Del. Steve Arentz

Maddy summaryHB 1235 sets new distance restrictions for cannabis businesses in Queen Anne's County. It prohibits cannabis processors from locating within 1,000 feet of existing primary/secondary schools, licensed child care centers, playgrounds, recreation centers, libraries, public parks, or places of worship. The bill also raises the minimum distance requirement for cannabis dispensaries from 500 feet to 1,000 feet near these locations within the county. These changes directly affect licensed cannabis processors and dispensaries seeking to operate in Queen Anne's County.

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 1180 (Right to Learn Act) requires Maryland county school boards to notify parents of students in failing schools (defined as schools with a 1-star rating for three consecutive years) by January 1 each year, providing a list of alternative school options including nonpublic and military boarding schools. Students in failing schools must be offered the opportunity to transfer to an alternative school, with parents required to choose by April 1. The bill creates a "Right to Learn" scholarship program funding nonpublic school attendance for students eligible for free/reduced lunch or attending a failing school, with county boards reimbursing the state for scholarship costs. It also mandates county boards to provide military boarding school options to parents of students deemed violent or facing continuous disciplinary action, with the school system covering associated costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1415 amends Maryland's building energy performance standards to explicitly exempt agricultural buildings from compliance requirements. The bill modifies the definition of "covered building" (currently requiring commercial buildings over 35,000 sq ft to meet emissions targets) to exclude agricultural buildings, which are defined as structures used for cultivating or producing agricultural crops, including greenhouses. This change ensures agricultural facilities - such as barns, processing centers, and greenhouses - are not subject to the state's 20% emissions reduction target by 2030 or net-zero requirement by 2040. The bill does not alter the core energy standards for other covered buildings but clarifies which structures are exempt.

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 1182 repeals Maryland law requiring Methodist churches to hold their assets in trust for the United Methodist Church and be subject to its control. It specifically targets Sections 5-326 and 5-327 of the Corporations and Associations article, which applied to churches including former Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, and Washington Methodist Conference congregations. The bill removes this legal obligation, allowing affected churches to manage their assets independently without the United Methodist Church's oversight. The repeal takes effect October 1, 2025.

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.