Del. Melissa Wells

Maddy summaryHB 898 removes an exemption that previously allowed rental vehicles to be exempt from Maryland's vehicle excise tax. The bill specifies that rental vehicles will now be taxed at 3.5% of their fair market value (down from the standard 6% rate for most vehicles), directly affecting rental car companies operating in Maryland. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and modifies existing tax code sections to reflect the new rate for rental vehicles. The policy change removes a prior tax exemption, making rental vehicles subject to the excise tax.

Maddy summaryHB 846, the Transportation Access and Revenue Act, requires businesses providing short-term vehicle rentals and peer-to-peer car sharing to collect sales tax on these services. It directs 45% of the tax revenue from these services to the Transportation Trust Fund (for roads and transit projects) and the remainder to a coastal conservation fund. The bill also mandates that sales tax revenue from electricity used to charge electric vehicles at public charging stations (not under residential rates) be allocated to the Transportation Trust Fund. This changes how certain transportation-related tax revenue is distributed, affecting car-sharing companies, rental businesses, and electric vehicle charging providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1017 requires contractors and subcontractors on Maryland public works projects to employ a specific percentage of qualified apprentices or journeyworkers, replacing previous options that allowed payments to apprenticeship programs instead. It directly affects all contractors working on qualifying public projects, including those for the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College, and Baltimore City Community College. The bill mandates the Secretary of Labor to annually set the required apprenticeship percentage and allows waivers under certain circumstances. This law revises existing procurement rules to strengthen on-the-job training requirements for public construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.

Maddy summaryHB 1009 increases Baltimore City's maximum fine for violating local ordinances, rules, or regulations from $1,000 to $10,000. It amends the City Charter (Article II, Section 48) to raise the penalty limit for both civil and criminal violations. This change directly affects residents and businesses subject to Baltimore City's local enforcement, such as for noise, code, or public safety violations. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 648 establishes the BRIDGE Program within Maryland's Department of Commerce to provide grants to qualifying business incubators. The program targets incubators that primarily serve businesses in Maryland, require formal incubator programs for early-stage companies, and have staff trained to support socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Grants cover planning, facility improvements, equipment, and operating costs (with limits on covering more than 25% of operating expenses after the first year), ranging from $100,000 to $400,000 per fiscal year. Preference is given to incubators led by disadvantaged individuals, located in underserved communities or designated zones, or focused on supporting startups led by disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Maddy summaryHB 608 requires Maryland county school boards to grant temporary school admission to students when parents or guardians cannot immediately provide proof of required immunizations. This temporary enrollment lasts up to 60 days, during which parents must schedule an appointment with a health provider or local health department to obtain immunizations, reconstruct lost records, or get evidence of age-appropriate immunity. Parents must then submit proof of the immunization on the next school day following the appointment. The bill directly affects public school students and their families in Maryland, balancing school safety with practical barriers to documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 624 requires that Maryland’s statewide voter registration application include a pre-stamped return envelope or envelope template addressed to the State Board of Elections. This change directly affects voters who submit registration forms by eliminating the need for them to purchase postage. The bill mandates that the application must include clear instructions about the prepaid postage and directions for attaching additional postage if needed. It amends Maryland’s Election Law (Section 3-202) to implement this requirement, effective June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 700 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct a new study measuring problem and severe gambling rates specifically for mobile gambling (with an initial report due by July 1, 2030), expanding on existing studies for in-person gambling. It redirects 6.25% of revenue from sports wagering and fantasy sports competitions to the Problem Gambling Fund - up from prior allocations - to support treatment and prevention services. The bill also mandates annual reports by the Secretary of Health, due November 1 each year, detailing how these funds are spent on services like counseling and education. This directly affects Maryland residents seeking gambling treatment and sports betting operators who must remit the specified revenue share.

Maddy summaryHB 606 requires real estate professionals - such as developers, builders, brokers, and agents - to report the final sale price of new homes sold in Maryland into a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or similar public database within 30 days of the sale. This applies specifically to new home sales and directly affects those selling new properties. The key provision mandates that final sale prices, not initial listings, be entered into existing MLS systems used by real estate professionals. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to increase transparency in new home pricing data without creating new reporting systems.