Rep. Sandy Bartlett

Maddy summaryHB 83, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, modifies Maryland's domestic violence protective order process to strengthen firearm safety measures. The bill requires petitioners seeking protective orders to provide specific details about a respondent's firearms - including make, model, location, and whether stored in a vehicle - if the petition alleges abuse involving firearms. Judges must then order the respondent to surrender all firearms and firearm licenses in cases where abuse involved firearm use, threats with a firearm, or serious bodily harm (with or without firearm threat). This directly affects domestic violence victims and respondents in protective order cases, creating clearer mechanisms for law enforcement to enforce firearm surrender during temporary protective orders under Sections 4-504(e) and 4-505(a)(viii) of Maryland's Family Law.

Maddy summaryHB 1036 requires Maryland’s Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division to investigate deaths or serious injuries occurring during interactions with federal law enforcement or immigration officers. The bill mandates that the Division submit investigation findings to the Governor and legislature within a specified timeframe. If the Attorney General determines sufficient evidence exists, they must prosecute federal officers for potential crimes. This law directly affects Maryland’s state investigations office, federal officers, and individuals involved in such incidents. It creates a concrete state-level process for reviewing federal enforcement actions that result in death or serious harm.

Maddy summaryHB 1031 establishes specific use-of-force standards for National Guard members operating in Maryland under federal authority (per 32 U.S.C. § 502). It requires National Guard members to use only necessary and proportional force to prevent imminent harm or achieve legitimate law enforcement objectives, while mandating de-escalation, intervention in excessive force incidents, medical aid for injured persons, and detailed documentation of all force encounters. Violating these standards and causing serious injury or death constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The law applies directly to National Guard personnel supporting state operations under federal orders, not to regular police officers.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 requires new or renewed environmental permits for facilities in Maryland neighborhoods identified as "at-risk" (based on high pollution levels or proximity to pollution sources like power plants or landfills) to include a "burden report" detailing existing environmental health issues. The state Department of the Environment must deny permits if approval would worsen pollution stressors in these areas, using Maryland’s Environmental Justice Tool to define "at-risk" census tracts. It applies specifically to air quality permits for construction and water discharge permits for facilities like power plants, waste sites, or mining operations. The bill mandates public participation in permit reviews for these facilities and requires the Department to document its assessment for judicial review.

Maddy summaryHB 1608 requires firearm owners (defined as "authorized users") to store firearms in a locked, tamper-resistant container ("secure storage depository") when not carrying the firearm or under direct control. It directly affects individuals who store firearms in locations accessible to minors, including parents or guardians. The bill amends Maryland law to mandate this secure storage, defining a "secure storage depository" as a fire- and impact-resistant container requiring a key, keypad, or combination to open. Violating this requirement - resulting in a minor accessing the firearm and causing serious injury or death - carries misdemeanor penalties with fines up to $1,000. The law does not apply during lawful self-defense, law enforcement duties, or when a minor has a valid firearm safety certificate.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 establishes a 5-year pilot program in Anne Arundel County Public Schools to prepare students for careers as election officials. The bill requires the Anne Arundel County Board of Education and the State Board of Elections (with input from the State Department of Education) to develop this career and technical education program. It directly affects high school students in Anne Arundel County by offering training pathways into election administration roles. The program will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031, after which it automatically ends without further legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 685 allows Anne Arundel County or its municipalities to create a property tax credit for county employees who own homes within the county. The bill authorizes local governments to set eligibility rules, credit amounts, and application procedures through their own ordinances. It directly affects Anne Arundel County employees who own qualifying dwellings, reducing their local property tax burden. The credit would apply to tax years beginning after June 30, 2026, with implementation starting June 1, 2026. The bill establishes a framework but does not specify exact credit details, leaving those to local decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 884 requires Maryland to appropriate at least $5 million annually to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2028, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is funded. This addresses a historical funding disparity between UMES (Maryland's 1890 land-grant university for historically Black students) and the University of Maryland, College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution), which received less state funding per student from 1987-2020. Funds must supplement - never replace - existing state budget allocations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty investment, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill mandates annual appropriations that cannot decrease year-over-year, aiming to fully remediate the identified funding gap.

Maddy summaryHB 1299 requires appraisers to notify buyers, sellers, or their designated point of contact if an appraisal value may be below the contract price or refinance estimate. Interested parties (like lenders or real estate agents) can then submit verified sales data or pending sale documentation within 48 hours for the appraiser to consider. The final appraisal report must include an addendum detailing the notification, submitted data, and whether the additional information changed the valuation. This applies to residential property transactions in Maryland and aims to standardize communication during the appraisal process.

Maddy summaryHB 1309 establishes a Commission to study racial disparities in Maryland’s criminal justice system, directly affecting African American, Hispanic, and other non-White individuals who experience disproportionate treatment. The Commission, composed of legislative leaders, public defenders, prosecutors, court officials, and community advocates, will examine disparities in policing, arrests, sentencing, and data collection. It will specifically assess cumulative impacts of disparate practices, mandatory minimums (including firearm offenses), and propose reforms like race-neutral risk assessments and expanded judicial discretion. The Commission must make recommendations by 2028, focusing on systemic changes to improve transparency and reduce racial inequities without implementing new laws itself.