Rep. Jesse Pippy

Maddy summaryHB 1319 makes it a felony to knowingly steal redeemable digital reward points, such as credit card points, frequent flyer miles, or retail rewards. It specifically prohibits obtaining unauthorized control over these points with the intent to deprive the owner, directly affecting individuals who steal such points and the businesses or consumers who own them. The law imposes penalties of up to 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both, plus requiring the thief to pay the owner the points' value. This amendment to Maryland’s Criminal Law (Article 7, Section 7-111) clarifies that digital reward systems are protected under theft statutes. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 989 removes a $40,000 annual sales limit on food processed under on-farm home processing licenses. The bill prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from restricting revenue from food sold by farm owners using home kitchens on their property. It requires the Department to update regulations (COMAR 10.15.04.15) by October 1, 2025, to eliminate the revenue cap. This directly affects Maryland farm owners who process and sell food from their homes.

Maddy summaryHB 1192 requires Maryland's Comptroller and State Tax Department to regularly check if nonprofits with state tax exemptions have been federally designated as supporting terrorist organizations under U.S. law. If confirmed, it mandates rescinding their income, sales, use, and property tax exemptions. Nonprofits must be notified in writing with 90 days to provide evidence to prevent rescission, and can appeal to the Maryland Tax Court. Reinstatement is possible only if the rescission was erroneous or based on new evidence. This directly affects Maryland nonprofits currently holding tax-exempt status who have been found by federal authorities to provide material support to designated terrorist groups.

Maddy summaryHB 803 prohibits distributing computer-generated images that appear to show real people with exposed intimate parts (like genitals or buttocks) or engaged in sexual activity, if done to harm, harass, or without the person’s consent - especially when privacy was expected. It specifically covers AI-generated content that looks indistinguishable from actual people, but excludes drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings. Violators face misdemeanor charges with penalties of up to 2 years in jail or a $5,000 fine. The bill amends Maryland’s criminal code (§ 3-809) to address new risks from deepfake technology.

Maddy summaryHB 734, the Real Time for Violent Crime Act, prohibits incarcerated individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder from earning sentence reduction credits (diminution credits) that shorten their prison time. It also limits sentence reductions for violent crimes to no more than 10% of the total sentence for those convicted of crimes of violence (as defined in Maryland law), and restricts judges from granting pretrial release to defendants charged with violent crimes if they have pending charges or recent convictions for specific violent offenses. The bill directly affects people serving sentences for murder or violent crimes in Maryland correctional facilities and changes how courts handle sentence reductions and pretrial releases for these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1362 (Eminent Domain - Just Compensation - Fees and Costs) changes Maryland law to require that landowners facing government condemnation (eminent domain) proceedings receive reimbursement for their legal fees and costs, in addition to the fair market value of their property. This directly affects property owners whose land is taken by government entities for projects like roads or public facilities. The key mechanism amends Section 12-104 of the Maryland Annotated Code to explicitly include "any legal, expert, or other fees or costs of the action incurred by the defendant" as part of awarded damages. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1337 (Maryland) amends property condemnation law to allow business or farm owners whose property is taken through eminent domain to claim compensation for lost profits under specific conditions. It directly affects business owners and farm operators on property acquired by government entities for public projects. The bill requires owners to prove the profit loss was directly caused by the taking, couldn't be prevented by relocation or reasonable steps, and isn't covered elsewhere. Damages must be calculated using standard accounting practices, preventing duplicate payments for the same loss. This change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 526 amends Maryland law to require schools to be notified when students are arrested for certain offenses, regardless of where the offense occurred (previously requiring it to be off school grounds or not at school events). It changes the definition of "reportable offense" to include any listed crime, whether on or off school property. The bill also mandates that the Department of Juvenile Services notify school superintendents and principals about specific decisions made during juvenile case reviews for these offenses. This affects all public and nonpublic schools in Maryland, as they must now receive reports on student arrests for defined offenses from law enforcement and juvenile services.

Maddy summaryHB 725 expands eligibility for two Maryland higher education grant programs by amending the definition of "dually enrolled student" to include students from nonpublic secondary schools and home schools. This change allows these students to apply for the Part-Time Grant Program (under §18-1401) and the Early College Access Grant (under §18-14A-01), which provide financial aid for college courses taken while still in high school. The bill modifies existing sections of Maryland’s education code (specifically §§15-127, 18-1401, 18-14A-01, 18-14A-02, and 18-14A-03) to reflect this expanded definition. The policy change directly affects home-schooled and nonpublic school students seeking college credit through dual enrollment, without altering grant amounts or application requirements. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 732 increases the required classroom teaching time for Maryland public school teachers on career ladder levels one, two, or three from 60% to 80% of their working time. This change directly affects teachers who are certified but not yet at the highest career levels (such as those pursuing a master’s degree or National Board Certification). The bill specifies that the remaining 20% of their time must be spent on activities like improving instruction, tutoring students, or participating in professional development. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.