Del. Regina Boyce

Maddy summaryHB 601 amends Maryland's Small Business Guaranty Fund program (Section 5-540 of the Economic Development Article) to expand how loan guarantees can be supported. It now allows guarantees to be backed by the State’s full faith and credit *or* by alternative financial instruments like irrevocable letters of credit, treasurer’s checks, escrow accounts, or other instruments promising reimbursement for lender losses. The bill also adds a requirement that the Authority must determine a loan will have "substantial economic impact" before approving a guarantee, considering factors like job creation and loan terms. This directly affects small businesses seeking loans (applicants) and financial institutions providing those loans by making guarantee options more flexible and adding a new review step. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 858 establishes Maryland's Mattress Stewardship Program to reduce landfill waste and promote recycling. It prohibits disposing of mattresses in landfills or incinerators after specific dates (with limited exceptions), requires mattress producers to submit recycling plans to the Department of the Environment, and adds a fee to all mattresses sold in the state to fund the program. Retailers must provide consumers with recycling information after implementation, and the program creates an advisory board to oversee recycling efforts. The bill directly affects mattress producers, retailers, and consumers through new fees and disposal rules, aiming to divert mattresses from landfills - addressing a problem where only 5% of U.S. mattresses are recycled annually.

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 summaryHB 911 allows landlords to charge a security deposit of up to two months' rent if a tenant operates a family child care home (caring for up to eight children) on the property. It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes in single- or multifamily rentals (excluding owner-occupied small units or condo/co-op rules), requires tenants to notify landlords 30 days in advance, and mandates providing insurance certificates naming the landlord as an additional insured. Landlords are also shielded from civil liability for issues related to the tenant’s child care operations. The bill applies to residential leases starting October 1, 2025, and does not override local zoning laws.

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 338 prohibits the disposal of yard waste collected on state buildings or highways in single-use plastic containers. Instead, it requires that such waste be collected in reusable containers or compostable paper bags. The bill mandates all yard waste from these locations must be disposed of at an organics recycling facility, a natural wood waste recycling facility, or a state facility producing mulch or soil amendments. This applies to state employees and contractors handling yard waste collection on state property.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 requires all Maryland county school districts to develop age-appropriate water safety and swimming instructional content for public school students, integrating it into health and physical education by July 2026. It also mandates each county board to create a plan by December 2025 outlining strategies to increase student access to swimming pools and facilities through community partnerships, cost-effective transportation, and resource coordination. The plan must identify public/private partners and recommend policy changes if needed. Implementation of the curriculum begins in the 2026-2027 school year, while the access plan requirement expires June 30, 2026. This bill directly affects all public school students in Maryland counties and their local school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 7 modifies Maryland's vehicle laws to allow bicyclists to proceed through certain stop-sign intersections without stopping under specific conditions. It applies only to intersections on highways with two or fewer lanes for moving traffic, requiring bicyclists to reduce speed to a reasonable rate and yield to vehicles already in the intersection or approaching vehicles posing immediate danger. The bill directly affects bicyclists operating on these low-traffic highways, changing the standard stop requirement to a conditional "yield and proceed" rule. This amendment updates Sections 21-707 and 21-1202 of the Maryland Annotated Code, effective October 1, 2025.

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 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.