not apply to standard music sampling, remixes, or authorized copyright uses, and violations can result in civil liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits local governments to allowing no more than 10 cents per paper carryout bag charged by retailers. It applies to all counties and municipalities that have enacted laws requiring or permitting such fees. Retailers, including stores and restaurants, would be restricted to charging this maximum fee under local ordinances. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1400, the "No Tax on Tips Act," requires restaurants and food service businesses to clearly disclose service fees (including their amount and whether they go to employees) on menus or visibly before ordering. It prohibits employers from counting tips toward meeting minimum wage requirements for tipped workers, ensuring they receive the full minimum wage without tip credits. Additionally, the bill allows tipped employees to subtract qualified tips from their state income tax bill (effectively making tips tax-free) and provides businesses a tax credit for wages and tips paid to employees. This directly affects tipped workers in restaurants and similar establishments, as well as the businesses that employ them.