Del. Kris Fair

Maddy summaryHB 187 creates a new felony offense for exploiting government benefits (such as Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, or veterans' benefits) by knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining individuals to appropriate their benefits for personal gain or to benefit others. It specifically prohibits using deception, coercion (like threatening harm or financial control), isolation, or exploitation tactics to take these benefits, and also bans profiting from such exploitation or aiding in it. Violations carry penalties of up to 25 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects vulnerable individuals who receive government benefits and targets those who exploit them for financial gain. It takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 278 modifies Maryland's income tax code to expand the definition of "enhanced agricultural management equipment" eligible for a tax subtraction benefit. It adds a provision allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to determine by regulation what additional equipment qualifies, beyond the current list (e.g., no-till planters, manure injection systems). This change would let Maryland farmers deduct 100% of costs for qualifying new equipment (or 50% for vertical tillage equipment) from their taxable income. The bill directly affects Maryland farmers purchasing eligible agricultural equipment who claim this tax benefit.

Maddy summaryHB 167 increases Maryland's vehicle excise tax rate from 6% to 6.75% of a vehicle's fair market value, effective July 1, 2025. It maintains a $100 minimum tax for all vehicles and applies to new title registrations and vehicles registered interstate without a title. The bill amends sections 13-809(b) and (c) of Maryland's Transportation Article. This change affects all Maryland residents who register vehicles, including those transferring from other states.

Maddy summaryHB 215 authorizes Maryland's State Board of Elections to use ranked-choice voting in the 2028 statewide primary election for selecting a political party's candidate for President of the United States. If implemented, the State Board must develop and fund a voter education campaign about ranked-choice voting and submit a report on its use by January 1, 2029. The bill also requires the State Board to adopt regulations for reviewing and certifying election-supporting technology, such as electronic pollbooks and risk-limiting audit tools. These changes will affect how presidential nomination contests are conducted and how election technology is managed in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 51 requires local news organizations meeting specific criteria to provide written notice at least 120 days before a sale. This applies to entities publishing regular local news (print, digital, or both) with full-time journalists covering their community, disclosing ownership, and not primarily funded by political groups. The notice must be sent to affected employees, the county governing body, and nonprofit buyers of local news. The sale cannot be completed without this notice being provided, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes fees on telephone and mobile service providers to fund Maryland's behavioral health crisis response system. It requires traditional phone companies to pay a fee per subscriber and prepaid wireless providers to pay a fee on each retail transaction, with all collected money going into a dedicated state trust fund. The fund is designated to cover the costs of maintaining the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline and supporting statewide crisis services such as call centers, mobile teams, and stabilization facilities. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state Comptroller audit how these fees are collected and limits the amount of revenue that can be used for administrative expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland county mental health advisory committees to better include voices from the military and veteran communities. It achieves this by adding a new category that allows the appointment of individuals with experience in mental health care for veterans or those currently serving in the military. The change ensures that these specific groups are represented alongside existing categories such as patients, family members, and medical professionals. This adjustment aims to broaden the committee's perspective on mental health services without altering the overall structure or voting powers of the advisory body.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law updates rules on how contraceptives are sold and allows registered nurses to provide certain nonprescription medications without a doctor's order. The bill removes criminal penalties for selling contraceptives through vending machines in schools and clarifies that only natural membrane condoms, not all nonlatex condoms, are banned from such machines. It also authorizes a committee to create a list of over-the-counter drugs and devices that registered nurses can dispense at local health departments. Additionally, the legislation defines key terms like "dispense" and "authorized prescriber" to guide how nurses handle these medications. These changes aim to improve access to reproductive health products and expand the role of nurses in public health settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Qualified Resident Enrollment Program to help individuals in Maryland who currently lack health insurance access enroll in qualified plans. It defines "qualified residents" as people living in the state who are not incarcerated, regardless of their immigration status, and who do not qualify for existing federal or state assistance programs like Medicaid or Medicare. The program allows the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to manage enrollment, potentially with help from a third-party contractor, and requires a specific federal waiver approval before it can begin. Additionally, the legislation creates a dedicated fund to finance the program's operations and administration, ensuring it has the necessary resources to function.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill redefines consent in sexual crime laws to mean a clear and voluntary agreement, explicitly stating that past relationships, clothing choices, or submission due to fear do not constitute consent. It removes the requirement for force or threats to prove a crime, instead making the lack of consent a standalone element that can be shown through words or actions. The law also clarifies that consent can be withdrawn at any time and cannot be documented in writing. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Maryland Judiciary report annual statistics on sexual crime charges and convictions, broken down by county and demographic factors, until 2029.