Del. Kevin Anderson

Maddy summaryHB 1439 amends Maryland law governing property partition actions to clarify lien notification and adjust purchase prices for cotenants (co-owners). It requires parties to notify courts of outstanding liens (like mortgages or tax liens) if they don’t obtain a title report, and mandates courts to adjust purchase prices based on actual costs (e.g., property taxes, maintenance) or income (e.g., rent) incurred by a cotenant without equitable distribution. These adjustments must be supported by documentation and allow all cotenants to review the proposed price or request a hearing. The bill applies only to partition cases filed after October 1, 2026, and directly affects co-owners resolving property division disputes.

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 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 1495 changes Maryland's vehicle registration plate requirements by requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to issue only one registration plate for all vehicle classes, replacing the previous rule that required two plates for most vehicles. It specifically prohibits owners of historic vehicle plates (Class L) from violating their plate's issuance terms. The bill also adds a new option allowing vehicle owners to display a county sticker on their plate (showing their residence county), with specific rules about placement, fees, and restrictions on special plates. This affects all Maryland vehicle owners who register their vehicles, directly changing plate issuance and optional county display rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1515 prohibits noncompete and conflict of interest clauses in employment contracts for certain healthcare workers if their employer relocates most operations outside Maryland after the employee leaves. It specifically applies to: - Employees earning ≤ $350,000 annually in licensed, direct patient care roles (or veterinary professionals), - *or* employees of employers who previously had >30 in-state employees but later move most operations out of state. For higher-earning healthcare workers ($350,000+), the bill limits noncompete terms to 1 year and a 10-mile geographic radius. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to client/patient list restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis House Simple Resolution (HS 1) creates a legislative investigating committee to examine allegations of misconduct by state agencies involving federal funding. The committee will specifically investigate the Department of Transportation (for improperly charging $360 million in federal funds) and the Maryland Department of Health (for alleged SNAP payment errors), and may expand to other agencies with credible complaints. The committee, composed of eight House members (four Democrats appointed by the Speaker, four Republicans by the Minority Leader), has authority to hold hearings, issue subpoenas, and gather evidence under existing law. It must submit a final report to the House of Delegates with findings and recommendations.

Maddy summaryHB 988 repeals Maryland's existing building energy performance standards for commercial and multifamily buildings over 35,000 square feet. It removes requirements for these buildings to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040, as well as annual reporting of emissions data. The bill specifically repeals Sections 2-1601 and 2-1602 of the Environment Article and amends Section 4-211(d)(1) and (2) of the Housing and Community Development Article. This eliminates the state's regulatory framework for building energy efficiency, directly affecting owners of covered commercial and multifamily properties.