Del. Todd Morgan

Maddy summaryHB 742 prohibits solar energy developers from using eminent domain to acquire private land for constructing solar generating stations. The bill amends Maryland's public utilities code (specifically sections 7-207, 7-207.1, 7-207.2, and 7-208) to explicitly state that no person may exercise eminent domain rights for solar energy projects. This directly affects solar energy companies seeking to build facilities without landowner consent. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and removes an existing legal pathway for solar developers to compel land purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 695 repeals a requirement that Maryland's motor fuel tax rates automatically increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), changing how fuel tax revenue is calculated. The bill bans vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) taxes and similar fees, including requiring devices to track mileage in private vehicles. It also sets specific farebox recovery targets for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), limits when MTA can raise fares, and removes public hearing requirements for certain fare changes. This directly affects drivers (through fuel tax changes), MTA (via fare rules), and local governments (by prohibiting new transportation fees). The bill modifies existing tax and transportation laws without adding new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 613 requires Maryland courts to remove identifying information (like names, addresses, or phone numbers) from court documents in sexual assault cases, unless a judge finds "good cause" to disclose it. It specifically protects victims of sexual assault (defined as alleged victims of certain crimes under Maryland's Criminal Law Article) by mandating redaction of their personal details from all filings, including existing case documents, upon written request. The law also requires the Supreme Court of Maryland to establish rules for implementing this redaction process. This applies to both new court filings and existing cases in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings involving sexual assault. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 483 removes the previous $300 annual cap on tax credits for hunters donating processed antlerless deer meat to qualified charities. It establishes a new credit limit of $75 per deer for expenses related to butchering and processing the meat, replacing the prior annual maximum. The bill affects individual hunters who donate to 501(c)(3) organizations, requiring donations to comply with state hunting laws. It also adds reporting requirements for donation programs to the Comptroller by January 31 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 187 creates a new felony offense for exploiting government benefits (such as Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, or veterans' benefits) by knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining individuals to appropriate their benefits for personal gain or to benefit others. It specifically prohibits using deception, coercion (like threatening harm or financial control), isolation, or exploitation tactics to take these benefits, and also bans profiting from such exploitation or aiding in it. Violations carry penalties of up to 25 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects vulnerable individuals who receive government benefits and targets those who exploit them for financial gain. It takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 137 prohibits students charged with a crime of violence (as defined in Maryland law) from attending public schools in person until the charge is dismissed or the student is found not delinquent. The bill requires local school systems to provide separate, alternative learning options for these students, such as home-based instruction or specialized programs, distinct from regular classrooms. These options must align with existing policies for students under similar legal supervision. The law applies specifically to public school students in Maryland and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 29 requires payment processors and card issuers to exclude tax and gratuity amounts from electronic payment transaction fees. It mandates that credit/debit card issuers refund merchants for interchange fees incorrectly charged on tax and gratuity portions of transactions. The bill also prohibits certain entities from using electronic payment data for specific purposes and treats violations as unfair trade practices under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act. This directly affects merchants processing card payments, card issuers, and payment processors in Maryland.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland county mental health advisory committees to better include voices from the military and veteran communities. It achieves this by adding a new category that allows the appointment of individuals with experience in mental health care for veterans or those currently serving in the military. The change ensures that these specific groups are represented alongside existing categories such as patients, family members, and medical professionals. This adjustment aims to broaden the committee's perspective on mental health services without altering the overall structure or voting powers of the advisory body.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Melanie Nicholle Diaz Fire Safety Act, establishes new fire safety requirements for residential rental high-rise buildings in Maryland to improve occupant protection. It mandates the installation of specific smoke detectors in public corridors of these buildings starting July 1, 2024, and requires owners to post notices if their buildings lack complete automatic sprinkler systems. The legislation also ensures that tenants who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing receive appropriate notification appliances without having to pay for them or provide documentation. Additionally, the bill creates a workgroup to develop best practices for pre-1974 high-rise apartments and allows local governments to offer property tax credits for buildings that make qualifying fire safety improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland's tax exemption for parts and equipment used to repair, maintain, or upgrade aircraft. It keeps the exemption in place for smaller planes under 12,500 pounds and larger planes used primarily in interstate or foreign commerce. The law removes the requirement for the state Comptroller to report annually on lost tax revenue and job changes related to the exemption. Additionally, it extends the exemption's expiration date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030.