Rep. Seth Howard

Maddy summaryHB 727 allows drivers or applicants to voluntarily share with Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration that they or a minor under their care have been diagnosed with certain conditions like autism, ADHD, diabetes, or vision impairments. The Administration must add a brief, non-identifying description of this disclosure to the driver's record, without including the specific diagnosis or personal details. Drivers can later request to have this description removed from their record. The bill aims to help law enforcement better understand and assist individuals with disabilities during emergencies, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1279 requires Maryland state agencies to finalize regulations for any program authorized by law before collecting fees or payments under that program. It directly affects agencies managing programs like licensing, permits, or services that charge fees, such as professional licensing boards or environmental compliance programs. The bill adds a new requirement to Maryland law: agencies cannot collect fees until they have formally adopted the implementing regulations. This takes effect October 1, 2025, ensuring programs operate under finalized rules before generating revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 622 (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025) requires law enforcement officers to consult with an attorney before questioning a child in custody. Specifically, officers must ensure the child has spoken with an attorney (either retained by parents or provided by the Public Defender) and make reasonable efforts to notify the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian before interrogation. Exceptions exist only for immediate public safety threats (with limited questions) or if the parent/guardian consents to skip the attorney consultation. Violating these rules creates a rebuttable presumption that any statement made by the child is inadmissible in court, though the state can overcome this with clear evidence the statement was voluntary. The bill directly affects children under 18 during police questioning and all Maryland law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 652 prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, directly affecting individuals seeking or holding jobs in juvenile services. The bill bans hiring for 14 offenses including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, child abuse, sexual offenses against minors, and certain violent assaults. An exception allows hiring if the conviction was reversed or vacated. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act of 2025, prevents Maryland state and local governments from suing businesses for financial or economic damages caused by global warming or climate change. It achieves this by adding a new legal provision that explicitly bars government agencies from filing such lawsuits, while clarifying that the law does not stop governments from enforcing existing environmental, health, or zoning regulations. The legislation defines "business" broadly to include various entities and financial institutions, and it takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1276 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for eligible long-term care insurance premiums paid by residents for themselves or certain family members (spouse, parent, child, or stepchild) who are at least 45 years old. The credit equals 100% of premiums paid, but is capped at $250 per insured person per year for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025. It cannot be claimed for individuals who had long-term care coverage before January 1, 2026, or for whom the credit was previously claimed. The credit is non-refundable, cannot be carried forward, and requires annual reporting on usage and impacts to the state's Medical Assistance Program.

Maddy summaryHB 1414 amends Maryland's building energy standards to exclude certain public safety, emergency, and public utility buildings from the definition of "covered building." This means police stations, fire departments, emergency shelters, and utility facilities (like power substations) will no longer be subject to the state's energy performance requirements. The bill modifies existing law by adding specific exclusions to the "covered building" definition, removing these facilities from the annual emissions reporting and reduction targets that apply to other large commercial buildings. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2025, without altering the energy standards for other covered buildings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program and dedicated fund to help Maryland school districts transition to cleaner-burning school buses, explicitly including propane-powered models alongside zero-emission vehicles. It allows county boards of education to contract for propane-powered buses starting in fiscal year 2025, with grants covering purchase costs, infrastructure, and transition planning. The program is funded through state appropriations, legal settlements, and private donations, managed by the Department of Environment and State Department of Education. The bill directly affects school districts seeking to replace diesel buses while expanding eligible vehicle options beyond electric models.

Maddy summaryHB 1101 reduces Maryland's corporate income tax rate over time to lower tax burdens for businesses operating in the state. It phases in a gradual reduction, lowering the rate from 8.25% (effective 2025) to 7.75% (2026), 7.25% (2027), 6.75% (2028), and finally 6.25% (starting 2029). The bill directly affects corporations filing Maryland corporate income tax returns by changing their tax liability calculation. The rate changes apply to taxable income earned within Maryland, with the first reduced rate taking effect July 1, 2025. This is a straightforward tax rate adjustment with no additional provisions or program requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 695 repeals a requirement that Maryland's motor fuel tax rates automatically increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), changing how fuel tax revenue is calculated. The bill bans vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) taxes and similar fees, including requiring devices to track mileage in private vehicles. It also sets specific farebox recovery targets for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), limits when MTA can raise fares, and removes public hearing requirements for certain fare changes. This directly affects drivers (through fuel tax changes), MTA (via fare rules), and local governments (by prohibiting new transportation fees). The bill modifies existing tax and transportation laws without adding new funding mechanisms.