Del. Sandy Rosenberg

Maddy summaryHB 662 expands Maryland state agencies' ability to use "master contracting" for procurement. It allows more state units (beyond the current three designated departments) to adopt this streamlined method for qualifying vendors for recurring services, supplies, or commodities. Key provisions require agencies to solicit task orders from multiple master contractors (at least six for purchases under $100,000) and use objective criteria to evaluate bids. This bill directly affects state agencies conducting procurement and potential vendors seeking contracts under master agreements. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 requires state procurement contracts for construction and services to include specific clauses enabling contract modifications when costs rise due to statutory changes increasing required compensation/benefits or collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects state agencies and contractors by mandating these clauses in all new construction and services contracts signed after October 1, 2025. The bill adds two key provisions: (1) automatic adjustment for site condition differences in construction contracts, and (2) standardized procedures for handling contract claims. It modifies Maryland’s existing procurement law (Section 13-218(b)) to enforce these cost-adjustment mechanisms without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1208 prohibits businesses in Maryland from manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding, or offering for sale food containing four specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red Dye No. 3. It also requires a conspicuous warning label on food products containing Red Dye No. 3 starting October 1, 2025. The full ban on all four ingredients takes effect October 1, 2028. This bill directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating within Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 304 updates Maryland's state procurement rules to increase transparency and streamline processes. It requires state agencies to provide written debriefings explaining contract award decisions to unsuccessful bidders upon request, directly affecting contractors and businesses competing for state contracts. Key changes include allowing individuals who helped draft bid specifications to later submit bids (a new exemption), mandating contracts include clauses for legal changes affecting costs, and shortening deadlines for handling protests and claims. The bill also adds requirements for contractors to provide payment-related information before receiving funds and clarifies appeal paths to the Maryland Appellate Court. These procedural adjustments aim to make procurement more accountable while reducing delays.

Maddy summaryHB 591 changes Maryland law to set a 3-year deadline for local authorities to take action against violations of local consumer protection codes. Specifically, it requires that prosecutions or enforcement efforts for fines, penalties, or remedies must begin within 3 years after local officials knew or should have known about the violation. This applies directly to local governments and consumer protection agencies enforcing codes related to unfair business practices. The bill does not alter existing laws for other types of cases, focusing solely on consumer protection enforcement timelines. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1053 clarifies that parents, other family members, or legal guardians may provide self-directed services to individuals with developmental disabilities under the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration, directly affecting recipients who choose this option. The bill amends Maryland's Health General Code (Section 7-409(a)(4)) to require two conditions: the recipient or their decision-maker must select the family provider, and the recipient must hire a support broker. This change expands existing self-directed service options without altering eligibility or funding mechanisms. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all current and future recipients of self-directed services under the Administration.

Maddy summaryHB 386 prohibits the use of pesticides containing PFAS chemicals (a class of fluorinated chemicals) at specific locations, including schools, healthcare facilities, day cares, residential lawns, and commercial mosquito spraying, beginning June 1, 2026. The Maryland Department of Agriculture must create and maintain a list of all PFAS pesticides by January 1, 2026, and distribute it to certified applicators. The bill also bans new registrations of PFAS pesticides for sale in Maryland starting June 1, 2027, and prohibits all use of these pesticides statewide after June 1, 2028. This directly affects pesticide manufacturers, certified applicators, and entities using pesticides in the specified locations.

Maddy summaryHB 830 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, as recommended by healthcare providers and aligned with medical guidelines. It also mandates coverage for follow-up cancer imaging (like mammograms or colonoscopies) if genetic testing indicates increased cancer risk, with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these specific services. The law applies to all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients with cancer risk factors and their insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 1001 designates "The Original Maryland Orange Crush" as Maryland's official state cocktail, recognizing its origin at Ocean City's Harborside Bar and Grill. The bill amends Maryland law by adding Section 7-313 to the Annotated Code, formally naming the cocktail in state statutes. This is a symbolic designation with no regulatory or financial impact on businesses, consumers, or state operations. It affects Maryland's official state symbols but does not change any existing laws governing alcohol or cocktails. The change takes effect June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1130 requires Baltimore City to notify Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) when a vehicle owner or driver accumulates over $250 in unpaid or overdue citations from speed monitoring systems on Interstate 83 within Baltimore City. It authorizes Baltimore City to immobilize vehicles meeting this threshold and mandates that the fifth citation notice include a warning about potential registration suspension or transfer refusal. The bill also requires that future notices for I-83 speed violations explicitly state that unpaid fines exceeding $250 may lead to registration denial or new owner liability. This directly affects vehicle owners with repeated unpaid speed violations recorded by I-83 cameras in Baltimore City.