Del. Kevin Hornberger

Maddy summaryHB 1256 creates an Angel Investor Tax Credit in Maryland, allowing investors to claim a credit against their state income tax for qualifying investments in Maryland companies. The credit applies to investments in companies operating in specific economic sectors (to be designated by the Department of Commerce), with the Department required to maintain an online portal for applications and evaluate additional qualifying sectors. Investors must make their investment within a set timeframe after receiving a tax credit certificate, and the bill establishes a reserve fund for the credit program that earns interest. The credit directly affects angel investors who fund qualifying Maryland businesses and the state's economic development efforts, with provisions for recapturing credits if requirements aren't met.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 modifies Maryland's homeowners' property tax credit program by raising eligibility thresholds. It increases the assessed value cap for qualifying homes from $300,000 to $480,000, raises the income threshold for the first tax credit bracket from $8,000 to $12,500, and raises the combined gross income limit from $60,000 to $95,000. The bill also raises the net worth limit for eligibility from $200,000 to $320,000. These changes will directly affect more middle-income homeowners who previously exceeded the lower limits, expanding access to the credit starting June 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1302 removes a requirement that disabled public safety/judicial officers, their surviving spouses, or cohabitants must have been domiciled in Maryland for 5 years before a disability or death event to qualify for a property tax credit. The bill directly affects disabled officers (e.g., law enforcement, firefighters) who became disabled on duty, surviving spouses who haven’t remarried, and cohabitants who lived with a fallen officer for 180+ days. Key changes eliminate the 5-year residency rule while keeping other eligibility criteria, such as the dwelling being their primary residence and acquired within 10 years of the qualifying event. This makes the credit more accessible to qualifying residents without requiring long-term Maryland residency prior to the qualifying incident.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 allows residential property owners within 300 feet of where overhead transmission lines are constructed to sue for diminished property value caused by the project. It modifies Maryland law to let these owners recover damages and seek reasonable attorney fees if they win their case. The bill also requires courts to award defendant attorney fees and costs to the property owner if the final court decision finds the property's assessed value exceeded the appraised value in transmission line condemnation cases. This applies specifically to cases involving overhead transmission lines under Maryland's Public Utilities Article. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1210 requires transmission line companies to send certified mail notices to landowners whose property abuts or is adjacent to proposed construction sites at least 30 days before public hearings. The notice must explain landowners' rights to intervene in the approval process and how to file intervention requests. Failure to provide this notice invalidates the public hearing or voids the application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity, allowing the company to reapply. This bill directly affects landowners near proposed transmission line routes in Maryland, with the law taking effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 803 increases the required classroom teaching time for certain Maryland public school teachers from 60% to 80% of their workweek. It applies specifically to teachers on career ladder levels 1-3 (entry-level and non-leadership tracks), requiring them to spend 80% of their time teaching rather than on other activities like professional development or student tutoring. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to set this new standard, effective July 1, 2026, while keeping existing allowances for non-teaching duties during the remaining 20% of work time. Teachers on level 4 (leadership/administrator tracks) are excluded from this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 964, the Secure the Vote Act of 2026, repeals existing requirements for ballot drop boxes (including those at Baltimore City's centralized booking facility) and modifies election rules. It adds new requirements: voters must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register (per Section 3-201.1), obtain photo ID for in-person voting (Section 2-111), and restricts absentee voting to those unable to vote in person due to specific circumstances. The bill also mandates signature verification for absentee ballots, establishes new audit procedures for voter registration lists, and prohibits non-citizens from registering to vote in municipal elections. These changes apply to all Maryland voters and election officials statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 1044 prohibits the release of defendants after conviction but before sentencing or final appeals for specific crimes resulting in the death of a child under 14. It applies directly to individuals convicted of either a violent crime (as defined in Maryland’s Criminal Law §14-101) or a violation of child neglect law (§3-602.1) that caused the death of a victim under age 14. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Procedure Article to bar courts from granting pre-sentencing or pre-appeal release in these cases. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 897 (the "Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026") requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (>69,000 volts) in Maryland to join regional transmission organizations. It mandates new application details for certain utility projects, creates a Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration, and redirects funds from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential electricity customers. The bill also requires studies on siting transmission lines and battery storage systems within existing rights-of-way and sets deadlines for the Public Service Commission to review project certificates. These provisions directly affect electric utilities, the Public Service Commission, and residential electricity customers through cost adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 454, the "SAVE Our Elections Act of 2026," requires Maryland to join the federal SAVE Program (Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement) to verify U.S. citizenship for voter registration applicants. It directly affects individuals applying to register to vote in Maryland, mandating that the State Board of Elections use the federal SAVE system to confirm citizenship during the registration process. Key provisions include requiring the State Administrator to enroll in SAVE, establishing a verification process for applicants, and creating an appeal mechanism for voters who dispute citizenship determinations. The bill replaces current self-declaration requirements with federal verification, amending election law sections governing voter registration eligibility and processing.