Rep. William Wivell

Maddy summaryHB 609 repeals a requirement that $25 million of State Transfer Tax revenue be allocated to the General Fund for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. Instead, the bill redirects this funding to remain in the Land Preservation Special Fund, increasing resources for conservation programs. The fund's revenue is allocated as follows: 75.15% for Program Open Space land acquisition, 17.05% for Agricultural Land Preservation, 5% for Rural Legacy, and 1.8% for Heritage Conservation. This change directly affects state land conservation efforts by ensuring more funds stay dedicated to these programs during the specified years.

Maddy summaryHB 1518 changes Maryland's property tax assessment cycle from every three years to every five years for most real property. This affects all Maryland property owners by reducing how frequently their property values are reassessed for tax purposes. The bill maintains that revaluation is still required if specific events occur, such as zoning changes, major improvements adding $100,000+ in value, or errors in calculation. It also preserves property owners' rights to appeal assessments and request re-inspections during the five-year cycle. The bill amends multiple sections of Maryland's tax code to implement this extended cycle.

Maddy summaryHB 1396 establishes a 18-member Commission to study and recommend improvements for Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. The Commission includes diverse stakeholders like legislative leaders, education officials, county representatives, teachers, advocates, parents, and students. It will specifically examine school funding formulas (including rural/urban poverty differences), statutory staffing ratios, and educator career ladder impacts. The Commission’s findings will inform future policy decisions but will not change current law directly. This is a study commission focused on long-term fiscal sustainability and student achievement implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1347 (Bri’s Law) creates a 7-member task force to study Maryland’s post-incarceration support systems. The task force, including state legislators, corrections officials, and prosecutors, will examine all release types from prison and current programs designed to prevent reoffending. It must submit recommendations to the Governor and legislature by July 2027, after which the task force automatically expires on June 30, 2028. This bill does not change existing services but mandates a review of current postrelease requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 966 sets a 90-day maximum timeframe for appeals regarding county board decisions to remove a county superintendent or county board member. It directly affects county school boards, superintendents, and the State Board of Education by requiring their established appeals process to resolve such cases within 90 days. Exceptions allow extensions if due process demands it or if the State Board determines an extension is necessary for public health or safety. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to add this specific deadline to the State Board’s enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that Maryland vehicle emissions inspections can only result in a failure for three specific reasons: missing required emissions equipment, misfueling, or failing to meet emissions standards. It restricts inspectors from citing other grounds for failure during biennial exhaust emissions tests or emissions equipment/misfueling inspections. The law applies to all vehicles subject to Maryland's emissions testing program, effective October 1, 2026. This change standardizes inspection outcomes by limiting failure determinations to these defined technical issues.

Maddy summaryMaryland's HB 1388 establishes a 5-year pilot program for rotational oyster harvesting in four designated Chesapeake Bay areas: the Lower Choptank River, Lower Main Stem Chesapeake Bay, Herring Bay, and Lower Chester. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to open one different oyster bed in these areas each oyster season (2026-2029), conduct baseline surveys before opening, and monitor areas after closing. Harvesters must replace oyster shells where they were taken to support habitat recovery. The program directly affects commercial oyster harvesters and the state agency managing Chesapeake Bay resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1525 would require Maryland to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by January 1, 2027, ending the state's participation in a regional program that sets carbon emission limits for power plants. The bill eliminates a surcharge utilities used to recover costs for energy efficiency programs (EmPOWER), directly affecting how these programs are funded. It also limits the amount of electricity that can be purchased or credited under community solar programs. Maryland could rejoin RGGI if all other PJM Interconnection states become full members or if the state becomes a net electricity exporter.

Maddy summaryHB 1217 modifies Maryland's building energy standards by adding specific exemptions for certain covered buildings. It exempts facilities housing "permanent sensitive compartmented information facilities" (like military or government sites) and excludes energy use related to sterilization and emergency backup power in healthcare, laboratories, and similar facilities from emissions targets. The bill updates existing requirements that mandate 20% emissions reductions by 2030 and net-zero by 2040 for commercial buildings over 35,000 sq. ft. These changes clarify which building types and energy uses are not subject to the energy use intensity targets under Maryland law.

Maddy summaryHB 1350 changes how child abuse and neglect reports are handled in Maryland. It requires mandatory reporters (like teachers, healthcare workers, and social service staff) to submit reports directly to the State Department of Human Services (DHS) instead of local social services or police. The bill creates a centralized DHS intake system to record, assess report validity, and assign cases to local departments for investigation. It specifically updates reporting procedures for substance-exposed newborns and cases involving individuals registered for child-related offenses. This reform aims to streamline reporting while maintaining direct oversight by local agencies for investigations.