Del. Tiffany Alston

Maddy summaryHB 659 adds a new member position to Maryland's State Board of Education, requiring the Governor to appoint an early childhood development professional with extensive experience in child care operations and curriculum development. This member must be selected from a list of three candidates provided by the Office of Child Care Advisory Council. The bill directly affects the State Board's composition and ensures representation from early childhood education professionals, who will attend executive sessions but cannot vote on personnel appeals. The appointment process requires the Department to notify licensed child care providers of vacancies, and the position takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 673 prohibits local or state governments from restricting the sale, purchase, or use of consumer goods (such as vehicles, appliances, or other products) solely based on their energy source - like gasoline, electricity, natural gas, or propane. It repeals existing Maryland laws requiring low-emission vehicle programs and sales rules for zero-emission medium/heavy-duty trucks, ending those specific regulatory requirements. The law applies retroactively to all current restrictions and directly affects consumers, dealers, and manufacturers of energy-source-dependent goods. It does not alter federal emissions standards but removes state-level barriers to using diverse energy sources for everyday products.

Maddy summaryHB 567 changes Maryland's vehicle registration rules by requiring a single license plate for all standard vehicles (passenger, truck, and multipurpose) instead of the current two-plate requirement. This applies to most vehicles, except motorcycles, tractors, trailers, historic vehicles (50+ years old), and street rods (50+ years old), which already use single plates. The bill updates attachment rules: tractors must display the plate on the front, while all other single-plate vehicles must show it on the rear. It does not alter registration fees, special plate options, or county sticker requirements, focusing solely on simplifying plate issuance and mounting.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a rule that a minor's statement during a custodial interrogation is presumed involuntary and inadmissible in court if law enforcement intentionally used false information to obtain it. It directly affects minors facing juvenile or criminal charges, as their statements could be excluded from proceedings under this presumption. The presumption can be overcome only with clear and convincing evidence proving the statement was voluntary despite the false information. The law applies to all custodial interrogations of minors in Maryland, modifying admissibility standards under Maryland's judicial code.

Maddy summaryHB 642 requires Maryland electric companies to submit annual reports to the Public Service Commission by April 1. These reports must include geographic and demographic data on customers affected by: (1) service outages lasting 2+ hours, (2) scheduled maintenance outages (regardless of duration), (3) outages during severe weather (with restoration times), and (4) rate increases from the previous year. The bill directly affects all electric companies operating in Maryland and the Public Service Commission, which will use this data to assess customer impacts. It becomes effective October 1, 2026, adding this reporting requirement to Maryland’s Public Utilities law.

Maddy summaryHB 556 creates a property tax credit for Maryland households that spend a significant portion of their income on utilities. It allows Baltimore City or local counties to grant a credit against property taxes for "eligible individuals" who pay at least 25% of their household net income on utility services (electricity, gas, water, or internet) for their primary residence. Local governments would determine the credit amount, duration, and additional eligibility rules through their own ordinances. The credit applies to property taxes on the dwelling, not utility bills directly, and would take effect for taxable years starting after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 507 extends the funding period for a grant program supporting nonprofit organizations that provide automotive repair training and reentry services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The bill allows the Governor to appropriate $1 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2029 (previously ending in 2028) for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 people yearly, provide nationally recognized automotive repair certificates, and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. These organizations must report on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention. The extension ensures continued access to job training and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 738 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to establish an oversight process for major information technology development projects. It directly affects state agencies planning significant IT investments, mandating that they undergo formal review before proceeding with major spending decisions. The key provision creates a structured framework for evaluating project scope, budget, and risks prior to approval. This law, enacted on May 25, 2025, ensures greater accountability for large-scale state IT initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 500, the Procurement Reform Act of 2025, streamlines Maryland state government purchasing by transferring key authority from the Secretary of General Services to the Chief Procurement Officer. It adjusts dollar thresholds requiring public notice or reporting for procurements, modifies small business preference programs (including expanding eligibility for small business reserves), and adds new requirements for contractors to submit workforce diversity plans for contracts over $500,000. The bill also creates a procurement preference for businesses certified for "good labor practices" and mandates that certain agencies establish working groups to address procurement issues. These changes directly affect state agencies, contractors (especially small businesses), and the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, which gains oversight of new workforce diversity rules.

Maddy summaryHB 424 creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board with authority to set upper payment limits for prescription drugs causing affordability challenges in Maryland. The Board must consider costs like administration and delivery when setting limits, and it must reconsider limits if a drug becomes a "current shortage" (listed on the FDA shortage database or determined by the Board). This directly affects drug manufacturers (who set wholesale costs), pharmacies (receiving reimbursements), and healthcare providers, particularly those in the 340B program. The bill prohibits setting new limits for drugs in shortage and bans enforcement of limits against Medicare Part C/D plan reimbursements.