Del. Kevin Hornberger

Maddy summaryHB 183 would end Maryland's Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program by removing all related provisions from state law, including sections governing emissions testing and inspections. This repeal directly affects most Maryland vehicle owners, eliminating the requirement for biennial emissions tests and equipment inspections for vehicles from the 1977 model year onward. The bill specifically targets the code sections that established the program, including rules for testing schedules, waivers for repair costs, and exemptions for certain hybrid vehicles. If enacted, it would remove the state's mandatory emissions inspection requirement, which currently applies to most registered vehicles in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 186 would allow statewide Sunday bow hunting for deer during the full bow hunting season and for turkey using a bow throughout the turkey hunting season, removing current county-specific time restrictions. It directly affects bow hunters in all Maryland counties, replacing previous limits (like 30 minutes before sunrise to 10:30 a.m. in certain areas) with full-season Sunday hunting rights. The bill amends Maryland’s Natural Resources code to authorize the Department of Natural Resources to permit these activities without time-based limitations. This change applies to deer bow hunting season and turkey hunting season for bow users, affecting all counties uniformly. It does not alter hunting for firearms or other methods on Sundays.

Maddy summaryHB 221 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Maryland voters to change their political party affiliation and vote for that new party during a primary election. Specifically, it would let voters update their party at early voting centers or polling places on election day, rather than requiring changes before registration closes. This directly affects voters participating in Maryland's primary elections by providing a new in-person option to switch parties during the voting process. The bill requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election before the change could take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 500, the Procurement Reform Act of 2025, streamlines Maryland state government purchasing by transferring key authority from the Secretary of General Services to the Chief Procurement Officer. It adjusts dollar thresholds requiring public notice or reporting for procurements, modifies small business preference programs (including expanding eligibility for small business reserves), and adds new requirements for contractors to submit workforce diversity plans for contracts over $500,000. The bill also creates a procurement preference for businesses certified for "good labor practices" and mandates that certain agencies establish working groups to address procurement issues. These changes directly affect state agencies, contractors (especially small businesses), and the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, which gains oversight of new workforce diversity rules.

Maddy summaryHB 506, the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, creates the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program to reduce nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through voluntary farm conservation practices. The bill establishes a special fund for the program, redefines "healthy soils" for existing soil programs, and exempts certain fishing license holders from needing food establishment licenses. Key provisions include tiered recognition for farms adopting conservation practices, requirements for the Department of Environment to authorize water quality trading credits, and new rules for fisheries management and aquaculture leases. The bill directly affects Maryland farmers, state environmental agencies, and fishing industry participants by changing how conservation incentives and regulations are implemented.

Maddy summaryHB 809 creates a temporary exception to standard child placement limits for foster care providers when a child enrolled in college must leave campus due to academic breaks, temporary closures, or approved leave. The exemption applies only if the child, foster care provider, and agency agree to the living arrangement. This directly affects youth in foster care attending college and their foster care providers. The law requires the state to update placement regulations by July 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 31 requires manufacturers of powered wheelchairs to provide independent repair providers and wheelchair owners with necessary documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools at fair and reasonable terms. This directly affects wheelchair owners seeking repairs and independent repair shops that are not affiliated with manufacturers. Key provisions mandate that manufacturers offer these resources at costs not exceeding their suggested retail price and on terms equivalent to those provided to their own authorized repair providers. The bill creates new legal requirements under Maryland's Commercial Law (Subtitle 50) to ensure accessible repair options for powered wheelchairs.

Maddy summaryHB 857 allows licensed Maryland deer hunters who wound a deer during legal hunting hours to pursue and kill it after hours, provided they use only the same hunting method authorized for their season (e.g., archery or firearms). The bill amends Maryland’s natural resources law (Section 10-428 of the Annotated Code) to create this exception to standard hunting hour restrictions. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources must adopt regulations to implement the new rule, which takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed deer hunters who wound deer during legal hours but cannot complete the harvest before closing.

Maddy summaryHB 782 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to study how public middle and high schools can better detect deadly weapons and rapidly report findings to law enforcement. The study mandates a comprehensive audit of all schools' current security systems - including physical measures, technology gaps, and potential improvements - and specifically evaluates unused detection methods, AI software integration, optimal camera placement, and expanded metal detector use. The Department must complete this study and submit findings to the House Speaker and Ways and Means Committee by December 1, 2025, with the bill automatically ending on June 30, 2026. This bill affects all Maryland public middle and high schools by directing a formal review of their security protocols, without implementing new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 establishes a temporary pilot program to help foster youth aged 16-22 access childcare subsidies. It directly affects youth who were in state foster care at age 18 or older, removing specific barriers like proof of employment, parental information, or parental authorization from the application process. The program, running from 2026-2028, requires the Department to track subsidy usage monthly and report annually to the legislature on progress. It aims to simplify access to childcare support during critical transitions to adulthood. The bill does not change subsidy amounts but streamlines eligibility for this specific group.