Del. Marlon Amprey

Maddy summaryHB 818 allows courts to award reasonable attorney fees and expenses to winning plaintiffs who sue to correct violations of rights protected by Maryland's Constitution or Declaration of Rights (e.g., cases against state agencies or local governments). It also permits fees to winning defendants only if the plaintiff's case was filed in bad faith or without legal basis. Courts must use factors from Maryland Rule 2-703(F)(3) to determine fees, and the law explicitly overrides standard fee limits under Maryland's Tort Claims Act for these cases. The bill applies only to cases filed after its October 1, 2025, effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1370 creates three new regional transportation authorities for Baltimore, the Capital (Annapolis/Baltimore corridor), and Southern Maryland regions. It establishes dedicated transportation funds for each region, funded by 70% of sales tax surcharges and hotel surcharges collected within each area. The remaining 30% of these revenues must be distributed to local counties and municipalities based on their share of taxable activity. These funds are designed to be permanent ("nonlapsing") and earn interest, which automatically adds to the fund balance. The bill directs these funds specifically toward developing and implementing regional transportation plans.

Maddy summaryHB 607 establishes the PAREA Grant Program to provide financial assistance to minorities residing in historically redlined neighborhoods and underrepresented communities for training to become real estate appraisers. The program aims to close appraisal gaps in these areas, diversify the appraisal profession, and support individuals pursuing real estate appraisal careers. Administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the grants directly target residents in communities historically excluded from the appraisal field. This policy creates a concrete pathway for career development in a specific profession while addressing documented disparities in real estate services.

Maddy summaryHB 941 requires the Governor to include at least $5 million annually in the state budget for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2027, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is appropriated. This addresses a historical funding disparity identified by the state legislature, where UMES (as Maryland’s 1890 land-grant institution) received less per-student state funding than UM College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution) from 1987-2020. Funds must be supplemental to existing appropriations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill aims to fully remedy the $321 million shortfall over time through mandatory annual appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 499 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) changes Maryland’s expungement process to make it easier for people with certain misdemeanor convictions to clear their records. It reduces waiting periods after completing a sentence (removing the previous 3-year limit for some offenses), expands eligibility to include more misdemeanor convictions, and requires courts to confirm restitution payments are made or unpayable before expungement. The bill also prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing expunged records. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 985 allows Maryland counties to establish a second administrative charging committee for reviewing police misconduct complaints, if the county governing body determines one committee is insufficient to serve all countywide and local law enforcement agencies. This bill amends existing law by adding a new provision (Section 3-104(a)(1)(II)) that permits counties to authorize a second committee under specific circumstances. The key mechanism requires county officials to formally decide that a single committee cannot adequately handle the volume of cases, without changing the committee composition or disciplinary standards. The bill directly affects county governments and law enforcement agencies by providing administrative flexibility in handling misconduct investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 allows Maryland hospitals to sell unpaid patient medical debt to nonprofit organizations *only* if the nonprofit cancels the debt. This directly affects hospitals (requiring them to amend financial policies) and patients with outstanding medical bills who may have their debt forgiven through this process. Key provisions mandate hospitals to dismiss all pending legal actions for sold debt and prohibit any further collection efforts - including on judgments - on debt sold to qualifying nonprofits. The bill also updates hospital reporting requirements to include demographic data on debt collection practices, but its core change centers on enabling debt cancellation via nonprofit partnerships.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 restricts federal immigration enforcement agencies from accessing Maryland state and local government databases without a valid warrant. It requires state/local law enforcement agencies, DMV, and other government units to deny federal requests for personal information, photos, or facial recognition data unless accompanied by a federal or Maryland court warrant. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on all such federal requests received, including how many were denied or granted with warrants. This directly affects Maryland state agencies, local governments, and federal immigration officers seeking access to these databases.

Maddy summaryHB 1379 allows specific retail establishments - food retailers meeting defined food categories (e.g., fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods) with 4,000+ sq ft, pharmacies, and retail service stations with fuel/electric vehicle charging - to apply for Class A liquor licenses under new rules. It permits these businesses to purchase licenses directly from existing holders if within 3,000 feet, or apply to local boards (with applications presumed in the community’s best interest). Key provisions include restricting sales to 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (Mon-Sat), requiring security personnel for alcohol areas, banning self-scanning registers for alcohol sales, and prohibiting delivery or small-bottle sales. The bill directly affects eligible retailers seeking to sell alcohol without being classified as a traditional bar or liquor store.

Maddy summaryHB 1377 prohibits cannabis businesses from advertising within 500 feet of substance use treatment facilities, schools, child care centers, playgrounds, recreational centers, libraries, or public parks. It replaces previous outdoor advertising restrictions with these location-based rules and requires cannabis licensees to submit ads to the Maryland Cannabis Administration for a compliance opinion. The bill also mandates age verification (via age-gates) for cannabis websites and requires social media ads to display a 21+ age notice. These changes directly affect cannabis businesses by restricting ad placement and adding compliance steps. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.