Rep. Stuart Schmidt

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland's Department of Human Services to develop a process for identifying and reducing administrative errors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department must systematically analyze SNAP processing mistakes, create strategies to improve eligibility determination, and monitor progress toward reducing errors. It also mandates that Maryland work to achieve SNAP error rates matching the best-performing state, as measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The law directly affects the Department of Human Services and local county offices administering SNAP benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 authorizes investor-owned electric companies and electricity suppliers in Maryland to construct, operate, and recover costs for their own natural gas energy generation facilities and related transmission infrastructure. The bill explicitly permits natural gas energy systems to be built, operated, and permitted in the state while requiring compliance with certificate or commission approval processes. It also directs the Public Service Commission to delay certain orders until specific conditions are met and encourages the PJM Interconnection to expedite interconnection for new thermal generation. The legislation expresses legislative support for developing additional nuclear energy in Maryland. These provisions directly affect energy providers and shape how new power infrastructure can be developed and financed within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1518 changes Maryland's property tax assessment cycle from every three years to every five years for most real property. This affects all Maryland property owners by reducing how frequently their property values are reassessed for tax purposes. The bill maintains that revaluation is still required if specific events occur, such as zoning changes, major improvements adding $100,000+ in value, or errors in calculation. It also preserves property owners' rights to appeal assessments and request re-inspections during the five-year cycle. The bill amends multiple sections of Maryland's tax code to implement this extended cycle.

Maddy summaryHB 1396 establishes a 18-member Commission to study and recommend improvements for Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. The Commission includes diverse stakeholders like legislative leaders, education officials, county representatives, teachers, advocates, parents, and students. It will specifically examine school funding formulas (including rural/urban poverty differences), statutory staffing ratios, and educator career ladder impacts. The Commission’s findings will inform future policy decisions but will not change current law directly. This is a study commission focused on long-term fiscal sustainability and student achievement implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1146, the "Sacred Places Safety Act," prohibits committing any crime of violence (as defined in Maryland law) within medical facilities or places of worship. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts in these locations, which include hospitals, clinics, and nonresidential religious gathering spaces. The bill increases penalties by making such violations a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in addition to penalties for the underlying violent crime. This law takes effect June 1, 2026, and applies to all relevant locations statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 1390 requires Maryland public schools to excuse student absences for observing Veterans' Day, directly affecting all public school students and their families. The bill amends Maryland's education code to explicitly add Veterans' Day to the list of excused absences, alongside existing holidays like Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. Schools must now excuse absences for Veterans' Day observance without requiring a specific reason or documentation. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies uniformly across all Maryland public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1437 creates a Maryland income tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums paid by residents aged 45 or older. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit equal to 100% of eligible premiums (capped at $250 per year per insured person), covering the taxpayer, spouse, or certain family members. The credit is restricted to policies purchased after December 31, 2026, and cannot be claimed for individuals already covered before January 1, 2027, or for multiple taxpayers claiming the same person. The bill also requires annual reports to the legislature on credit usage and its impact on state medical assistance savings.

Maddy summaryHB 1358 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to allocate funds from the Hospital Employees Retraining Fund to local workforce development boards when hospitals close, downsize, or merge. It also mandates that these local boards provide grants to employers through the Apprenticeship Career Training in Our Neighborhoods Program. Additionally, the bill requires the Department to fund local workforce boards for direct worker services under the State's quick response program when job losses occur due to business reductions. This bill directly affects local workforce development boards, hospitals facing operational changes, and workers impacted by layoffs or closures.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 restricts campaign finance activities for candidates running for specific state offices (including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and General Assembly members) and their representatives during regular legislative sessions. The bill prohibits them from receiving new contributions, holding fundraisers, soliciting donations, or using un-deposited funds during sessions, with exceptions for activities related to their own federal/local election campaigns, gubernatorial fundraising during election years, and pre-session electronic contributions. Violations would result in civil penalties directed to the state's Fair Campaign Financing Fund. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that Maryland vehicle emissions inspections can only result in a failure for three specific reasons: missing required emissions equipment, misfueling, or failing to meet emissions standards. It restricts inspectors from citing other grounds for failure during biennial exhaust emissions tests or emissions equipment/misfueling inspections. The law applies to all vehicles subject to Maryland's emissions testing program, effective October 1, 2026. This change standardizes inspection outcomes by limiting failure determinations to these defined technical issues.