Rep. Steve Arentz

Maddy summaryHB 844 exempts unemployable disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities from Maryland's vehicle registration fees for one personally used vehicle. The bill amends Maryland's vehicle registration code to add a new exemption category (Section 13-903(a)(11)) specifically for veterans deemed unemployable due to a service-connected disability. This change directly affects qualifying veterans who own or lease a vehicle for personal use, removing a recurring cost. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to additional vehicles. The bill replaces the previous exemption for veterans with specific physical disabilities under Section 13-903(a)(8).

Maddy summaryHB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1375 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the full duration of long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses (like babesiosis or ehrlichiosis) when ordered by a licensed physician for therapeutic purposes. It prohibits these entities from imposing caps or time limits on such treatment or denying coverage solely because the treatment is labeled "unproven," "experimental," or "investigational." The law applies to all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland after January 1, 2027. This directly affects patients with chronic Lyme disease or related conditions who rely on extended antibiotic therapy and their insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 1459 requires owners or operators of large battery energy storage systems (like grid-scale batteries) to pay for specialized fire response training and equipment for local fire departments serving those locations. The training must follow the NFPA 855 safety standard for battery fire suppression. The State Fire Marshal will administer and enforce these requirements, which take effect October 1, 2026. This directly affects battery storage facility owners and the fire departments responsible for responding to incidents at these sites.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 prevents hospitals and tissue banks from denying physician-ordered autologous (patient's own blood) or directed (designated donor) blood donations solely due to internal policies, provided all safety and regulatory requirements are met. It requires healthcare facilities to allow these donations for planned medical procedures if the treating physician deems them medically appropriate. Facilities may only refuse such requests when medical, logistical, or regulatory constraints make compliance impossible. The bill also mandates that hospitals provide clear information about blood donation options to patients, consistent with informed consent standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 increases the maximum deposit a home improvement contractor can require before signing a contract from one-third to one-half (50%) of the total contract price. This change directly affects home improvement contractors and consumers who enter into such contracts in Maryland. The bill amends Maryland's Business Regulation law (Section 8-617) to allow contractors to collect larger upfront payments. The new limit takes effect on October 1, 2026. The bill does not change other requirements for home improvement contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 1079 creates Maryland's Office of Regulatory Management to streamline state government processes. It requires all executive branch agencies to report on their regulatory permits, licenses, and certifications by December 2026, including processing times, fees, and online capabilities. Agencies must also develop strategies by December 2026 to reduce regulatory requirements by 25% and simplify application processes, aiming to cut approval times for permits and licenses. The bill directly affects state government agencies, not the public, and mandates annual reports starting July 2027 on upcoming regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1500 requires Maryland state agencies to finalize regulations implementing a program before collecting any fees under that program. It directly affects state agencies that collect fees for programs authorized by law, such as licensing or permitting services. The bill's key provision states agencies cannot collect fees until they have completed the regulatory adoption process. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, ensuring fees are only collected once rules are formally established. The law applies to all state programs requiring regulatory implementation under Maryland law.

Maddy summaryHB 976 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous method with an average of enrollment on September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year, directly affecting all public schools receiving state aid based on this metric. The bill also requires the State Department of Education to publish annual reports online and submit detailed data to legislative committees, showing enrollment counts, student categories (including "whereabouts unknown"), and funding allocations by county. These changes aim to standardize enrollment data used for funding calculations starting in fiscal year 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 361 increases the number of resident judges for Queen Anne’s County’s Circuit Court from one to two by amending Maryland’s Annotated Code (Sections 1-501 and 1-503). The bill directly affects Queen Anne’s County residents by expanding court staffing capacity to handle judicial workloads. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change court jurisdiction or procedures - only the number of judges assigned to the county. This is a procedural adjustment to judicial staffing, not a policy change impacting broader legal rights or services.