Del. Elizabeth Embry

Maddy summaryHB 513 limits rooster ownership in Maryland to no more than 5 roosters per acre or 25 total on a single property, starting January 1, 2027, unless authorized by the Department of Agriculture. It directly affects property owners keeping roosters, excluding commercial poultry farms, schools, animal shelters, and 4-H members who provide written authorization with specific details (like breed and location). Violations may result in misdemeanor fines up to $1,000, with enforcement handled by the Department of Agriculture in cooperation with local animal control. The bill aims to address concerns linked to cockfighting and Avian Flu spread, as noted in its preamble.

Maddy summaryHB 786 authorizes Maryland's Appellate Court to hold sessions at any secondary (e.g., high schools) or postsecondary (e.g., colleges) educational institution in the state, not just the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus and University of Baltimore as previously allowed. This change requires the Chief Judge to coordinate with school administrators to designate specific institutions for sessions. The bill modifies existing law to expand where the court can operate while maintaining the requirement that sessions must be held for at least ten months annually in Annapolis unless designated otherwise. It does not alter court procedures or affect the public directly, only changing the court's scheduling flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 89 modifies Maryland's animal cruelty laws by clarifying exemptions for common activities like routine veterinary care (e.g., dehorning, castration), federally approved research, and hunting/fishing conducted humanely under existing regulations. It establishes that each animal harmed in a violation counts as a separate offense for sentencing, meaning multiple animals result in multiple charges. The bill also prevents animal cruelty convictions from merging with other related convictions, allowing courts to impose separate or consecutive sentences for the same act. This directly affects prosecutors, courts, and individuals facing animal cruelty charges, particularly in agriculture, research, and regulated hunting/fishing contexts. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 579 modifies Maryland's certification process for U Nonimmigrant Status visas (U visas), which help victims of certain crimes access legal immigration status. The bill expands who can certify victim helpfulness to include agencies like child protective services, adult protective services, and the Commission on Civil Rights (not just police). It requires certifying officials to provide specific details about the crime and victim's cooperation when completing Form I-918, Supplement B. This directly affects crime victims seeking U visas and the state agencies that issue these certifications. The bill aligns Maryland's process with federal U visa guidelines to streamline eligibility verification.

Maddy summaryHB 1226 authorizes Baltimore City to use stop sign monitoring systems in school zones, if permitted by local law, to capture vehicles failing to stop. It establishes a process where drivers recorded violating stop signs receive citations and face civil penalties, with fines required to fund public safety programs like pedestrian safety initiatives. The bill prohibits contractors from being paid based on the number of citations issued and specifies that contested cases must go through district court. This applies specifically to Baltimore City school zone enforcement, not statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Baltimore City to set different property tax rates for specific property classes (like commercial buildings or residential units) instead of applying a single rate to all properties. It directly affects Baltimore property owners whose properties fall into these defined categories, such as those designated as vacant or unfit for use. The city must annually report on these special rates, including revenue generated and how funds are spent. The policy change takes effect for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1350 amends Maryland law to allow out-of-state or federal/military/tribal court convictions of certain sexual offenses to count as prior convictions for sentencing enhancements. Specifically, it expands the definition of "prior conviction" under Section 3-308(d)(2)(ii) to include crimes that would qualify as fourth-degree sexual offenses in Maryland (such as those under sections 3-303, 3-304, or 3-307-3-310). This affects repeat sex offenders who have prior convictions from other jurisdictions, enabling prosecutors to seek increased penalties (up to 3 years in prison) for subsequent offenses. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to cases where the prior offense would have been a Maryland violation had it occurred here.

Maddy summaryHB 961 prevents state-funded public art contracts from requiring artists to waive copyright protections. It applies to artists commissioned for projects receiving state funding, regardless of whether the state directly paid for the art. The bill bans new contracts from including clauses that force artists to give up copyright rights, and makes existing waivers (signed before October 1, 2025) unenforceable in court. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025, ensuring artists retain legal rights to their work on state projects.

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 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.