Del. Kris Fair

Maddy summaryHB 1457 replaces the existing annual surcharge ($100-$125) for zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles with a new annual highway use fee for owners of alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., propane, natural gas), fuel-efficient vehicles (25+ MPG combined), and plug-in electric vehicles. The fee is calculated as 85% of the estimated motor fuel tax a comparable vehicle would pay annually, based on fuel efficiency and mileage. Owners may opt into a voluntary mileage-based user fee program administered by the Department of Transportation instead of paying the highway use fee. This bill directly affects owners of these specific vehicle types registered in Maryland, shifting the payment mechanism while maintaining revenue for the Transportation Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1370 creates three new regional transportation authorities for Baltimore, the Capital (Annapolis/Baltimore corridor), and Southern Maryland regions. It establishes dedicated transportation funds for each region, funded by 70% of sales tax surcharges and hotel surcharges collected within each area. The remaining 30% of these revenues must be distributed to local counties and municipalities based on their share of taxable activity. These funds are designed to be permanent ("nonlapsing") and earn interest, which automatically adds to the fund balance. The bill directs these funds specifically toward developing and implementing regional transportation plans.

Maddy summaryHB 709 allows Maryland counties to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid "good cause" reason (like nonpayment or lease violations) to evict tenants or refuse lease renewals, rather than allowing no-cause evictions. If a county adopts such a law, landlords must disclose in writing whether they are subject to it and provide specific ownership details (including property counts) using forms developed by the state Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. The bill also mandates that landlords include this disclosure in leases and court filings related to evictions. This applies only to tenants and landlords in counties that choose to implement these local protections, not statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 885 requires that investigation records related to police misconduct complaints found "unfounded" (allegations not factually supported) or "exonerated" (officer followed law/policy) be removed from an officer’s personnel record three years after the finding by an administrative committee or trial board. This directly affects police officers whose complaints are dismissed, as it limits the duration those records remain in their official files. The bill amends Maryland law to mandate this removal, ensuring such records do not permanently impact an officer’s personnel history. It does not change how complaints are investigated or processed, only the retention period for dismissed cases. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 modifies Maryland's process for changing sex designation on birth certificates and identification cards. It removes the prior requirement for medical treatment or diagnosis to update sex designation, instead allowing individuals (or their legal representatives for minors) to request a change through a written affidavit under penalty of perjury. The bill also updates options for indicating sex designation on driver's licenses, ID cards, and moped permits issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration. This directly affects transgender, intersex, and non-binary individuals seeking to align official documents with their gender identity, as well as parents updating birth certificate parentage information. The key change streamlines the process by eliminating medical certification as a mandatory step.

Maddy summaryHB 1422 establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and recommend benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by historical inequitable government policies (such as housing segregation and redlining during the Jim Crow era). The Commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, historians, community representatives, and public members, will examine U.S. reparations models and potential benefits like monetary compensation, tax rebates, or housing assistance. It must submit a preliminary report by January 2027 and a final report by November 2027 to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on research and recommendations, not on implementing specific reparations.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 allows Maryland hospitals to sell unpaid patient medical debt to nonprofit organizations *only* if the nonprofit cancels the debt. This directly affects hospitals (requiring them to amend financial policies) and patients with outstanding medical bills who may have their debt forgiven through this process. Key provisions mandate hospitals to dismiss all pending legal actions for sold debt and prohibit any further collection efforts - including on judgments - on debt sold to qualifying nonprofits. The bill also updates hospital reporting requirements to include demographic data on debt collection practices, but its core change centers on enabling debt cancellation via nonprofit partnerships.

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 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 1015 requires all Maryland public middle schools to begin instruction no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and public high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It directly affects every public middle, high, and charter school in Maryland, mandating later start times unless a waiver is granted. County boards and charter schools must also implement public awareness campaigns about sleep deprivation and the benefits of later start times. Waivers for earlier start times are permitted only for compelling reasons, such as natural disasters or severe weather, as determined by the State Board of Education.