Rep. Andre Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1422 establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and recommend benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by historical inequitable government policies (such as housing segregation and redlining during the Jim Crow era). The Commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, historians, community representatives, and public members, will examine U.S. reparations models and potential benefits like monetary compensation, tax rebates, or housing assistance. It must submit a preliminary report by January 2027 and a final report by November 2027 to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on research and recommendations, not on implementing specific reparations.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 restricts federal immigration enforcement agencies from accessing Maryland state and local government databases without a valid warrant. It requires state/local law enforcement agencies, DMV, and other government units to deny federal requests for personal information, photos, or facial recognition data unless accompanied by a federal or Maryland court warrant. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on all such federal requests received, including how many were denied or granted with warrants. This directly affects Maryland state agencies, local governments, and federal immigration officers seeking access to these databases.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 531, the College Disability Education Act, requires all Maryland public colleges and universities to provide remote learning accommodations for students with chronic illnesses or autoimmune conditions starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. It mandates specific accommodations like livestreamed classes, recorded lectures, and virtual office hours, while allowing institutions discretion over technology platforms. Public institutions may apply for waivers due to financial hardship, rural location, or being newly established, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission will administer a grant program to fund technology and staff training for compliance. Institutions must survey eligible students annually on accommodation effectiveness and meet a 2029 deadline for most degree programs to offer remote options.

Maddy summaryHB 1318 creates a new "Class C-PCL" license for premium cigar lounges in Maryland, allowing businesses that primarily sell cigars and pipe tobacco to serve beer, wine, and liquor on-site. It directly affects tobacco retailers seeking to add alcohol service, requiring them to generate at least 60% of daily revenue from cigars/accessories and install proper ventilation. The license exempts these lounges from Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act, but mandates visible smoking notices, employee acknowledgments of secondhand smoke exposure, and an annual $2,000 fee. Local licensing boards may issue one such license per 150,000 county residents, with a temporary ban on new alcohol licenses for tobacconists extended until June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1233 allows low- and moderate-income (LMI) subscribers to subscribe to community solar energy systems located in a different electric service territory than where they live, removing a current restriction. The bill requires the Public Service Commission to create a process for exchanging bill credits between systems in different territories, ensuring LMI subscribers receive the same credit value regardless of location. It directly affects LMI households (defined as those with income ≤200% of federal poverty level or in overburdened/underserved census tracts) who previously could only access solar systems in their own utility area. The key change enables broader access to community solar benefits for renters and income-limited residents across Maryland’s utility zones.

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 1274 regulates third-party litigation financing in Maryland to protect consumers. It requires litigation financiers to include specific disclosures in written contracts, prohibits certain aggressive practices, and mandates that contracts be properly executed to be enforceable. The bill applies directly to consumers involved in civil cases who receive funding for lawsuits, requiring financiers to act transparently and in the consumer's best interest - especially in class actions. It excludes nonprofits, certain business financing, and banks from these rules. Violations could trigger penalties, including contracts being voided.

Maddy summaryHB 735 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from Maryland's Certificate of Need (CON) requirements. This means psychiatric health care facilities and providers offering mental health services no longer need state approval to establish, operate, or expand these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the definition of "medical service" in Section 19-120(a)(6)(i) and removing it from the list of services requiring a CON under Section 19-120(j)(iii)(5). This directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health providers by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for their operations.

Maddy summaryHB 792 increases the Maryland income tax subtraction for retirement income from public safety careers. It raises the deductible amount from $15,000 to $20,000 annually for retired correctional officers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel aged 55 or older. This change applies to retirement income attributable to their public safety service, reducing taxable income for qualifying retirees. The bill amends Maryland’s tax code (Section 10-207(mm)) and takes effect July 1, 2025, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.