Rep. Jay Jacobs

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations to cover hearing aids for adults who are prescribed, fitted, and dispensed by a licensed audiologist. The coverage applies to non-disposable devices designed to improve hearing in environments commonly experienced by adults and allows insurers to set a maximum benefit of $1,400 per ear every three years. If an adult chooses a hearing aid that costs more than the plan's limit, they can pay the difference without facing financial or contractual penalties for the provider. The law also permits insurance companies to offer benefits that are more generous than these minimum requirements. These provisions take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Melanie Nicholle Diaz Fire Safety Act, establishes new fire safety requirements for residential rental high-rise buildings in Maryland to improve occupant protection. It mandates the installation of specific smoke detectors in public corridors of these buildings starting July 1, 2024, and requires owners to post notices if their buildings lack complete automatic sprinkler systems. The legislation also ensures that tenants who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing receive appropriate notification appliances without having to pay for them or provide documentation. Additionally, the bill creates a workgroup to develop best practices for pre-1974 high-rise apartments and allows local governments to offer property tax credits for buildings that make qualifying fire safety improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland's tax exemption for parts and equipment used to repair, maintain, or upgrade aircraft. It keeps the exemption in place for smaller planes under 12,500 pounds and larger planes used primarily in interstate or foreign commerce. The law removes the requirement for the state Comptroller to report annually on lost tax revenue and job changes related to the exemption. Additionally, it extends the exemption's expiration date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill expands a special tasting license in Caroline County to include liquor, in addition to beer and wine. It allows businesses with existing Class C per diem licenses to offer these drinks for free tasting on their premises, provided the alcohol is consumed there and not sold. The law sets strict limits on how much an individual can drink in a single day and caps the number of times a person can use the license at 26 times per year. A $50 fee is required to obtain this license, which must be renewed daily and includes a rule that any opened containers of alcohol must be discarded at the end of the day.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new specific license allowing barbershops and beauty salons in Caroline County to serve beer and wine to customers. The license permits establishments to offer up to 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine by the glass while customers receive hair or cosmetic services during normal business hours. To qualify, businesses must already hold a valid barbershop or beauty salon permit and pay an annual fee of $100, while also completing required alcohol awareness training. The license is non-transferable to other locations and applies only within Caroline County.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill officially changes the common name of the northern snakehead to "Patuxent Fish" or "Chesapeake Channa" in state laws and department publications. It creates a specific commercial fishing license for catching this fish in tidal waters, allowing the use of bow and arrow or hook and line methods with certain safety restrictions near swimmers and divers. The license costs $15 per year, is valid for one year, and cannot be transferred to another person. The Department of Natural Resources must update all its materials to use the new names by January 1, 2025, while the law itself takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals licensed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to submit specific reports regarding their fish and fisheries activities. It directly affects commercial fish packers, dealers, and sport anglers who hold licenses for catching fish in state waters. Under the new rules, these persons must keep accurate business records open for inspection and provide any data the Department requests according to adopted regulations. The law also includes a privacy provision that prevents government officials from using submitted reports to reveal the income of the individuals who filed them. These reporting requirements are set to take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Maryland Watermen's Microloan Program to include beginner fishermen, seafood processing businesses, and individuals holding specific commercial fishing licenses from the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, while also allowing loans for seasonal full-time jobs. It authorizes the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation to provide loans up to $250,000 for seafood processing projects that support oyster shell retention, with funding amounts tied to the number of jobs created or retained. Recipients must submit annual reports for three years to verify job numbers and may receive partial loan forgiveness based on the number of oyster shells returned or spat-on-shell planted. Starting July 1, 2025, the program will broaden its eligibility beyond generational watermen to support a wider range of commercial fishing operations and related industries.