Del. Michele Guyton

Maddy summaryHB 965 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create a fair method for distributing transit grant funds to counties starting in fiscal year 2027. It mandates that funding be based primarily on each county's population (from the U.S. Census) or another equitable metric the department determines, while also allowing for growth of local transit systems. This bill directly affects all Maryland counties receiving funds through the Locally Operated Transit System Grant Program. The new distribution method replaces the previous approach and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1280 allows unaffiliated voters in Maryland to choose a political party during early voting for primary elections. Specifically, it permits voters who have not affiliated with a party to request affiliation at an early voting center in their county before a primary election. If residency is confirmed, election judges issue a voter authority card and a ballot for the chosen party. This change applies only to early voting periods before primary elections, not general elections, and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 1360 prohibits storing road salt uncovered outdoors in Maryland, directly affecting municipalities, road maintenance crews, and any entity handling road salt for winter operations. The bill requires the Department of the Environment to create regulations for proper outdoor storage (including covered methods) and establish penalties for noncompliance. Enforcement will be handled by county stormwater authorities working with the Department, while exempting entities already covered by federal salt management plans. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to reduce salt runoff into waterways.

Maddy summaryHB 657 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new power transmission lines, such as using existing lines from other companies, existing rights-of-way, upgrading current lines, or burying lines underground. The Commission must consider these alternatives when they help preserve historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, avoid residential zones, or align with local growth plans. This law applies to utility companies seeking to expand transmission infrastructure and takes effect on October 1, 2025. It removes a previous requirement for the Commission to verify whether an existing line's owner has a franchise in the area.

Maddy summaryHB 812 allows nursing homes to direct their electronic health network or medical record vendors to release patient records to the nursing home’s business partners. Vendors must provide these records electronically in a standard format, without charging fees or delaying releases, to support patient care. The Maryland Attorney General can enforce this rule, and affected individuals or entities can sue for violations to seek damages or court orders. This bill modifies existing health code provisions and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 958, the Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025, establishes new safety requirements for railroad operations in Maryland. It mandates a minimum two-person crew for freight trains (excluding hostler/utility service), prohibits blocking grade crossings for more than five minutes, and limits train length to 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. The bill also requires railroads to report hazardous material transportation data to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry (for emergency agencies only, not the public) and mandates installation of wayside detectors on tracks designated Class IV or higher by federal standards. Violations carry civil fines up to $25,000 per incident.

Maddy summaryHB 973, the Better Buildings Act of 2025, requires new buildings and major renovations (costing 50%+ of a structure's replacement value) in Maryland to meet all space heating, water heating, and laundry demands without fossil fuels. It mandates energy conservation standards and requires buildings to be "electric- and solar-ready," meaning they must have sufficient electrical capacity, wiring, and physical space for future installation of electric appliances and solar panels. The bill amends Maryland law to adopt these standards through the Department of Labor, aligning with but allowing stricter energy efficiency requirements than the International Energy Conservation Code. This directly affects developers, builders, and property owners constructing or significantly renovating buildings in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 701 bans the purchase, use, and sale of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in Maryland starting in 2025. It prohibits the state from buying these devices after July 1, 2025, and phases out their use by state agencies and contractors by 2030 (with temporary exceptions for specific months each year). Retailers must notify buyers about the 2027 sales ban starting September 2025, and the bill allows local governments to enforce stricter rules. Exemptions include wildfire suppression, firefighting, and emergency response activities.

Maddy summaryHB 650 establishes the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, a special non-lapsing fund to provide annual grants for agricultural fairs and education. The bill directs $825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, and $550,000 to the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society for fair promotion, statewide education, and youth programs like 4-H and FFA. It replaces previous funding from the horse racing special fund by requiring a portion of state lottery proceeds (before General Fund allocation) to fund the new Promise Fund. Interest earnings from the fund must be credited back to it, and the fund is administered by the Comptroller with grants paid annually.