Rep. Dylan Behler

Maddy summaryHB 176 requires Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to create and maintain a statewide database of geographic images - including aerial photos and mapping tools - for property appraisals. It also mandates the Department of General Services to procure a uniform system for managing these tools. Counties and Baltimore City must reimburse the state for database costs: 100% of the first $1 million and 50% of any amount above that. The bill further requires the state to develop privacy policies by June 2026 to protect individuals' identities captured in aerial imagery. This affects local governments through cost-sharing and property appraisers through updated appraisal tools.

Maddy summaryHB 345, the "Affordable Solar Act," creates new rules for solar energy systems in Maryland. It allows homeowners to install portable solar systems (max 1,200 watts) without utility approval or fees, while establishing two new credit types: SRECs for smaller residential systems and SREC-IIs for larger distributed or utility-scale projects (over 5MW). The bill requires utilities to procure specific SREC-II credits and redirects certain fees into new escrow accounts instead of the Strategic Energy Investment Fund. These changes directly affect residential solar users, utilities, and solar developers by altering renewable energy compliance standards and financial mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 92 prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of beverage containers (like 6-packs of soda or beer) connected by plastic rings unless the ring is made of biodegradable material. It directly affects retailers and beverage sellers who currently use non-biodegradable plastic rings. The bill establishes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation (increasing to $2,000 for repeat offenses) and requires the Department to adopt enforcement regulations. Penalties collected under this law will fund the Maryland Clean Water Fund, with enforcement handled by the Department rather than local governments. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1344 requires Maryland's Department of General Services to assess all state-owned facilities to determine if they could be leased to child care centers (as defined in Maryland law). The department must report by December 1, 2026, including a full inventory of facilities and details on each facility's suitability and leasing availability for child care centers. The report must be submitted to the General Assembly and published online. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2027, after a two-year term.

Maddy summaryHB 767, the Tenant Possessions Recovery Act, updates Maryland landlord-tenant eviction procedures. It requires landlords to provide tenants with notice before an eviction order is executed and mandates that tenants' belongings be safely stored (not discarded) after eviction. The bill sets a 60-day deadline for landlords to act on eviction orders or risk losing the judgment, includes weather-related stays for extreme conditions (like freezing temps or storms), and prioritizes completing evictions within 5 days after weather ends. This directly affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction cases under Maryland law.

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 182 sets new civil penalties for speeding violations recorded by speed monitoring systems (photo radar), with fines increasing based on how much over the speed limit a driver was traveling - ranging from $40 for 12-15 mph over to $350 for 40+ mph over. It restricts where these systems can be used, limiting deployment to specific areas like residential zones (35 mph limits), school zones, and certain highways in Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, and Baltimore counties. Local jurisdictions must authorize the systems through public hearings and local laws before implementation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to civil penalties, not criminal charges.

Maddy summaryHB 707 (Eric’s ID Law) requires Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration to add a voluntary notation for nonapparent disabilities - such as developmental or intellectual disabilities - on driver’s licenses, ID cards, and moped permits. Applicants can choose to indicate this disability without providing proof or paying extra fees, and the notation will appear on the document’s bottom. The law prohibits the Administration from disclosing this information to insurers or using it to refer applicants to medical boards. It also mandates public outreach to inform people about this option. This directly affects individuals with nonapparent disabilities who apply for or renew these documents.

Maddy summaryHB 1144 would bar individuals alleged to have committed assault or caused bodily injury to transit staff or passengers from using Maryland's state public transit services or stations for set periods. First offenses trigger a 30-day exclusion, second offenses 180 days, and third offenses or weapon use result in a lifetime ban. State officials can adjust these exclusion periods, and violators face trespassing charges under existing law. The bill applies specifically to incidents occurring on transit vehicles or at transit stations, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1367 requires lead testing professionals to submit verified reports of test results to the Department, property owners, and tenants, and prohibits property owners from using related parties for these inspections. It imposes a civil penalty of up to $50,000 per day for anyone who falsifies information in these required reports. The law applies directly to lead inspectors, testing professionals, and property owners who employ them. Violations are treated as separate offenses for each day the false report remains in effect. The bill amends Maryland’s lead inspection laws to strengthen accountability for false documentation, effective October 1, 2025.