Rep. Jay Jacobs

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 1249 creates a new commercial license for harvesting blue and flathead catfish in Chesapeake Bay tidal waters. It allows license holders to use finfish trotlines up to 2,400 feet long, removes limits on hook numbers, and permits non-corrosive hooks - while requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish a pilot program using electrofishing. The license costs $15 annually and is valid from September 1 to August 31. The bill also mandates a 2025 report to the legislature on harvesting, processing, marketing, and financing for blue catfish. This directly affects commercial fishermen targeting these species in the Chesapeake Bay.

Maddy summaryHB 1345 requires farmers (consumers) to provide written notice via certified mail to manufacturers or dealers about equipment defects during the warranty period. It mandates that manufacturers/dealers correct issues within 30 days at no cost to the farmer, even after the warranty expires. If repairs fail, farmers may choose a replacement or refund (minus 15% for use and non-warranty damage). The bill amends Maryland’s Commercial Law to create specific enforcement rules for agricultural equipment warranties under Subtitle 15A.

Maddy summaryHB 1396, the Property Rights Protection Act of 2025, prohibits condemnation for specific energy infrastructure projects. It blocks the state, utilities, or local governments from using eminent domain to acquire property for constructing power lines (Section 7-103(c)), wind or solar generating stations (Section 7-207(b)(2)(II)), or properties encumbered by conservation easements (new Section 12-101(e)). The bill directly affects property owners, particularly those with conservation easements or land near proposed renewable energy sites. It replaces existing condemnation rules with these new restrictions to limit government and utility authority over private land use for energy projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1101 reduces Maryland's corporate income tax rate over time to lower tax burdens for businesses operating in the state. It phases in a gradual reduction, lowering the rate from 8.25% (effective 2025) to 7.75% (2026), 7.25% (2027), 6.75% (2028), and finally 6.25% (starting 2029). The bill directly affects corporations filing Maryland corporate income tax returns by changing their tax liability calculation. The rate changes apply to taxable income earned within Maryland, with the first reduced rate taking effect July 1, 2025. This is a straightforward tax rate adjustment with no additional provisions or program requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1022 prohibits Maryland's Department of Natural Resources from using federal funds for oyster restoration projects in state waters between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2030. The bill directly affects the state agency responsible for managing oyster restoration programs and any federal grant recipients working within Maryland's waters. It creates a 5-year funding ban, with an exception allowing projects in designated oyster sanctuaries already established under existing law (such as Harris Creek and the Little Choptank River). The law automatically expires on June 30, 2030, without further legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 1024 authorizes Maryland's Department of Agriculture to take extraordinary measures to control local deer populations after deer cause catastrophic crop damage, defined as the loss of 50% or more of crops in a single field. The bill directly affects farmers who suffer such severe damage and the Department of Agriculture, which must create regulations to implement the program. Key provisions include the department’s authority to act following a verified 50% crop loss threshold and the requirement for the department to adopt implementing regulations. The law aims to prevent recurring crop losses from deer without specifying particular control methods or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 651 increases Maryland's Public Service Commission from five to seven commissioners and establishes specific geographic residency requirements for each position. It requires one commissioner to represent Western Maryland (five counties), one for Southern Maryland (three counties), one for the Eastern Shore (nine counties), two for Central Maryland (five counties and Baltimore City), and two for the Capital Region (two counties). The bill also mandates the Commission submit a slate of nominees for the two new Western and Southern Maryland seats to the Governor by August 1, 2025, and alters the process for appointing the Commission's Chair from among its members. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, applying only to future appointments, not current commissioners.

Maddy summaryHB 657 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new power transmission lines, such as using existing lines from other companies, existing rights-of-way, upgrading current lines, or burying lines underground. The Commission must consider these alternatives when they help preserve historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, avoid residential zones, or align with local growth plans. This law applies to utility companies seeking to expand transmission infrastructure and takes effect on October 1, 2025. It removes a previous requirement for the Commission to verify whether an existing line's owner has a franchise in the area.