Rep. Elizabeth Embry

Maddy summaryHB 681 increases Baltimore City's maximum civil and criminal fine for ordinance violations from $1,000 to $5,000. This directly affects residents and businesses in Baltimore City who may face penalties for breaking local ordinances, rules, or regulations. The bill amends the city charter to raise the cap on fines while maintaining a maximum 12-month jail term for violations. It does not change the types of ordinances covered but allows the city to impose higher penalties for enforcement. The change takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 980 (Kanaiyah's Law) creates the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman within the Attorney General's office to handle complaints about Maryland's child welfare system. It requires juvenile courts to include specific information-sharing requirements in guardianship orders and expands criminal background checks to cover all adults living in a child's guardian's home. The bill also prohibits unlicensed placements for certain children, protects complainants from retaliation, and exempts certain complaint records from public disclosure. These changes directly affect child welfare agencies, guardians, and families navigating the system, aiming to improve transparency and accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 429 establishes two grant programs to reduce food waste and promote composting. The On-Farm Organics Diversion Grant Program (under Agriculture) funds farmers, urban farmers, and related entities to implement on-farm composting, food rescue, and waste prevention. The Wasted Food Reduction Grant Program (under Environment) funds projects like food rescue infrastructure, community composting, and education to reduce wasted food statewide. Eligible projects must meet specific standards, such as producing certified compost and prioritizing underserved communities, with grants awarded annually starting July 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 427 extends the deadline for the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances to complete its work. The bill modifies existing law (Chapter 793 of the 2024 Acts) to delay the Task Force's report submission date from July 31, 2025, to a new date specified in the bill. This procedural extension affects the Task Force members (including state health officials, university representatives, and community experts) and the Maryland General Assembly, which will receive the final report. The Task Force's duties remain unchanged: studying psychedelic substances like psilocybin, making recommendations for legal access programs, and addressing criminal justice impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 1232 allows developers to avoid Baltimore City property taxes for new or renovated commercial or multifamily projects in the Downtown RISE District (specifically wards 4, 21, and 22 precincts) by entering a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the city. To qualify, the project must include at least one facility like a hotel, office building, or retail space, and the city must first confirm the project’s financial necessity through an economic analysis. Developers must apply for the agreement by June 30, 2036, with building permits secured and financing conditions met. The city must annually report job creation, estimated tax impacts, and other economic benefits to city council and the state legislature. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 442 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives in Maryland to disclose their professional liability insurance status to residents and potential residents. Specifically, these providers must provide written notice (including electronic communication) if they lack coverage or if coverage has lapsed and not been renewed, with timing requirements: at the first visit for potential residents or at application for admission, and within 30 days of a lapse for current residents. The bill also mandates that facilities without coverage post a conspicuous notice for residents and guests. This law does not change insurance requirements but ensures transparency about coverage gaps. It directly affects residents and potential residents of these care facilities by providing clear, timely disclosure of insurance status.

Maddy summaryHB 1117 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain insurers to cover approved "elopement response devices" for specific individuals. These devices - such as door sensors, wearable location trackers, or alert systems - prevent people with cognitive, developmental, or neurological conditions from wandering unsafely (e.g., leaving a supervised area without the ability to return safely). Coverage is mandated when ordered by a qualified healthcare provider and documented in a qualifying plan (like an individualized education plan or dementia care plan) for eligible recipients: those under 21 with early screening eligibility, on home-based waiver programs, or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/dementia. The bill defines these devices as medical equipment or assistive technology under state programs, ensuring coverage without regard to when the program was established.

Maddy summaryHB 918 authorizes Baltimore City to create and enforce local laws that are stricter than state rules for regulating the sale and distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices. It allows the Baltimore City Council and Mayor to implement these stricter local rules, while still requiring compliance with state licensing and tax laws under Title 12 of Maryland’s Tax-General Article. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects Baltimore City’s ability to tailor tobacco and e-cigarette regulations to local needs.

Maddy summaryHB 1311 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety to help incarcerated individuals access federal Pell Grants and state student financial aid. It mandates that correctional facilities assist eligible incarcerated people in applying for these funds and explicitly states that financial aid established under Maryland law must be available to those meeting eligibility criteria. The bill affects incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities, directing the Department to collaborate with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and specific higher education institutions to facilitate access. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, without creating new funding but altering access procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 sets a 3-year statute of limitations for prosecuting or enforcing local consumer protection codes in Maryland. It requires that legal actions for fines, penalties, or equitable relief must be filed within 3 years after local authorities knew or reasonably should have known about a violation. This applies directly to municipalities with their own consumer protection codes and affects businesses or entities violating those local rules. The bill modifies Maryland's judicial code to establish this timeframe for enforcement actions.