Rep. Brian Crosby

Maddy summaryHB 1036, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, streamlines approval for solar energy projects in Maryland by changing how the Public Service Commission reviews applications. The bill requires the Commission to consider climate change impacts when reviewing projects and prohibits local governments from blocking solar installations through certain regulations or delaying site development plans. It also mandates that local governments expedite reviews for qualifying solar projects and establishes rules for community solar programs and residential rooftop solar systems. This directly affects renewable energy developers, local governments, and homeowners installing solar equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 270 requires Maryland's Department of Environment, Maryland Energy Administration, and University of Maryland School of Business to jointly study the environmental, energy, and economic impacts of data center development in the state. The analysis must evaluate effects on air/water quality, Chesapeake Bay goals, energy demand and costs for ratepayers, greenhouse gas targets, tax revenues, and job creation. The agencies must submit a final report to the Governor and legislature by September 1, 2026, and the law expires automatically on June 30, 2027. This bill mandates a factual assessment but does not change data center regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1037 creates the Integrated Resource Planning Office within Maryland's Public Service Commission to develop a 25-year comprehensive energy forecast (2025-2050) analyzing electricity demand, greenhouse gas reduction goals, and reliability. The bill requires electric companies to develop integrated resource plans based on this forecast, which must include projections for statewide and regional demand, scenarios for meeting energy needs and emissions targets, financial impacts on ratepayers, and recommendations for generation, transmission, and storage. The Office must conduct a supporting study by September 2026, examining energy storage viability, potential independent distribution operators, and grid modernization opportunities. This legislation directly affects electric utilities, the Public Service Commission, and Maryland ratepayers through new planning requirements and transparency about energy strategy costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and implement training for transportation sector employees (including those at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Employers must certify employees have completed the training by January 1, 2026, and establish reporting procedures to local agencies and trafficking prevention policies. The bill also protects employees and employers from liability for good-faith reports or responses to suspected trafficking incidents. Additionally, it mandates bilingual safety announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs.

Maddy summaryHB 984 applies to electric cooperatives and small utility companies (with under 3% of Maryland’s total utility revenue) by modifying how the Public Service Commission reviews rate changes. It requires the Commission to hold new proceedings within 90 days if a rate proposal is suspended, ensuring any revenue adjustment maintains the existing rate of return or debt coverage ratio without changing the rate structure. The bill also sets strict timelines (90 days for initial decisions, 120 days for further actions) and prevents frequent rate filings by requiring a 90-day waiting period between proposals. This streamlines the process for these specific utilities while maintaining consistency with past rate-setting methods.

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 227 clarifies that unclaimed capital credits owed to past members of electric cooperatives - after at least five years of being retired and unclaimed - are not considered "abandoned property" under Maryland law. This bill directly affects electric cooperatives and their former members by preventing these funds from being turned over to the state. Cooperatives may only use these "nonescheat capital credits" to assist current members (per their charter powers) or make donations to approved nonprofit organizations. The law specifically defines these funds and ensures cooperatives remain obligated to refund them if a past member claims them.

Maddy summaryHB 460 prohibits individuals from standing in roadways, median dividers, or intersections in St. Mary's County to solicit money or donations from vehicle occupants. The bill directly affects people who currently approach moving or stopped vehicles on public roads to ask for money, such as for charities or personal requests. It amends Maryland law to specifically ban this activity in St. Mary's County (alongside several other counties) by adding the prohibition to the Vehicle Laws section. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 980 expands eligibility for Maryland's Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to include military dependents (sons, daughters, stepchildren, or surviving spouses) who are eligible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Chapter 35 Survivors' Dependents' Educational Assistance. The bill simplifies verification by allowing applicants to submit a Chapter 35 eligibility certificate, or if unavailable, have a school official verify their eligibility instead. This change directly affects military families who previously faced barriers in proving Chapter 35 eligibility for the scholarship. The bill modifies Maryland's Education Article sections 18-601(c)(1), (d)(2)(vii), and (f)(1) to implement these changes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1439 exempts health benefit plans issued through professional employer organizations (PEOs), coemployers, or employee leasing organizations from certain Maryland health insurance requirements that apply to other plans. This directly affects small employers (defined as those with an average of 50 or fewer employees) who use PEOs to provide health benefits to their workers. The bill modifies Maryland’s insurance code to create a specific exemption, removing the need for PEOs to comply with standard health plan rules under Section 15-1204.1(a)(2). This change simplifies access to health benefits for small businesses using PEO services without altering the core requirements for other health plan providers.