Del. Michele Guyton

Maddy summaryHB 217 designates May as Maryland Native Plant Month through an annual gubernatorial proclamation. The bill requires the Governor to issue this proclamation each year, urging educational organizations, environmental groups, and businesses to host events and activities during May. It defines "native plants" as species naturally occurring in Maryland without human intervention (per Agriculture Article §10-401). This commemorative measure has no regulatory or funding impact - it solely recognizes the environmental benefits of native plants through annual public awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland's Governor to annually proclaim May as Water Safety Month. It directs the Governor to urge educational and civic organizations to host events focused on drowning prevention and safe water practices. The law modifies Maryland's code to establish this annual designation, taking effect October 1, 2026. It directly affects the Governor's office and organizations coordinating public safety awareness.

Maddy summaryHB 1046 requires schools to notify a child's parent, guardian, or caretaker within 24 hours if a mandated reporter (like a teacher) reports suspected abuse or neglect occurring at school or a school-sponsored event. This applies unless the parent, guardian, or caretaker is the suspected abuser. The bill amends Maryland law to create this specific notification requirement for school-related abuse reports, while maintaining existing protections for reporters' identities. It does not change who must report abuse but adds a new step for schools to inform families promptly.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 restricts campaign finance activities for candidates running for specific state offices (including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and General Assembly members) and their representatives during regular legislative sessions. The bill prohibits them from receiving new contributions, holding fundraisers, soliciting donations, or using un-deposited funds during sessions, with exceptions for activities related to their own federal/local election campaigns, gubernatorial fundraising during election years, and pre-session electronic contributions. Violations would result in civil penalties directed to the state's Fair Campaign Financing Fund. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1408 allows Maryland law enforcement agencies to impound a motor vehicle if it has three or more unpaid and overdue civil citations from automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras or red-light cameras), with each citation overdue by at least 30 days. This primarily affects vehicle owners who accumulate multiple unpaid automated traffic violations. Impoundment may only occur under two specific conditions: when an officer stops the driver for another traffic violation, or when the vehicle is parked. The bill clarifies that this action cannot be the primary reason for stopping a vehicle. It updates existing transportation code to define "automated traffic enforcement systems" and establish this impoundment threshold.

Maddy summaryHB 879 establishes a free Language Acquisition Tracking Program within Maryland’s State Department of Education to monitor language development for deaf and hard of hearing children under age 9. The program requires annual assessments using a standardized tool (approved by an advisory council) every six months, starting from diagnosis, to track progress toward developmental milestones in spoken or signed language. It directly affects eligible children with permanent hearing loss who have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), or Section 504 Plan. The State Coordinator oversees the program, provides professional training, and ensures assessment data informs each child’s educational plan. Parents may opt their child out of assessments with written notice.

Maddy summaryHB 1027 requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to establish a telephone voting system for absentee ballots, specifically for voters who certify having a print disability (a condition preventing reading standard printed materials). The bill mandates the State Board to select, certify, and acquire a system meeting strict security and accessibility standards - including ballot secrecy, accuracy, paper trail requirements, and toll-free access - after independent testing by a federally approved lab. Eligible voters must submit a form certifying their disability to be added to a list, and the State Board must send them detailed instructions, a toll-free number, and voting dates 75 days before absentee ballots are mailed. The bill also requires the State Board to implement a public education campaign about the system and report progress to legislative committees by December 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 704 establishes Maryland's Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program within the State Department of Education. It provides state funding to cover the difference between federal reimbursement rates for free and paid school meals, directly supporting Maryland schools with high poverty rates (25%+ students qualifying for free meals) that participate in the federal child nutrition program. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2028 to complement federal funds, with funds distributed based on school poverty concentration and geographic diversity. Schools must report on program outcomes, meal debt resolution, and reasons for opting out of federal eligibility, with annual reports published online.

Maddy summaryHB 928 modifies Maryland's requirements for constructing transmission lines over 69,000 volts. It expands the types of transmission lines needing a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" (replacing the previous focus on overhead lines), and requires the Public Service Commission to consider ratepayer costs and environmental impacts when deciding whether to waive this requirement for certain projects. The bill also removes a prior rule that automatically waived certificate requirements for specific overhead lines. This directly affects electric companies, transmission developers, and the Public Service Commission in their approval processes for new or upgraded power lines.

Maddy summaryHB 897 (the "Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026") requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (>69,000 volts) in Maryland to join regional transmission organizations. It mandates new application details for certain utility projects, creates a Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration, and redirects funds from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential electricity customers. The bill also requires studies on siting transmission lines and battery storage systems within existing rights-of-way and sets deadlines for the Public Service Commission to review project certificates. These provisions directly affect electric utilities, the Public Service Commission, and residential electricity customers through cost adjustments.