Del. Marvin Holmes

Maddy summaryHB 853 (Maryland Second Look Act) allows individuals serving prison sentences of 20+ years to petition courts for sentence reduction under specific conditions. To qualify, petitioners must have served at least 20 years and wait 5 years after any prior petition, with a maximum of three petitions total. Courts must hold hearings considering factors like rehabilitation, victim input, the individual’s age at the offense, and safety risks, and must publicly state their reasons for granting or denying relief. The law applies retroactively to eligible individuals already serving long sentences.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland's tax code to exempt properties owned by public housing authorities (including Baltimore Housing Authority, Howard County Housing Commission, and Montgomery County Housing Authority) and certain nonprofit housing corporations from state and local taxes when used for housing eligible low-income residents. It requires these entities to make "payments in lieu of taxes" to local governments through negotiated agreements. The exemption applies to properties directly owned or held through subsidiary entities of these housing authorities. The changes update existing tax law under Maryland's Housing and Community Development code (Section 12-104).

Maddy summaryHB 1466 requires counties and municipalities in Maryland to adopt local rules allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - small secondary homes like backyard cottages or converted garages - on properties zoned for single-family homes by a specified deadline. It sets standards for approving ADU permits, calculating development fees, requiring parking spaces (both on- and off-street), and limiting utility fees or connection requirements for ADUs. The bill also prohibits property sale documents from restricting ADU development and allows homeowners associations to treat ADUs as separate lots for voting and fee purposes. This law directly affects single-family homeowners, local governments, and property associations by expanding housing options through updated zoning rules.

Maddy summaryHB 646 extends the deadline for a task force studying the creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and expanded reentry services. The bill delays the task force's report submission date from December 31, 2025, to October 31, 2026, and extends the task force's termination date from 2026 to 2027. This procedural bill amends previous legislation (Chapters 936 and 937 of the 2024 Acts) without changing the task force's purpose or creating new services. It directly affects the existing task force by providing additional time to complete its work.

Maddy summaryHB 1424, the "Protect Our Federal Workers Act," expands state financial assistance to Maryland residents affected by federal government disruptions beyond just shutdowns. It renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and broadens eligibility to include current federal employees not paid during shutdowns *and* Maryland residents recently terminated due to federal office closures, relocations, or mass layoffs. The bill allows funds from the state’s Catastrophic Event Account to cover costs for these individuals, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This changes existing law to provide loans for both ongoing shutdowns and post-layoff financial hardship from federal facility changes.

Maddy summaryHB 347 updates Maryland's requirements for recording land documents like deeds and mortgages. It mandates that all recorded instruments must use 10-point black type on white paper with specific margins (3-inch top, 1-inch sides), replacing older formatting rules. The bill also clarifies that "deeds of trust" only secure debt (not voluntary grants) and streamlines electronic recordation processes for county clerks. These changes directly affect real estate professionals, property owners, and attorneys who file property documents in Maryland. The bill modifies multiple sections of Maryland's real property code to standardize and modernize land record procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1534 establishes new requirements for condominium and homeowners associations in Maryland, directly affecting their governing bodies and unit or lot owners. The bill mandates that elections for governing bodies must be conducted by independent parties (not candidates or those with conflicts) or third-party vendors, and requires associations to accommodate unit owner organizing activities in common areas without retaliation. It prohibits charging owners for examining association records but allows reasonable fees for document copies, and sets specific timeframes (21-45 days) for providing financial statements or meeting minutes upon written request. The bill also expands the Division of Consumer Protection’s authority to enforce these provisions.

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 295 requires condominium and homeowners association (HOA) governing bodies to allow unit owners to comment during meetings, including at least one annual meeting with an open agenda. It mandates developers to appoint board members for condominiums and declarants to appoint governing bodies for HOAs if none exist, and requires these entities to maintain specific records and deliver bond notices. The bill directly affects unit owners (who gain comment rights), developers, and HOAs (who must comply with new appointment and record-keeping rules). Key mechanisms include standardized meeting notice requirements, mandatory annual open-comment meetings, and updated governance procedures for associations. These changes apply to all affected Maryland condominiums and HOAs under revised sections of the Real Property law.

Maddy summaryHB 1151 allows sellers of residential property to request a second appraisal if an initial appraisal values the property below its current market value. The bill requires lenders to provide a written copy of this additional appraisal to the seller at no cost. It directly affects residential property sellers who disagree with an initial appraisal, giving them a formal process to seek a revised valuation. The key provision ensures sellers receive a free, written copy of the second appraisal, addressing concerns about appraisal discrepancies during sales transactions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.