Del. William Wivell

Maddy summaryHB 1385 requires Maryland county school boards to create and implement policies promoting parental involvement in students' education. The bill mandates that these policies include specific provisions: parents must have access to curricula and instructional materials (via website or written copy), the right to withdraw students from certain activities or instruction, consent for gender pronoun usage differing from biological sex, and access to all student records. It also establishes a formal complaint process where parents can report violations to the county superintendent, who must investigate and respond within 14 days, followed by an appeal to the county board. The policy directly affects parents, students, and school personnel across Maryland’s public school system.

Maddy summaryHB 1202 redefines "drug trafficking crime" in Maryland law to explicitly include misdemeanors involving cannabis distribution (under sections 5-602(b)(1) and 5-603(b)). This change directly affects individuals convicted of misdemeanor cannabis distribution, as it now subjects them to the same firearm restrictions as felony drug traffickers. The bill adds that possessing a firearm "during and in relation to" such a misdemeanor (or felony) is a separate felony, carrying mandatory minimum sentences of 5 years for a first offense and 10 years for repeat offenses, with no parole eligibility. These provisions take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act of 2025, prevents Maryland state and local governments from suing businesses for financial or economic damages caused by global warming or climate change. It achieves this by adding a new legal provision that explicitly bars government agencies from filing such lawsuits, while clarifying that the law does not stop governments from enforcing existing environmental, health, or zoning regulations. The legislation defines "business" broadly to include various entities and financial institutions, and it takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1321 creates a refundable state income tax credit for Maryland small businesses (defined as entities with 50 or fewer employees, including those with no employees) to offset costs for specific cybersecurity measures. It allows a credit of up to $1,000 for an initial cybersecurity risk assessment and implementation, or up to $500 annually for recurring measures like antivirus software, multi-factor authentication, and data encryption. If the credit exceeds the business’s income tax liability, the excess is refundable. Businesses must submit proof of qualifying costs with their tax return to claim the credit, which applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 1329 allows natural gas energy systems to be constructed, permitted, and operated in Maryland with standard permitting requirements. It removes the Public Service Commission's authority to require investor-owned electric companies to build their own generating or transmission facilities under certain circumstances. The bill also states legislative support for developing additional nuclear energy (including small modular reactors) and encourages PJM Interconnection to expedite grid connections for new thermal generation projects. These changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1414 amends Maryland's building energy standards to exclude certain public safety, emergency, and public utility buildings from the definition of "covered building." This means police stations, fire departments, emergency shelters, and utility facilities (like power substations) will no longer be subject to the state's energy performance requirements. The bill modifies existing law by adding specific exclusions to the "covered building" definition, removing these facilities from the annual emissions reporting and reduction targets that apply to other large commercial buildings. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2025, without altering the energy standards for other covered buildings.

Maddy summaryHB 773, the "Right to Teach Act of 2025," allows public middle and high school teachers in Maryland to remove students from their classroom under specific conditions: if a student repeatedly disrupts learning (with prior documentation) or exhibits severely disruptive, abusive, or unruly behavior that significantly interferes with teaching or other students' learning. Teachers must document the behavior, submit it to the principal, and send the student to the principal or guidance counselor. The bill prohibits county school boards from disciplining teachers for following these removal procedures and requires principals to use restorative methods for students referred to counselors. This law directly affects teachers, students, and school administrators by changing classroom discipline protocols and protecting educators from retaliation. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1201 increases the annual mileage limit for vehicle emissions inspection exemptions in Maryland from 5,000 to 10,000 miles. It directly affects two groups: vehicles registered to individuals with disabilities (under special plates program) and vehicles owned by residents aged 70 or older. The bill modifies existing law to allow these vehicles to qualify for exemptions if driven 10,000 miles or less annually, while maintaining the same certification process requiring odometer verification and age/disability documentation. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1256 establishes Maryland’s first regulatory framework for fully autonomous vehicles (level 4-5 systems) operating without human drivers on state highways. It requires manufacturers to provide safety certification labels, owners to submit law enforcement interaction plans detailing emergency procedures, and vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" during system failures. The bill defines the automated driving system as the legal "operator" for traffic law compliance and mandates adherence to federal safety standards. This affects vehicle manufacturers, owners, and transportation companies seeking to deploy autonomous fleets in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1415 amends Maryland's building energy performance standards to explicitly exempt agricultural buildings from compliance requirements. The bill modifies the definition of "covered building" (currently requiring commercial buildings over 35,000 sq ft to meet emissions targets) to exclude agricultural buildings, which are defined as structures used for cultivating or producing agricultural crops, including greenhouses. This change ensures agricultural facilities - such as barns, processing centers, and greenhouses - are not subject to the state's 20% emissions reduction target by 2030 or net-zero requirement by 2040. The bill does not alter the core energy standards for other covered buildings but clarifies which structures are exempt.