Del. Veronica Turner

Maddy summaryHB 1394, the "Not On Our Dime Act," prohibits Maryland-registered nonprofit organizations (specifically those exempt under IRS 501(c)(3)/(4)) from knowingly providing unauthorized support to Israeli government or citizen activities in occupied territories that violate the Geneva Conventions. It bans actions like transferring Israeli civilians into occupied areas, violence against protected persons (including Palestinians), property destruction, or forced evictions. The bill allows the Maryland Attorney General or harmed individuals to sue violators for at least $1 million in damages, and requires the Secretary of State to remove offending nonprofits from charitable solicitation registries after a legal judgment. The law applies to nonprofits operating in Maryland and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 1287 prohibits manufacturing, selling, purchasing, receiving, or transferring "convertible pistols" in Maryland. A convertible pistol is defined as any semiautomatic pistol that can be converted into a machine gun solely by attaching a switch or auto-sear. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Law to specifically target these firearms, directly affecting anyone handling such weapons or their conversion components. It does not ban all semiautomatic pistols, only those that meet this specific conversion definition. The law aims to prevent the use of devices that enable rapid-fire capabilities through simple attachment.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJ 4) is a non-binding ceremonial measure affirming Maryland's support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as foundational to the American Dream. It does not create new laws or policies but formally encourages state, local, and federal entities to uphold DEI principles. The resolution directs certified copies to federal leaders including the President, Vice President, and congressional leadership, citing DEI's historical role in civil rights advancements. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact on constituents or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1346, the PACE Act, protects criminal defendants and juvenile respondents from having their creative works (like music, poetry, art, or film) used as evidence against them in court. The bill requires courts to make four specific findings before admitting such expression: that the creator intended it literally (not figuratively), it directly relates to the specific crime, it addresses disputed facts, and it has unique value not available through other evidence. This applies to all criminal and juvenile proceedings, with an exception allowing creative expression to be used in juvenile cases for mental health evaluations. The law aims to prevent artistic expression from being misinterpreted as confessions or evidence of guilt without strong judicial scrutiny.

Maddy summaryHB 1150 prohibits intentionally sharing personal identifying information or images of individuals under age 25 on public internet sites or forums without their permission and with the intent to intimidate or harm. It directly affects anyone who posts such details online about people under 25, including names, addresses, phone numbers, biometric data, school addresses, or financial information. The bill defines "disseminate" broadly to cover public online sharing and sets misdemeanor penalties of up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine for violations. It explicitly states the law won't override free speech protections under U.S. or Maryland constitutions.

Maddy summaryHB 692 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to study whether video toll facilities in Maryland can reliably capture only the rear license plate of vehicles instead of both front and rear plates. The study must identify necessary system upgrades and assess potential impacts, such as accuracy or enforcement effects, of this change. The Authority must complete the study and report findings to the Governor and legislature by December 1, 2025. This bill does not implement the change but evaluates its feasibility for future consideration. The study directly affects toll operations managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority.

Maddy summaryHB 499 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) changes Maryland’s expungement process to make it easier for people with certain misdemeanor convictions to clear their records. It reduces waiting periods after completing a sentence (removing the previous 3-year limit for some offenses), expands eligibility to include more misdemeanor convictions, and requires courts to confirm restitution payments are made or unpayable before expungement. The bill also prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing expunged records. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 498, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs by repealing the Maryland Economic Development Commission and creating a new Strategic Closing Fund within the Department of Commerce. It updates eligibility rules for existing programs like the Build Our Future Grant Pilot and Child Care Capital Support Fund, expands financial assistance for projects in RISE zone areas, and modifies tax credit calculations for businesses (including film production and biotechnology). The bill affects businesses seeking economic development incentives, local governments managing RISE zones, and state agencies administering these programs. Key changes include altering how certain tax credits are calculated, waiving filing fees for businesses in designated zones, and extending or terminating specific tax credit programs. The act streamlines oversight by consolidating programs under the new Strategic Closing Fund structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1406 requires utility companies applying for state approval certificates (like for power lines or water systems) to submit an environmental impact analysis and, if applicable, an existing burden report detailing impacts on vulnerable communities. This affects any entity seeking permission to build or operate utility infrastructure, particularly projects in areas with high environmental justice scores as defined by Maryland's EJ Tool. The Public Service Commission cannot approve applications without these documents and must assess whether the reports indicate significant environmental or community impacts. If approved conditionally, applicants must also enter into a mitigation fund agreement to address cumulative impacts.