Del. Regina Boyce

Maddy summaryHB 1144 would bar individuals alleged to have committed assault or caused bodily injury to transit staff or passengers from using Maryland's state public transit services or stations for set periods. First offenses trigger a 30-day exclusion, second offenses 180 days, and third offenses or weapon use result in a lifetime ban. State officials can adjust these exclusion periods, and violators face trespassing charges under existing law. The bill applies specifically to incidents occurring on transit vehicles or at transit stations, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and implement training for transportation sector employees (including those at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Employers must certify employees have completed the training by January 1, 2026, and establish reporting procedures to local agencies and trafficking prevention policies. The bill also protects employees and employers from liability for good-faith reports or responses to suspected trafficking incidents. Additionally, it mandates bilingual safety announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs.

Maddy summaryHB 124 requires specific disclosures in residential property contracts when a "wholesale buyer" (a buyer who assigns the contract for a fee) or "wholesale seller" (a seller who assigns their interest without holding title) is involved. It mandates that wholesale buyers disclose in writing to property owners they may assign the contract, and wholesale sellers must disclose in writing to buyers they may not convey title. Homeowners can cancel such contracts without penalty if required disclosures are missing and the contract is assigned, while buyers who cancel due to failed disclosures receive a deposit refund. The law applies only to new contracts signed on or after October 1, 2025, and does not affect existing agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 744 updates Maryland's traffic safety laws by increasing penalties for dangerous driving. It defines reckless driving as driving 30+ miles per hour over the speed limit (previously undefined), adds 2 points to a driver's record for negligent driving, and adds 6 points for speeding over 30 mph above the limit. The bill also redefines aggressive driving as committing two or more specific traffic violations (like tailgating or illegal passing) during a single driving period, with fines up to $1,000. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of these offenses, with the law taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 489 requires the Maryland Department of Labor to study building code requirements for single-staircase buildings (those with only one exit staircase) across Maryland and other U.S. states. The study must analyze safety factors like fire department response, water supply, and compliance with modern codes, while assessing impacts on housing costs and development feasibility for buildings up to six stories. It will consult fire safety experts and firefighter unions before making recommendations to potentially change building codes to allow such construction. The Department must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 1, 2025, aiming to inform policies that could increase affordable housing supply.

Maddy summaryHB 755 prohibits cooperative housing corporations, condominium associations, and homeowners associations in Maryland from requiring sensitive personal information as a condition for accessing shared recreational areas like pools, playgrounds, or game rooms. The bill defines "sensitive information" as Social Security numbers, tax IDs, birth certificates, racial/ethnic origin, citizenship status, or religious beliefs - excluding government-issued photo IDs like driver’s licenses. It directly affects community associations and their members, unit occupants, and their guests or children who use common recreational spaces. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, ensuring residents cannot be denied access based on disclosure of the listed sensitive data.

Maddy summaryHB 893 changes Maryland's oyster fishing regulations by replacing license revocation with license suspension for certain violations. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to suspend (not revoke) oyster licenses for up to 2 years for first offenses or up to 10 years for repeat offenses involving violations like harvesting near closed areas, using prohibited gear, or harvesting outside time restrictions. The bill also creates a reinstatement process: individuals whose licenses were revoked before July 1, 2025, can regain their license after 2 years for a first violation or 10 years for a repeat violation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies directly to oyster harvesters in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 9 clarifies key terms for Maryland's Food System Resiliency Council, defining "healthy food priority areas" as predominantly lower-income neighborhoods with limited access to affordable healthy food, and "wasted food" to include donations, composting, animal feed, and other management methods. The bill updates reporting requirements for the Council, removing outdated mandates and adjusting ongoing reporting obligations. It directs the Council to address food insecurity (especially post-pandemic), develop equity-focused policies to eliminate racial disparities and food deserts, and create a strategic plan to boost local food production and procurement. The Council must collaborate with affected communities and food organizations, with reports to the General Assembly. This bill primarily affects the Council, local food organizations, and residents in underserved food-access areas.

Maddy summaryHB 506, the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, creates the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program to reduce nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through voluntary farm conservation practices. The bill establishes a special fund for the program, redefines "healthy soils" for existing soil programs, and exempts certain fishing license holders from needing food establishment licenses. Key provisions include tiered recognition for farms adopting conservation practices, requirements for the Department of Environment to authorize water quality trading credits, and new rules for fisheries management and aquaculture leases. The bill directly affects Maryland farmers, state environmental agencies, and fishing industry participants by changing how conservation incentives and regulations are implemented.

Maddy summaryHB 243 modifies Maryland's adoption laws to specifically address adult adoptions. It removes the requirement for a petitioner's spouse to join the adoption petition when adopting an adult (a rule that currently applies only to minors), eliminates the need for parental consent from an adult's parents, and exempts adult adoption cases from standard show-cause order procedures for parents. Courts may still order investigations for adult adoptions only if "good cause" is shown, but this is not mandatory. The bill directly affects adults seeking adoption and their petitioners, streamlining the process compared to current rules for minor adoptions.