Del. Kevin Hornberger

Maddy summaryHB 1321 creates a refundable state income tax credit for Maryland small businesses (defined as entities with 50 or fewer employees, including those with no employees) to offset costs for specific cybersecurity measures. It allows a credit of up to $1,000 for an initial cybersecurity risk assessment and implementation, or up to $500 annually for recurring measures like antivirus software, multi-factor authentication, and data encryption. If the credit exceeds the business’s income tax liability, the excess is refundable. Businesses must submit proof of qualifying costs with their tax return to claim the credit, which applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 1217 authorizes the construction, permitting, and operation of natural gas power plants in Maryland until the state meets 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources (including nuclear energy). The bill requires the Maryland Energy Administration to collaborate with natural gas facility owners to reduce their energy output at the same rate that renewable energy production increases once the 50% target is reached. This directly affects natural gas facility operators and the Maryland Energy Administration, mandating a structured transition toward renewable energy. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, without specifying further details about the transition timeline or enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1219 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to create regulations for generating stations co-located with data centers but not connected to the state's main power grid. It exempts these facilities from standard utility fees, renewable energy mandates, and retail customer regulations, while mandating backup power, cybersecurity measures, and annual reports on energy sources, environmental impact, and contributions to state energy goals. The bill directly affects data center operators seeking to build independent on-site power generation without grid interconnection. These regulations will take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1015 requires all Maryland public middle schools to begin instruction no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and public high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It directly affects every public middle, high, and charter school in Maryland, mandating later start times unless a waiver is granted. County boards and charter schools must also implement public awareness campaigns about sleep deprivation and the benefits of later start times. Waivers for earlier start times are permitted only for compelling reasons, such as natural disasters or severe weather, as determined by the State Board of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1224 modifies Maryland's Forest Conservation Act to exclude new electric transmission and distribution lines (constructed on or after October 1, 2025) from the definition of "linear project." This change directly affects electric companies, as it removes their requirement to comply with tree replacement and forest conservation rules for these new infrastructure projects. The bill revises specific sections of the law to clarify that such utility lines no longer trigger afforestation obligations, while maintaining the rules for other linear projects like roads or pipelines. The effective date is October 1, 2025, meaning the exemption applies only to new projects built after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1414 amends Maryland's building energy standards to exclude certain public safety, emergency, and public utility buildings from the definition of "covered building." This means police stations, fire departments, emergency shelters, and utility facilities (like power substations) will no longer be subject to the state's energy performance requirements. The bill modifies existing law by adding specific exclusions to the "covered building" definition, removing these facilities from the annual emissions reporting and reduction targets that apply to other large commercial buildings. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2025, without altering the energy standards for other covered buildings.

Maddy summaryHB 773, the "Right to Teach Act of 2025," allows public middle and high school teachers in Maryland to remove students from their classroom under specific conditions: if a student repeatedly disrupts learning (with prior documentation) or exhibits severely disruptive, abusive, or unruly behavior that significantly interferes with teaching or other students' learning. Teachers must document the behavior, submit it to the principal, and send the student to the principal or guidance counselor. The bill prohibits county school boards from disciplining teachers for following these removal procedures and requires principals to use restorative methods for students referred to counselors. This law directly affects teachers, students, and school administrators by changing classroom discipline protocols and protecting educators from retaliation. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1201 increases the annual mileage limit for vehicle emissions inspection exemptions in Maryland from 5,000 to 10,000 miles. It directly affects two groups: vehicles registered to individuals with disabilities (under special plates program) and vehicles owned by residents aged 70 or older. The bill modifies existing law to allow these vehicles to qualify for exemptions if driven 10,000 miles or less annually, while maintaining the same certification process requiring odometer verification and age/disability documentation. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most online gambling and betting in Maryland, except for state-authorized activities like the state lottery. It requires the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to report to legislative committees by January 2026 on illegal online gambling platforms, including their prevalence, wager amounts, and enforcement challenges. The commission's rulings on whether gaming devices are legal become final, and local police must enforce these rulings or the State Police will intervene. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1256 establishes Maryland’s first regulatory framework for fully autonomous vehicles (level 4-5 systems) operating without human drivers on state highways. It requires manufacturers to provide safety certification labels, owners to submit law enforcement interaction plans detailing emergency procedures, and vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" during system failures. The bill defines the automated driving system as the legal "operator" for traffic law compliance and mandates adherence to federal safety standards. This affects vehicle manufacturers, owners, and transportation companies seeking to deploy autonomous fleets in Maryland.