Del. Michele Guyton

Maddy summaryHB 912 (Ash’s Law) clarifies that people caring for free-roaming cats under a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program are not violating animal abandonment laws. It requires local governments to adopt TNR policies that: prohibit requiring caregiver registration, mandate shelters to return eartipped cats (identified by a clipped ear) to their original location, and make TNR the preferred option for impounded cats. The bill also overrides local laws restricting TNR and applies to all Maryland counties and municipalities. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 34 requires Maryland municipalities to install approved grating systems on all open drainage inlets (with 12-inch or larger openings) that collect stormwater. These systems must prevent large debris entry while allowing water flow and be secured to prevent removal by floodwater or tools. The law applies to both new inlets (during construction) and existing inlets, mandating full installation by June 1, 2027. It directly affects all Maryland municipalities by requiring infrastructure upgrades to improve stormwater management and safety.

Maddy summaryHB 543 allows landlords to charge up to two months' rent as a security deposit if a tenant operates a family child care home (defined as caring for up to eight children in a residence). It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes on single-family rental properties and shields landlords from civil liability related to the child care operation. Tenants must provide written notice 60 days before starting, share their child care registration, and supply insurance naming the landlord and property owners as additional insureds. The bill also requires tenants to notify landlords immediately if they stop operating the home and permits landlords to mandate $1 million liability insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 164 establishes new rules for handling yard waste collected on state-owned buildings and highways in Maryland. It requires workers to collect waste in reusable containers or compostable paper bags (not single-use plastic) and mandates disposal at specific facilities like organics recycling centers, natural wood recycling facilities, or state sites that create mulch. The bill applies to anyone employed to manage yard waste on state properties, excluding noxious weeds or invasive species. These requirements take effect October 1, 2026, aiming to improve waste management practices for state grounds.

Maddy summaryHB 212 creates a new process for new Maryland residents driving vehicles registered in another state. It requires these residents to either properly register their vehicle with Maryland within 60 days of moving or provide proof the vehicle isn't required to be registered in Maryland (like proof of ownership in another state). If they fail to comply within 60 days, a $7 daily civil fine begins until resolved, and after 120 days, local prosecutors may pursue civil action to immobilize the vehicle. The bill directly affects new Maryland residents who drive out-of-state registered vehicles, replacing automatic penalties with a warning and compliance period.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with enforceable policy changes. Maryland's General Assembly formally joins other states (like California and Oregon) and local jurisdictions in endorsing the "Back from the Brink" initiative. It urges Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and asks the U.S. President and Senate to endorse that treaty. The resolution expresses concern about nuclear risks but does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1024 prohibits the State of Maryland or its local governments from using eminent domain to take privately owned property subject to a permanent agricultural or conservation easement. This directly affects landowners who have placed such easements on their property, including farmers and conservation organizations. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly state that state entities "may not take by eminent domain" these easement-covered properties, while maintaining existing procedures for state roads and Baltimore City. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 723 requires Maryland electric companies to submit cost containment plans to the Public Service Commission by January 1, 2027, and every three years thereafter. These plans must detail strategies to reduce peak electricity demand through specific mechanisms, including "nonwires solutions" (like distributed energy resources and grid-enhancing technologies), demand flexibility programs, and grid flexibility-enabled building electrification. The bill mandates that plans avoid or minimize capital spending on infrastructure while improving system reliability and efficiency. This directly affects all electric distribution and transmission companies operating in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1488 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to replace gendered terms like "man," "his," and "him" with gender-neutral language such as "person" and "their." It specifically targets multiple articles and sections across the Constitution (including the Declaration of Rights, Executive Department, and Judiciary Department) to update outdated terminology. The bill does not change substantive rights or policies but modernizes the language to be inclusive. This is a procedural constitutional amendment focused solely on terminology, not on altering legal obligations or government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 1386, "Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law," makes it a felony for repeat drug distributors to provide heroin, fentanyl, or similar drugs when that distribution causes death or serious injury to another person. It applies only to individuals with prior convictions for distributing controlled substances under Maryland law. The law holds every person who transferred the drugs before the harm occurred liable, mandates a maximum 20-year prison sentence (served consecutively to other sentences), and clarifies that the law covers cases where drugs were mixed with other substances or distributed directly to the victim. This bill directly affects repeat drug distributors whose actions result in fatal or severe injuries, not general users or first-time offenders.