Rep. Dylan Behler

Maddy summaryHB 1 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and implement training for transportation sector employees (including those at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Employers must certify employees have completed the training by January 1, 2026, and establish reporting procedures to local agencies and trafficking prevention policies. The bill also protects employees and employers from liability for good-faith reports or responses to suspected trafficking incidents. Additionally, it mandates bilingual safety announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs.

Maddy summaryHB 731 establishes the Maryland Connectivity Coalition to coordinate wildlife protection efforts, creates a Wildlife Connectivity Fund for habitat projects, and requires the State Highway Administration to include wildlife data in transportation planning. It directly affects the State Highway Administration, county planners, and wildlife conservation efforts by mandating that counties consider habitat connectivity when updating local plans. Key provisions include prioritizing highway crossings in high-collision areas and locations dividing habitats of threatened/endangered species. The bill aims to reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions and protect species from habitat fragmentation through coordinated planning and funding.

Maddy summaryHB 744 updates Maryland's traffic safety laws by increasing penalties for dangerous driving. It defines reckless driving as driving 30+ miles per hour over the speed limit (previously undefined), adds 2 points to a driver's record for negligent driving, and adds 6 points for speeding over 30 mph above the limit. The bill also redefines aggressive driving as committing two or more specific traffic violations (like tailgating or illegal passing) during a single driving period, with fines up to $1,000. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of these offenses, with the law taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 9 clarifies key terms for Maryland's Food System Resiliency Council, defining "healthy food priority areas" as predominantly lower-income neighborhoods with limited access to affordable healthy food, and "wasted food" to include donations, composting, animal feed, and other management methods. The bill updates reporting requirements for the Council, removing outdated mandates and adjusting ongoing reporting obligations. It directs the Council to address food insecurity (especially post-pandemic), develop equity-focused policies to eliminate racial disparities and food deserts, and create a strategic plan to boost local food production and procurement. The Council must collaborate with affected communities and food organizations, with reports to the General Assembly. This bill primarily affects the Council, local food organizations, and residents in underserved food-access areas.

Maddy summaryHB 506, the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, creates the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program to reduce nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through voluntary farm conservation practices. The bill establishes a special fund for the program, redefines "healthy soils" for existing soil programs, and exempts certain fishing license holders from needing food establishment licenses. Key provisions include tiered recognition for farms adopting conservation practices, requirements for the Department of Environment to authorize water quality trading credits, and new rules for fisheries management and aquaculture leases. The bill directly affects Maryland farmers, state environmental agencies, and fishing industry participants by changing how conservation incentives and regulations are implemented.

Maddy summaryHB 470 prohibits drivers from obscuring, modifying, or blocking vehicle registration plates in a way that hides the plate number or makes identification difficult. It directly affects vehicle owners who currently use plate covers, tinted shields, or other modifications that prevent clear visibility of license plates. Violations are classified as moving violations, subjecting offenders to points on their driving record under Maryland law. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025, and amends Maryland's Transportation Code to clarify this prohibition.

Maddy summaryHB 1322 requires all operators of gasoline-powered vessels on Maryland waters to have carbon monoxide warning labels clearly visible near the transom and helm of the vessel. This law directly affects boat operators and owners who operate gasoline-powered vessels, amending Maryland's State Boat Act to mandate these labels. The key provision specifies the exact locations where labels must be affixed to warn of carbon monoxide risks. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 375 (Jay's Law) modifies Maryland's transportation code to allow bicyclists, riders of play vehicles, and unicyclists to ride on sidewalks or sidewalk areas unless prohibited by local ordinance. It requires these riders to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and users of electric personal assistive mobility devices when on sidewalks or in crosswalks. The bill directly affects cyclists, pedestrians, and local governments (which retain authority to ban sidewalk riding). Key provisions amend sections 21-1103 and 21-1202 of Maryland's Annotated Code, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1152 requires landlords of residential rental properties in Maryland to publicly disclose their pet policies in specific ways. Landlords must provide a link to the policy on the property’s website, in digital advertisements, and in rental search engine listings, plus include a written summary in rental applications. The disclosure must detail breed/weight restrictions, all fees (upfront, deposits, monthly), pet limits, vaccination requirements, insurance needs, and other landlord-specific rules. This directly affects landlords of residential rentals and their prospective tenants who own pets. The bill amends Maryland’s real property code to implement these transparency requirements, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1076 requires Maryland landlords to provide tenants with written notice at least 48 hours before entering rental properties for repairs, inspections, showings, safety checks, or government-mandated work. The notice must include the entry date/time and purpose, and can be delivered via mail, door notice, or electronic methods (email/text/portal) with proof of delivery. Tenants can sue landlords for violations, seeking court injunctions or damages for unauthorized entries, while landlords remain liable for agents' breaches. This law directly affects all residential landlords and tenants in Maryland, taking effect October 1, 2025.