Rep. Marlon Amprey

Maddy summaryHB 548, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, requires local governments to approve housing development projects based solely on land-use laws and regulations in effect when a developer submits a "substantially complete" application. It grants developers "vested rights" to build under those original rules for a set period, protecting projects from future regulatory changes. The bill also prohibits localities from collecting development excise taxes or impact fees until a project is fully completed. This directly affects housing developers and local planning authorities across Maryland, streamlining approvals for new housing while limiting fee collection during construction.

Maddy summaryHB 634 (LEAD Act of 2026) requires Maryland police training programs to include specific instruction on interacting with individuals with dementia or autism. It directly affects all entrance-level and in-service police training curricula across state, county, and municipal departments. Key provisions mandate training in six areas: locating wandering individuals, searching near water, sensory-aware approaches, reunification, documentation, and interagency coordination. The law amends Maryland's Public Safety Code to add these requirements, effective October 1, 2026. It focuses on practical, life-saving protocols rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 680 renames Maryland's "Children's Cabinet Fund" to the "Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund" and mandates specific annual funding increases for grants to local management boards. Starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor must appropriate $3 million above the 2027 level, with $2 million increases each subsequent year through 2031. These funds support local boards in implementing coordinated services for children and families, including youth development, prevention, crisis intervention, and reducing out-of-home placements. The bill directly affects local management boards that coordinate child welfare services, requiring them to align with state and local plans when applying for these grants.

Maddy summaryHB 898, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and expand incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the "Strategic Closing Fund" under the Department of Commerce, alters eligibility and calculation rules for tax credits (including Job Creation, R&D, and film production credits), and extends the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill allows pass-through entities to allocate tax credits to members and removes limits on film production tax credit certificates. These changes directly affect businesses, investors, and film producers seeking state economic development incentives.

Maddy summaryHB 1276 establishes the Neighborhood Social Connection and Development Program within Baltimore City's West North Avenue Development Authority. The program provides technical support and grants to local organizations (like community development corporations, neighborhood associations, and nonprofits) serving the West North Avenue corridor (between the 600 and 3200 blocks) to fund specific community activities. Grants support social gatherings (block parties, festivals), outreach initiatives, volunteer stipends, green space projects, and training for community organizers. The Authority must report annually on grant activities and compile program evaluations by 2029 to create a neighborhood development template.

Maddy summaryHB 861 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to post the Statewide IT Master Plan on its website within six months of a governor's inauguration in their first term. If the deadline is missed, the Secretary must notify the governor and five specific legislative committees (Senate Budget Committee, Senate Education/Environment Committee, House Appropriations, House Government/Labor/Elections, and Joint Cybersecurity Committee) in writing within 10 days. The notification must explain the delay and provide a new publication date, not exceeding three months after the original deadline. This bill updates existing law to clarify posting requirements and accountability for delays.

Maddy summaryHB 1355, the Maryland Stablecoin Act, creates a new regulatory framework for entities providing payment stablecoin services in Maryland. It directly affects nondepository trust companies (financial institutions not covered by FDIC insurance) that wish to offer stablecoin-related services, such as issuing or facilitating transactions with stablecoins (digital currencies pegged to assets like the US dollar). The bill establishes licensing requirements, capital stock rules, and disclosure obligations for these providers under the Commissioner of Financial Regulation, while exempting certain existing nondepository trust companies from unrelated regulations. It adds new sections (14-101 through 14-603) to Maryland’s Financial Institutions code to define terms like "permitted payment stablecoin issuer" and "state issuer," and modifies existing fee structures for new bank charters. The law aims to provide legal clarity and oversight for this emerging financial service within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 503 allows full-time sworn deputy sheriffs (at lieutenant rank or below) and court security officers in Baltimore City to collectively bargain over compensation - including salary, wages, and city-managed benefits - as well as leave, hours, working conditions, and job security. It requires these officers to negotiate jointly with both the Sheriff and Baltimore City (not just one entity) for these matters, removing previous restrictions that excluded salary from bargaining. The bill excludes captains, appointed staff, civilian employees, part-timers, and temporary workers from these collective bargaining rights. This changes existing law to expand bargaining scope for eligible officers while specifying the joint negotiation process.

Maddy summaryHB 470 establishes a 10-member Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Task Force to study blockchain and cryptocurrency in Maryland. The task force, including state agency representatives, industry experts, and academics, will analyze the technology's risks, benefits, economic impact (including revenue and energy use), and potential regulatory needs. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by October 1, 2027, and the task force will automatically expire on June 30, 2028. This bill does not create new regulations but sets up a study group to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 553 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to create a searchable online database of active elevator inspection certificates on its website. This affects building owners and operators who must display valid certificates in elevators, while allowing the public to search for current inspection status by street address, city, or county. The bill does not change inspection standards but makes existing certificate data publicly accessible through a user-friendly tool, effective October 1, 2026.