Del. Ken Kerr

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJ 6) is a symbolic statement by Maryland's General Assembly expressing support for nuclear disarmament efforts. It formally joins 73 other jurisdictions (including seven states and over 75 counties/municipalities) that have passed similar "Back from the Brink" resolutions. The resolution urges Maryland's U.S. Congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the five key policies of the Back from the Brink initiative (like ending hair-trigger alerts and ending first-use nuclear policies). It also calls on the U.S. President and Senate to endorse the international treaty banning nuclear weapons. As a resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal position statement.

Maddy summaryHB 1059 creates the HEALTH Fund to provide supplemental financial assistance for Maryland Medicaid recipients and privately insured residents facing healthcare costs impacted by federal funding restrictions. It establishes an optional income tax checkoff on state tax returns, allowing residents to make voluntary contributions to the fund. The Comptroller would collect these donations, deduct administrative costs, and deposit the remaining funds into the HEALTH Fund. The fund can only be used for direct healthcare assistance (not administrative expenses) and must supplement, not replace, existing state healthcare funding for eligible individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 1500 allows non-resident drivers from neighboring states to obtain a Maryland Class B commercial driver's license with a school bus or passenger vehicle endorsement, provided they already hold the equivalent license and endorsements from their home state. This removes the current requirement that such drivers must be Maryland residents. The bill also clarifies that a school bus endorsement automatically covers passenger vehicles (those transporting 16+ passengers including the driver). The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 restricts federal immigration enforcement agencies from accessing Maryland state and local government databases without a valid warrant. It requires state/local law enforcement agencies, DMV, and other government units to deny federal requests for personal information, photos, or facial recognition data unless accompanied by a federal or Maryland court warrant. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on all such federal requests received, including how many were denied or granted with warrants. This directly affects Maryland state agencies, local governments, and federal immigration officers seeking access to these databases.

Maddy summaryHB 651 increases Maryland's Public Service Commission from five to seven commissioners and establishes specific geographic residency requirements for each position. It requires one commissioner to represent Western Maryland (five counties), one for Southern Maryland (three counties), one for the Eastern Shore (nine counties), two for Central Maryland (five counties and Baltimore City), and two for the Capital Region (two counties). The bill also mandates the Commission submit a slate of nominees for the two new Western and Southern Maryland seats to the Governor by August 1, 2025, and alters the process for appointing the Commission's Chair from among its members. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, applying only to future appointments, not current commissioners.

Maddy summaryHB 501 (RAISE Act) simplifies licensing for workers who complete approved apprenticeships. It allows the State Board of Plumbing to waive the journey plumber exam for those who finish an approved program, and authorizes the Secretary of Labor to waive exams for other licensed trades under similar conditions. The bill creates new programs, including the Maryland Office of Registered Apprenticeship Development and an Apprenticeship Incentive Program, funded by a nonlapsing special fund for interest earnings. These changes directly affect apprentices, licensed trades workers (like plumbers), and employers participating in approved training programs. The law applies retroactively to existing apprenticeship completions.

Maddy summaryHB 657 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new power transmission lines, such as using existing lines from other companies, existing rights-of-way, upgrading current lines, or burying lines underground. The Commission must consider these alternatives when they help preserve historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, avoid residential zones, or align with local growth plans. This law applies to utility companies seeking to expand transmission infrastructure and takes effect on October 1, 2025. It removes a previous requirement for the Commission to verify whether an existing line's owner has a franchise in the area.

Maddy summaryHB 812 allows nursing homes to direct their electronic health network or medical record vendors to release patient records to the nursing home’s business partners. Vendors must provide these records electronically in a standard format, without charging fees or delaying releases, to support patient care. The Maryland Attorney General can enforce this rule, and affected individuals or entities can sue for violations to seek damages or court orders. This bill modifies existing health code provisions and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 735 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from Maryland's Certificate of Need (CON) requirements. This means psychiatric health care facilities and providers offering mental health services no longer need state approval to establish, operate, or expand these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the definition of "medical service" in Section 19-120(a)(6)(i) and removing it from the list of services requiring a CON under Section 19-120(j)(iii)(5). This directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health providers by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for their operations.

Maddy summaryHB 948 authorizes the City of Frederick to use noise abatement monitoring systems to enforce motor vehicle noise laws, while extending existing programs in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. The bill allows local jurisdictions to deploy up to three fixed or mobile systems after public hearings, requiring online posting of locations and visible signage. Systems must automatically capture license plates, decibel levels exceeding limits by 5dB, and audio recordings, with a review process for disputed citations. This directly affects vehicle owners in these areas who may receive citations and local law enforcement agencies managing the monitoring programs.