Del. Tom Hutchinson

Maddy summaryHB 1329 allows natural gas energy systems to be constructed, permitted, and operated in Maryland with standard permitting requirements. It removes the Public Service Commission's authority to require investor-owned electric companies to build their own generating or transmission facilities under certain circumstances. The bill also states legislative support for developing additional nuclear energy (including small modular reactors) and encourages PJM Interconnection to expedite grid connections for new thermal generation projects. These changes 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 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 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 1153 modifies Maryland's estate tax by setting specific limits on the unified credit used to calculate tax liability for decedents dying before January 1, 2026. It caps the credit at $5 million for estates of people who died between 2019 and 2025, preventing increases tied to federal changes. This directly affects Maryland residents with estates exceeding these thresholds, as it determines whether estate tax applies. The bill maintains the credit calculation method but freezes the exemption amount at $5 million for the specified period, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1170 requires contractors to hold a Maryland Home Improvement Commission license to install residential solar power systems on homes. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include "installation of solar power systems equipment" under the definition of "home improvement," which previously required licensing for work like remodeling or deck construction. This directly affects solar installers who perform work on single-family residences or attached structures. The key mechanism is adding solar installation to the list of licensed home improvement activities, ensuring contractors meet state licensing standards. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.