Del. Steve Johnson

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 1476 prohibits Maryland employers from disclosing or threatening to disclose an employee’s immigration status to government agencies to hide violations of labor, wage, or tax laws. It directly affects employers who might use immigration status to conceal issues like unpaid wages (under Maryland’s Wage and Hour Law) or failure to provide benefits. The bill authorizes Maryland’s Commissioner of Labor and Industry to investigate complaints, attempt mediation within 90 days, and impose civil fines up to $10,000 for repeated violations. Employers can request an administrative hearing within 15 days of a penalty notice. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

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.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 768 requires counties to verify incorporation petitions and establish clear procedures for new municipalities. It mandates that a petition must be signed by at least 25% of registered voters in the proposed area (or 20% plus 25% of property value) and be verified by county officials within 60 days. The organizing committee must then study the fiscal impact on residents and services, report findings online, and the county must approve the referendum request if the petition meets requirements. This bill directly affects unincorporated communities seeking to form new municipalities and county commissioners or councils handling these requests.

Maddy summaryHB 631 prohibits the State or its political subdivisions from using eminent domain to take privately owned property subject to a permanent agricultural or conservation easement. This directly affects landowners who hold such easements, protecting their property from forced acquisition for public projects. The bill amends Maryland’s real property law (specifically Section 12-101(b)(2) of the Annotated Code) to add this explicit prohibition. It does not apply to existing legal processes for state roads or Baltimore City. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 640 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to consider how proposed overhead transmission line projects affect properties already protected by conservation easements during certificate approval reviews. It mandates applicants to evaluate alternative routes that avoid these easements or minimize impacts on them, and to document route choices. This directly affects landowners with conservation easements near planned transmission lines and utilities seeking project approvals. The bill updates existing review criteria (Section 7-207(f)) to include this new requirement, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 382 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain insurers, health plans, and managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or "fail-first" protocols for specific mental health medications. It directly affects adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to serious mental illness. The law bans these coverage barriers starting July 1, 2025, ensuring immediate coverage for prescribed medications treating these conditions without extra approval steps. This applies to all covered plans under Maryland law, removing administrative hurdles for these essential treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of "practice audiology" in Maryland to clarify the specific duties and procedures that fall under the scope of the profession. The changes allow audiologists to evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat auditory and vestibular conditions, as well as prescribe, order, sell, dispense, or fit hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants. However, the legislation explicitly excludes surgical procedures, such as those involving lasers or scalpels, and the preparation or performance of radiographic imaging from the definition of audiology practice. These updates aim to modernize the regulatory framework for audiologists without altering the existing requirements for their licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes fees on telephone and mobile service providers to fund Maryland's behavioral health crisis response system. It requires traditional phone companies to pay a fee per subscriber and prepaid wireless providers to pay a fee on each retail transaction, with all collected money going into a dedicated state trust fund. The fund is designated to cover the costs of maintaining the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline and supporting statewide crisis services such as call centers, mobile teams, and stabilization facilities. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state Comptroller audit how these fees are collected and limits the amount of revenue that can be used for administrative expenses.