Del. Susan McComas

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 1403 proposes adding a new Article XVI-A to the Maryland Constitution to establish a formal initiative process. It allows registered voters to bypass the legislature by gathering signatures (10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election) to propose changes to state laws or the constitution, with limits on signatures from single counties or Baltimore City. The bill requires petitions to be reviewed by the Attorney General for summary accuracy and the Secretary of State for signature verification before being certified for a statewide vote. If approved by voters (50% for laws, 66.7% for constitutional changes), the proposal becomes law or constitutional amendment 30 days after the governor's proclamation.

Maddy summaryHB 1041 prohibits Maryland's Department of Health from issuing or renewing certificates for youth camps if any structures used to house campers are located in a flood hazard area. This affects all youth camps (as defined by Maryland law) that operate in areas at risk of flooding, including day camps, residential camps, and travel camps. The bill amends health regulations to require the Department to deny certifications for camps meeting this criterion, rather than accepting alternative accreditation. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1507 allows out-of-state physicians licensed to practice medicine to issue medical exemption certifications for vehicles with tinted windows darker than Maryland's standard 35% light transmittance requirement. It removes the previous 2-year expiration limit for these exemptions, making them valid indefinitely for permanent medical conditions (like photosensitivity disorders). This directly affects Maryland residents requiring dark window tint for medical reasons, who previously needed in-state physician certifications with time limits. The bill does not change the 35% light transmittance rule itself, only the process for obtaining medical exemptions.

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.

Maddy summaryMaryland's HB 1388 establishes a 5-year pilot program for rotational oyster harvesting in four designated Chesapeake Bay areas: the Lower Choptank River, Lower Main Stem Chesapeake Bay, Herring Bay, and Lower Chester. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to open one different oyster bed in these areas each oyster season (2026-2029), conduct baseline surveys before opening, and monitor areas after closing. Harvesters must replace oyster shells where they were taken to support habitat recovery. The program directly affects commercial oyster harvesters and the state agency managing Chesapeake Bay resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1421 establishes a Maryland task force to study pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. The task force, composed of state transportation officials and legislative appointees, will examine specific issues like pedestrian visibility challenges (including dark clothing at night), weather impacts on cyclists, and safety actions pedestrians/bicyclists can take. It must submit recommendations to the Governor and legislature by October 1, 2027, on making roadways safer. The bill does not enact new safety laws but creates a study mechanism to inform future policy. The task force expires automatically on September 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 1525 would require Maryland to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by January 1, 2027, ending the state's participation in a regional program that sets carbon emission limits for power plants. The bill eliminates a surcharge utilities used to recover costs for energy efficiency programs (EmPOWER), directly affecting how these programs are funded. It also limits the amount of electricity that can be purchased or credited under community solar programs. Maryland could rejoin RGGI if all other PJM Interconnection states become full members or if the state becomes a net electricity exporter.

Maddy summaryHB 1535 requires Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to develop a mobile application for anglers holding licenses for nontidal waters (under § 4-604) or Chesapeake Bay/coastal fishing (under § 4-745) to submit required reports. It directly affects all licensed recreational fishermen who currently must submit reports under existing regulations. The bill mandates the app be created by July 1, 2026, but does not change what reports are required or who must submit them - only the submission method. The app will allow license holders to report via mobile device instead of traditional methods.

Maddy summaryHB 1496 amends Maryland's vehicle laws by removing motorcycle riders from the legal definition of "vulnerable individual" under Section 21-901.3. This change specifically affects motorcycle riders, excluding them from the category protected under penalties for causing serious injury or death through traffic violations. The bill deletes motorcycle riders (previously listed in subsection (a)(iii)(v)) from the definition, meaning drivers who hit motorcycle riders while violating traffic rules will no longer face the enhanced penalties tied to "causing injury or death to a vulnerable individual." The law retains protections for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users as defined in the amended section. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.