Del. Adrian Boafo

Maddy summaryHB 1492 establishes the right to strike for specific public school and library employees in Maryland, including certificated and noncertificated staff like substitute teachers, nurses, and JROTC instructors in certain counties. The bill prohibits public school and library employers from taking disciplinary action against employees who participate in or support strikes. It repeals the Public Employee Relations Board’s authority to deny or revoke a union’s certification as an exclusive bargaining representative under certain circumstances. These changes apply to defined groups of employees under Maryland’s Education Article, ensuring their collective bargaining rights are protected from employer retaliation.

Maddy summaryHB 1205 establishes a minimum wage of $25.00 per hour for non-certified, non-supervisory school support staff (such as aides, clerks, and cafeteria workers) beginning July 1, 2028. It requires all Maryland county school boards to pay these employees at least this rate, directly affecting over 20,000 education support professionals statewide. The bill also mandates the State Department of Education to submit a cost report by December 1, 2026, with detailed estimates broken down by school system to implement this wage change.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with enforceable policy changes. Maryland's General Assembly formally joins other states (like California and Oregon) and local jurisdictions in endorsing the "Back from the Brink" initiative. It urges Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and asks the U.S. President and Senate to endorse that treaty. The resolution expresses concern about nuclear risks but does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1303, the "Alcoholic Beverages Modernization Act of 2026," allows qualifying food retailers (with at least 5 food categories and 4,000 sq ft), pharmacies, and retail service stations (with electric vehicle charging) to obtain Class A alcohol sales licenses. It permits these businesses to purchase licenses from existing holders or apply directly to local licensing boards, with approval presumed to be in the community’s best interest. The bill restricts sales to 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (Mon-Sat), prohibits self-checkout systems for alcohol, and bans selling small mixed drinks or exterior alcohol advertising. Existing license holders must be at least 3,000 feet away from the new applicant’s location, and all licensees must complete alcohol awareness training and employ security for alcohol sales areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1519, the "Cannabis Reform and Opportunity Act," revises Maryland's cannabis regulations to streamline business operations. It clarifies that "control" of a cannabis business excludes certain management service agreements (capped at 25% of gross revenue or 50% of gross profit annually), franchise relationships, and purchase options. The bill removes restrictions on acquiring ownership interests in multiple cannabis businesses and requires management agreements to be reviewed by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. It also modifies advertising rules to permit outdoor ads near business premises (but not within specific distances of schools) and increases fines for unlicensed cannabis sales. These changes primarily affect licensed cannabis businesses, investors, and advertisers operating under Maryland's cannabis program.

Maddy summaryHB 981 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to use the 10-year average U.S. equity market return when setting base rates for investor-owned gas and electric utilities. The Commission must determine this rate using multiple objective sources and may adjust utility rates based on how risky a company's operations are compared to the market return. This directly affects gas and electric utility companies and their customers by changing how rates are calculated for service. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1491 establishes the Interjurisdictional Safe Pathways Commission to coordinate and secure funding for safe routes for Maryland public school students traveling to and from school. The commission, made up of state education and transportation officials, school system representatives, local government members, students (including those with IEPs), parents, and infrastructure experts, will identify gaps in existing pathways, evaluate funding options, and develop strategic plans. It must submit annual reports to the governor and legislative committees by December 1st, detailing current conditions, funding opportunities, and recommendations for infrastructure improvements. This bill directly affects public school students, their families, school systems, and local governments responsible for transportation infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maryland Department of Health to create regulations ensuring that drug and alcohol treatment programs discharge patients only when it is appropriate for their mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis. It specifically prohibits discharging patients who would become homeless or need residential care, while requiring programs to refer such individuals to halfway houses or recovery residences if they agree to that level of care. The legislation also mandates that treatment programs establish referral agreements for medical, mental health, legal, and social services within three working days after creating an individualized treatment plan, and ensures these agreements remain valid even if a patient is discharged. These standards apply to medium-intensity and high-intensity residential treatment programs in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 884 requires Maryland to appropriate at least $5 million annually to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2028, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is funded. This addresses a historical funding disparity between UMES (Maryland's 1890 land-grant university for historically Black students) and the University of Maryland, College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution), which received less state funding per student from 1987-2020. Funds must supplement - never replace - existing state budget allocations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty investment, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill mandates annual appropriations that cannot decrease year-over-year, aiming to fully remediate the identified funding gap.

Maddy summaryHB 1235 requires Maryland state agencies to use standardized evaluation criteria when awarding competitive procurement contracts, replacing the previous focus on lowest price. It mandates that all bid invitations include these criteria and that responsive bids must contain a State and local economic impact statement detailing how the contract would benefit Maryland's economy. This bill directly affects state agencies issuing procurement contracts and businesses bidding on those contracts by changing how bids are evaluated to prioritize the "most favorable" option based on predefined factors. The law amends Maryland's procurement statutes (Sections 13-103 and 13-104 of the Annotated Code) to implement these changes.