Del. Mike Rogers

Maddy summaryHB 1443 allows Maryland counties and municipalities to create local laws granting hiring and promotion preferences to eligible veterans and specific family members. It authorizes a 10-point credit on selection tests for veterans, spouses of veterans with service-connected disabilities, spouses of active service members, and surviving spouses of veterans. The bill specifies that current government employees and veterans convicted of crimes after military service are excluded from these preferences. Local governments must adopt a formal local law before implementing these hiring or promotion options.

Maddy summaryHB 853 (Maryland Second Look Act) allows individuals serving prison sentences of 20+ years to petition courts for sentence reduction under specific conditions. To qualify, petitioners must have served at least 20 years and wait 5 years after any prior petition, with a maximum of three petitions total. Courts must hold hearings considering factors like rehabilitation, victim input, the individual’s age at the offense, and safety risks, and must publicly state their reasons for granting or denying relief. The law applies retroactively to eligible individuals already serving long sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 895, the "Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act," expands protections for service members and veterans by updating Maryland law to include all uniformed services (not just the armed forces) in key areas. It revises definitions of "veteran" and "uniformed services" across business licensing, insurance regulations, and employment laws, ensuring these rules apply equally to all service members. The bill adds new provisions, such as including uniformed services in small business loan programs and updating insurance coverage requirements, while removing outdated exclusions. This directly affects service members, veterans, and businesses operating under Maryland’s commercial, insurance, and employment regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 267 prohibits non-Veterans Affairs (V.A.) accredited individuals or organizations from charging fees for preparing, presenting, or advising veterans on benefits claims or appeals. It requires any fee-charging provider to give written disclosures about free V.A.-accredited services and include this notice in all advertisements. The bill enforces these rules through civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, collected by the Attorney General. This directly affects veterans seeking benefits and non-accredited claim servicers who previously offered paid assistance for appeals or claims.

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 1514 exempts video lottery operators and sports wagering facility licensees from Maryland’s security guard employer regulations. It amends the definition of "security guard employer" in Maryland law to explicitly exclude these entities, meaning they are no longer subject to requirements like certifying security guards under Section 19-401(c). The bill directly affects businesses holding video lottery or sports wagering licenses, removing them from the scope of security guard agency and employer licensing rules. This is a definitional change only - these businesses remain subject to other applicable laws, such as employee licensing requirements under Sections 9-1A-14 and 9-1E-03. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 requires electronic smoking device manufacturers in Maryland to submit annual certifications to the Attorney General and maintain funds in a special escrow account under certain circumstances. It mandates the Attorney General to create and publish a public directory of manufacturers and treats violations as unfair trade practices enforceable under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. The bill directly affects manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and retailers of vaping products by adding certification, directory, and financial accountability requirements to existing licensing rules. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of the vaping industry while aligning enforcement with consumer protection standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1216 would exempt Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, and Bronze Star recipients, as well as members of Gold Star families (immediate family members of service members killed in action), from paying vehicle registration fees in Maryland. The bill amends existing law to add these groups as eligible for fee exemptions on vehicles they own, lease, or personally use. This change expands current exemptions that already cover veterans with disabilities and other specific groups under Maryland's Transportation Article. The exemption would take effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 217 amends Maryland's workers' compensation law to establish a presumption that certain emergency responders develop hypertension as an occupational disease. It directly affects paid/volunteer firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, and advanced life support unit members (including State Fire Marshal personnel) who meet specific medical criteria. The bill deems hypertension compensable if the responder has blood pressure readings exceeding 140/90 (per NFPA 1582 standards) and has used prescribed hypertension medication for at least 90 consecutive days. This changes the process by removing the need to prove direct work causation for these specific cases, streamlining access to workers' compensation benefits for qualifying responders.

Maddy summaryHB 800 modifies Maryland's income tax code to provide a tax deduction for military retirement income. It sets a $12,500 annual deduction for military retirees under age 55, while those aged 55 or older receive a $20,000 deduction. This change directly affects Maryland residents who receive military retirement income and are under 55. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.