Del. Marlon Amprey

Maddy summaryHB 336 amends Maryland law to restrict District Court commissioners from issuing arrest warrants based on applications from anyone other than police officers or State’s Attorneys. It also adds specific circumstances under which warrants may be issued (e.g., if a defendant skipped a summons, is unknown to authorities, or is in custody for another offense). Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for knowingly making false statements about crimes or public safety dangers to officials, raising the maximum jail term from six months to three years. These changes directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals who file complaints or reports with authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 1214 allows vehicle dealer associations to request administrative hearings to resolve disputes with manufacturers or to clarify laws governing dealership relationships. The bill defines a "Dealer Association" as a group owned by most franchised dealers in Maryland that represents their interests. It amends Maryland law to let these associations, alongside individual dealers, formally request hearings under transportation regulations for issues like contract disagreements or interpretation of dealer laws. This applies only when the manufacturer has at least one franchised dealer in Maryland, excluding cases where they do not operate in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 687 (the PACE Act) protects criminal defendants and juvenile respondents in Maryland from having their creative works (like music, poetry, visual art, or film) used as evidence against them in court. It blocks such evidence unless a court finds, by a preponderance of evidence, that the creator intended the work to be literal (not fictional), it directly references the specific facts of the alleged crime, and it's relevant to a disputed fact. The bill explicitly excludes this protection for juvenile cases where creative expression is used to evaluate mental health or diversion programs. This law directly affects artists facing criminal or juvenile charges in Maryland, changing how their original creative expression can be considered as evidence. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1479 (Maryland Raise the Wage Act) increases Maryland's minimum wage for most employers to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2024, rising to $18 per hour beginning January 1, 2028, with future increases tied to the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Consumer Price Index (CPI). Small businesses (with 49 or fewer employees) receive a phased transition: $15 per hour from January 2024 through December 2028, then $18 per hour starting January 2029. The law automatically adjusts the wage annually based on CPI growth (capped at 5% per year), preventing freezes during periods of no CPI increase. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting all Maryland employers and their hourly workers.

Maddy summaryHB 627 establishes the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education to improve how Maryland public schools teach U.S. and Maryland history, culture, and civics. The commission, composed of 16 members representing diverse groups (including Indigenous tribes, LGBTQIA+ communities, disabled individuals, teachers, and racial/ethnic communities), must examine contributions of marginalized groups and make recommendations to the State Board of Education. Key provisions require the commission to examine topics like Native American contributions, LGBTQIA+ history, and disability community impacts, while ensuring recommendations promote equitable learning for all students. The commission must publicly share meeting materials, reports, and livestream sessions online, with members serving four-year terms without pay but receiving travel reimbursements. This bill directly affects Maryland public school curricula and student learning experiences through its recommendations.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 requires all Maryland public high schools to maintain a standardized injury log for athletic injuries occurring during school sports activities. The log must include specific details like date/time, sport, injury description, whether medical treatment was provided, and return-to-play authorization, and must be documented within 24 hours by coaches, trainers, or designated staff. Schools must retain these logs for five years and submit an annual, anonymized summary of all high school athletic injuries to the State Department of Education by July 1 each year (starting July 1, 2027). This law directly affects public high schools and their athletic staff, aiming to improve injury tracking and safety oversight while complying with student privacy laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1351 expands Maryland's licensing requirements for home improvement contractors to include specific "disaster mitigation services," such as boarding windows, tarping roofs, demolition to prevent further damage, and securing walls after disasters. This change directly affects homeowners (who gain the right to cancel contracts for these services under certain conditions), contractors (who must now hold licenses for such work), and local counties (which can limit in-person solicitation of disaster victims by contractors). Key provisions include adding these services to the legal definition of "home improvement" under licensing rules, allowing owners to rescind contracts for disaster mitigation services, and giving counties authority to restrict contractor solicitation near disaster sites. The bill aims to regulate contractor activities during emergencies while providing clearer consumer protections.

Maddy summaryHB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1310 allows high school students in Maryland who experience the death of a parent due to reproductive cancer (breast, cervical, or uterine cancer) to request a standardized notation on their official transcript. This notation, which must use privacy-protective language like "Documented Compelling Personal Circumstance" or "Exceptional Hardship Acknowledgement," explains potential impacts on academic performance, achievement, or attendance. Schools must add the notation upon receiving a written request with proof of the parent’s death (via death certificate or healthcare provider letter), and counselors must inform eligible students and surviving parents about this option. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require schools to disclose the specific nature of the loss.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland's legislative scholarship programs to exempt certain applicants from competitive examination requirements and to allow scholarship funds to be used for real estate appraisal training. Specifically, it removes the exam requirement for students who have completed at least one year at an eligible institution, those who graduated high school five years prior, applicants to approved private career colleges, and community college students. Additionally, it authorizes senatorial and Delegate scholarships to cover expenses for completing the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria program. The changes apply to both new scholarship applications and the existing scholarship programs, affecting current and future recipients who meet the specified eligibility criteria.