Rep. Jeff Long

Maddy summaryHB 1416 requires state government agencies and recipients of state funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment to set specific minority business enterprise participation targets for contracts involving EV charging equipment supply and installation. It modifies Maryland’s procurement code to mandate that for these contracts, agencies must establish a participation goal equivalent to their overall minority business target, rather than applying a general rate. The bill also directs the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs to create goals and procedures for this specific program, with recipients required to submit reports on compliance. This applies directly to state agencies and entities receiving state funds for EV infrastructure projects, aiming to increase minority-owned business involvement in a growing sector.

Maddy summaryHB 1524 requires employers with 15 or more employees in Maryland to provide parent employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually to attend school functions for their child enrolled in public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school. This includes events like parent-teacher conferences or school performances, with employees needing to submit proof within 48 hours after the event. Employers must pay at the employee’s regular rate and cannot force parents to use existing sick or vacation leave instead. The law applies to all qualifying employers, including government entities, and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 383 prohibits Maryland municipalities from restricting access to the area of municipal beaches above the mean high tide line solely to residents. If passed, it would prevent towns from charging non-resident fees or requiring residency to use these public beaches. The bill applies only to beaches owned by municipalities (not state parks) and specifically targets the accessible beach area affected by tides. It takes effect October 1, 2026, requiring municipalities to allow all public access to this beach zone regardless of residency. This directly affects all beachgoers and municipal beach management policies.

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 971 creates a workgroup to study whether Maryland should adopt a fee-for-service model for all Medicaid services, meaning providers would be paid directly per service (instead of through managed care organizations). The workgroup, composed of two legislators, a health care commission representative, and three Governor-appointed members (including a provider and an advocate), will assess the feasibility of this change. The study will examine how a fee-for-service model could work across the entire Medicaid program, including its impact on access and costs. The bill does not change current Medicaid policy but mandates this study to inform future decisions.

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 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 1494 modernizes Maryland's residential electricity and gas markets by allowing suppliers to offer time-of-use rates for terms longer than 12 months and combining electricity with green energy certificates in multi-year plans. It permits rates that exceed standard utility rates during peak times and exempts certain green power products from typical marketing and pricing rules. The bill requires the Public Service Commission to establish new rules for consolidated billing, cybersecurity, and fair interconnection of energy services. These changes directly affect residential customers choosing electricity/gas plans and suppliers offering those services, aiming to expand consumer options while adding new regulatory safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 1299 requires appraisers to notify buyers, sellers, or their designated point of contact if an appraisal value may be below the contract price or refinance estimate. Interested parties (like lenders or real estate agents) can then submit verified sales data or pending sale documentation within 48 hours for the appraiser to consider. The final appraisal report must include an addendum detailing the notification, submitted data, and whether the additional information changed the valuation. This applies to residential property transactions in Maryland and aims to standardize communication during the appraisal process.