Del. Kent Roberson

Maddy summaryHB 1238 would impose a surtax on the taxable income of Maryland residents with ultra-high net worth and a one-time wealth tax on their net worth exceeding a set threshold. It directly affects Maryland residents whose net worth surpasses the specified amount, requiring them to pay additional taxes based on their income and total assets. The revenue would fund the Maryland Strategic Investment and Stabilization Fund, which must be used to reduce the state’s budget deficit or support education, behavioral health services, affordable housing, and infrastructure - specifically as outlined in the bill’s provisions. The surtax applies to taxable income, while the wealth tax is a single payment calculated using fair market value of assets minus liabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland public schools to recognize autism diagnoses made by licensed medical, mental health, or educational professionals until the school completes its own initial evaluation. It mandates that schools begin their evaluation process within 30 days of receiving an external autism diagnosis and parental consent, while also requiring schools to provide supports recommended in the diagnosis during the evaluation period. The law specifies which professionals qualify for making external diagnoses, including developmental pediatricians, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists, and allows schools to offer alternative supports only if the original recommendations conflict with laws or pose safety risks. This legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring students with external autism diagnoses receive appropriate support during the school's evaluation timeline.

Maddy summaryHB 920 requires developers, builders, brokers, and real estate agents to enter the final sale price of new homes into a multiple listing service (MLS) or similar database within 30 days of the sale. This applies to all new home transactions in Maryland and aims to make final sale prices publicly accessible through real estate databases used for market evaluations and appraisals. The bill defines "multiple listing service" as a database utilized by real estate professionals. It takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires recipients of Maryland state and local government funding to report annually to the Comptroller on how they use those funds, including details about any contractors or subcontractors they hire. Entities receiving payments for providing goods or services must also include this information on their income tax returns, such as the number of employees, work locations, and whether contractors are certified minority businesses. The Comptroller will then compile this data and submit a summary report to the General Assembly each year, showing the percentage of in-state versus out-of-state contractors, average employee counts, and the share of minority business enterprises. These reporting requirements apply to state, county, and municipal government units as well as individuals and corporations that receive public funding.

Maddy summaryHB 350, the "Voting Rights Act of 2026," applies to local elections in Maryland counties and cities, protecting the voting rights of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. It prohibits election methods that weaken the voting power of these groups, preventing them from electing preferred candidates or influencing election outcomes. Courts will determine violations by examining past election patterns and federal voting rights standards, rather than requiring proof of discriminatory intent. If a violation is found, courts can order remedies like changing election systems, but must respect existing statewide election practices.

Maddy summaryHB 745 makes Maryland's senior income tax credit refundable, allowing eligible residents aged 65 or older to receive a cash refund if the credit exceeds their state tax liability. The credit applies to single seniors with federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 ($1,000 credit) and married couples filing jointly with income under $150,000 ($1,750 credit, or $1,000 if only one spouse qualifies). In specific fiscal years when state revenue estimates fall more than 3.75% below projections, the credit amount is reduced to $500 for singles ($50,000-$100,000 income) or $875 for married couples ($100,000-$150,000 income). This change ensures seniors receive the full credit amount as a refund rather than losing unused portions under previous non-refundable rules.

Maddy summaryHB 935 requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals, directly affecting women eligible for prerelease programs at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The bill mandates a separate facility meeting specific criteria: at least 3 acres, not within 1 mile of other prisons, and designed to house 1.25 times the 2024 prerelease-eligible population. It requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services (including gender-responsive programming) and report progress to legislative committees by a specified deadline. The facility must operate by June 1, 2023, with the Department of General Services directing procurement for its construction.

Maddy summaryHB 686, "Zoey's Law," increases penalties for drivers who flee police and cause death during the chase. It reclassifies causing death while attempting to elude police as a felony, raising the maximum penalty to 5 years for a first offense and 10 years for repeat offenses, with fines up to $5,000. The bill directly affects drivers who evade law enforcement and result in a fatality, replacing prior misdemeanor penalties. This change applies to all drivers who fail to stop for police signals (e.g., lights, sirens) and cause death, regardless of whether the driver was fleeing for a "crime of violence."

Maddy summaryHB 414 changes Maryland's jury service rules by removing a disqualification for people currently on parole or probation for crimes punishable by more than one year in prison. Previously, individuals serving such sentences (including parole) were barred from jury duty, but this bill eliminates that specific barrier. The bill maintains disqualifications for crimes involving perjury, witness intimidation, jury intimidation, or certain offenses under Maryland's Criminal Law (Title 8). It also preserves requirements that jurors must understand English to complete qualification forms. This change would allow more people with past convictions to serve on juries, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 551 repeals specific sections of Maryland's Criminal Law that prohibited certain drug paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia. It removes prohibitions related to items like syringes, packaging materials, and cutting agents used with controlled substances (excluding cannabis). The bill directly affects individuals who might possess these items under current law, as the repeal eliminates criminal penalties for such possession. This change modifies Maryland's legal definitions and prohibitions regarding drug paraphernalia by deleting the referenced sections from the Annotated Code.