Rep. William Wivell

Maddy summaryHB 186 would allow statewide Sunday bow hunting for deer during the full bow hunting season and for turkey using a bow throughout the turkey hunting season, removing current county-specific time restrictions. It directly affects bow hunters in all Maryland counties, replacing previous limits (like 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. in certain areas) with full-season Sunday hunting rights. The bill amends Maryland’s Natural Resources code to authorize the Department of Natural Resources to permit these activities without time-based limitations. This change applies to deer bow hunting season and turkey hunting season for bow users, affecting all counties uniformly. It does not alter hunting for firearms or other methods on Sundays.

Maddy summaryHB 133 reduces Maryland's individual and corporate income tax rates, with key changes to capital gains taxation. It exempts the first $10,000 of net capital gains from tax for residents aged 65 or older and removes income tax on capital gains from primary home sales (under $1.5 million), retirement accounts, and certain agricultural or conservation land. The bill also repeals the sales tax on data, information technology services, and software publishing. These changes directly affect Maryland residents and businesses subject to state income and sales tax.

Maddy summaryHB 894 creates a new permit process for incidental bat take in Maryland, replacing the existing Delmarva fox squirrel provision. It requires applicants (like developers or landowners) to submit a detailed conservation plan showing how they’ll minimize harm to bats, secure funding, and justify why alternatives weren’t used. The Secretary of Natural Resources must then verify the plan won’t harm bat recovery, impacts will be minimized, and funding is secured before issuing a permit. This directly affects projects in areas with bat habitats where accidental harm might occur during construction or land development.

Maddy summaryHB 893 changes Maryland's oyster fishing regulations by replacing license revocation with license suspension for certain violations. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to suspend (not revoke) oyster licenses for up to 2 years for first offenses or up to 10 years for repeat offenses involving violations like harvesting near closed areas, using prohibited gear, or harvesting outside time restrictions. The bill also creates a reinstatement process: individuals whose licenses were revoked before July 1, 2025, can regain their license after 2 years for a first violation or 10 years for a repeat violation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies directly to oyster harvesters in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1191 updates Maryland's child custody laws by requiring courts to consider specific factors when determining legal and physical custody. It strengthens protections for children by mandating courts to deny custody or visitation to parents with a history of abuse or neglect, and to prioritize safety arrangements if abuse is suspected. The bill also explicitly bars custody awards to parents convicted of murder (including out-of-state convictions) unless supervised visitation ensures the child's safety. These changes directly affect family courts and parents involved in custody disputes across Maryland. The law focuses on child safety and well-being, adding clear guidelines for judicial decisions without altering existing penalties or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 887 allows certified public accountants (CPAs) licensed in other states to practice in Maryland without obtaining a separate Maryland license, provided their home state's requirements are verified as substantially equivalent by NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) and they passed the Uniform CPA Exam. It directly affects out-of-state CPAs and their firms seeking to serve Maryland clients. Key provisions include eliminating fees, registration, and board notice for qualifying practitioners, while requiring them to comply with Maryland's disciplinary authority and laws. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1148 prohibits Maryland property and casualty insurers from denying residential condominium unit insurance coverage based solely on a prior temporary lapse in coverage. It specifically prevents denial if the lapse was the applicant’s choice (not the insurer’s action) and unrelated to the applicant’s claims history or losses. This directly affects condo owners seeking new insurance policies who previously faced refusal due to short coverage gaps. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all property/casualty insurers in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 704 expands eligibility for Maryland's Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program to include students attending the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. The bill amends existing law to add Meritus as a qualifying institution for osteopathic medicine programs, alongside established schools like the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins. This change directly affects full-time or part-time osteopathic medicine students at Meritus who meet residency, financial need, and enrollment requirements. The policy update does not alter scholarship amounts ($1,000-$5,000 annually) or the 8-semester maximum award period. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1459 alters the composition of Maryland's Western Maryland Economic Future Investment Board and updates the Senator George C. Edwards Fund. The bill adds two new nonvoting members (one from each legislative district, appointed by House/Senate leaders) and clarifies that the Executive Director serves as a nonvoting member who can break ties. It also updates the Fund's purpose to explicitly prioritize "creating jobs and significant economic development opportunities" and extends the requirement for the Governor to include a $10 million annual appropriation for the Fund through fiscal year 2031. These changes directly affect Western Maryland counties and local entities seeking grant or loan funding for economic development projects through the Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1200 expands Maryland's existing property tax credit program to include judicial officers, who were previously excluded. The bill modifies the tax code to allow counties or municipalities to grant a property tax credit on a dwelling owned by a judicial officer who is disabled, a surviving spouse of a judicial officer who died in the line of duty, or a qualifying cohabitant. It defines "judicial officer" and "public safety officer" to explicitly include judicial roles, requires local governments to define these terms in their laws, and applies the credit retroactively to past years. This change directly affects judicial officers, their families, and cohabitants who meet the eligibility criteria for the tax credit.