Rep. Andrew Pruski

Maddy summaryHB 727 modifies Anne Arundel County's Class C (veterans' organization) alcohol license requirements. It removes the current rule that members must have served in a war and instead expands eligibility to include members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Public Health Service. This change directly affects veterans' organizations seeking these licenses in Anne Arundel County by broadening who qualifies as a member. The bill amends Maryland's Annotated Code (Sections 11-1009(b)(1) and 11-1009(a)) to update the membership criteria to align with "uniformed services" rather than war service. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 682 creates two new license types in Anne Arundel County for serving alcohol at specific venues: a Class C "golf course" license (for courses with nine+ holes) and "sports activity venue" licenses (for facilities offering activities like bowling, pickleball, or simulators). The golf license allows full liquor sales (beer, wine, liquor) 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily ($1,200 annual fee), while sports venues can sell beer/wine or full liquor with fees of $740 or $1,200. Both require alcohol sales only during active participation in venue activities, mandatory food service during hours, staff alcohol awareness training, and restrictions on consumption areas. The bill applies exclusively to eligible venues in Anne Arundel County starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 898, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and expand incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the "Strategic Closing Fund" under the Department of Commerce, alters eligibility and calculation rules for tax credits (including Job Creation, R&D, and film production credits), and extends the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill allows pass-through entities to allocate tax credits to members and removes limits on film production tax credit certificates. These changes directly affect businesses, investors, and film producers seeking state economic development incentives.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 requires junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers in Maryland to register with local law enforcement when purchasing telecommunications equipment and provide specific details like the seller's address and vehicle license number. It prohibits these dealers from buying such equipment except by mailing a check to the seller's address and bans selling or disposing of the equipment for 30 days after purchase. The bill also prohibits reckless or malicious damage to telecommunications infrastructure - including cell towers, fiber cables, and antennas - with violations punishable as felonies carrying up to six months in prison or $5,000 fines. These provisions directly affect businesses handling telecom equipment and aim to protect critical infrastructure from theft or destruction.

Maddy summaryHB 501 amends Maryland law to prohibit individuals in positions of authority (such as teachers, coaches, or school staff working with minors) from engaging in sexual contact with minors who are at least six years younger. It increases penalties for violations: first offenses carry up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, while repeat offenders face up to three years in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill also adds this offense as a predicate crime for sexual solicitation of minors and updates definitions related to sex offender registry tiers. It directly affects educators, program leaders, and others in supervisory roles working with minors under age 18.

Maddy summaryHB 721, the Uniformed Services Spouses Act, extends existing Maryland benefits for military service members and veterans to include their spouses. It adds "eligible spouse" as a defined term to priority registration at public colleges (within 15 years of service member’s last active duty, max four academic years), community college resource centers with tailored support, and senatorial/Delegate scholarships for spouses of active service members. The bill also modifies hiring preferences for state public service roles to include spouses of veterans. These changes directly affect spouses of active-duty service members and veterans living in Maryland who seek education, career support, or scholarships. The law updates multiple sections of Maryland’s education and employment codes to include spouses in eligibility criteria previously limited to service members themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 895 prohibits large food retailers (defined as those with at least 15,000 square feet selling tax-exempt food) from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data to set prices for individual shoppers. It also bans retailers from using data about protected characteristics (like race or gender) to deny discounts or services to specific customers. The bill further protects union rights by preventing retailers from weakening employee benefits under existing collective bargaining agreements without negotiation. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1016 invalidates noncompete and conflict-of-interest clauses in employment contracts for certain employees if their employer relocates the majority of its employees or principal business location outside Maryland. It directly affects low-wage workers (earning ≤150% of state minimum wage), healthcare workers providing direct patient care (earning ≤$350,000 annually), and veterinary professionals. For high-earning healthcare workers ($350,000+), the bill allows limited 1-year noncompete restrictions within 10 miles of their prior workplace. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to contracts signed after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 347 adds hypertension to the list of occupational diseases presumed work-related for specific emergency responders in Maryland. It creates a legal presumption that firefighters, firefighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal staff with hypertension are entitled to workers' compensation benefits if they meet four conditions: diagnosed by a provider, prescribed hypertension medication for 90+ consecutive days, completed 2+ years of cumulative service in the state, and are currently employed in that role. This bill modifies Maryland’s workers’ compensation law (specifically Sections 9-502 and 9-503) to expand eligibility for these occupations without requiring separate proof that hypertension resulted from their job duties. It directly affects these emergency personnel seeking compensation for hypertension-related disability or death.

Maddy summaryHB 547 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for agricultural equipment by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to add new equipment types through regulation. This directly affects Maryland farmers who purchase qualifying equipment, including technologies that reduce soil disturbance and nutrient runoff. The bill modifies existing tax rules (Section 10-208(d)) to include "enhanced agricultural management equipment" determined by the Secretary, beyond the current list of specific items like no-till planters or manure injection systems. Farmers must still meet standard requirements, such as owning equipment for at least three years and using it in agricultural production.