Del. Regina Boyce

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 947 modifies Maryland's commercial blue and flathead catfish fishing license to allow holders to use gill nets with a mesh size of no more than 7 inches, in addition to the existing finfish trotline method. This change directly affects commercial fishermen who currently hold this specific license and wish to use the new gear. The bill updates the license regulations under Maryland's Natural Resources code without altering the $15 annual fee, one-year term (September 1-August 31), or other core requirements. It does not change eligibility, transferability, or possession rules for the license. The policy change specifically expands permitted fishing methods for blue catfish in tidal waters.

Maddy summaryHB 478 modifies Maryland's income tax by expanding the existing $250 deduction for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses to include prekindergarten teachers. Previously, only K-12 classroom teachers qualified; this bill explicitly adds prekindergarten teachers employed full-time in state programs. The deduction remains limited to $250 per year for supplies used by students or for teaching preparation, excluding expenses already deducted federally. This change affects prekindergarten teachers statewide who purchase classroom supplies without reimbursement, effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 393 requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations in Maryland to cover scalp cooling systems when they provide coverage for chemotherapy treatments for cancer. This applies directly to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who use scalp cooling to prevent hair loss, and to the insurers that must now include this coverage. The bill defines scalp cooling systems as medical devices designed for repeated use to preserve hair during cancer treatment. Coverage must be provided for these systems as part of chemotherapy treatment plans, effective January 1, 2027. The law amends Maryland’s Insurance Article (Section 15-864) to mandate this coverage for qualifying health plans.

Maddy summaryHB 472 extends the expiration date for Maryland's theatrical production tax credit from 2027 to 2032. This credit allows theater producers to claim a reduction on their state income tax for qualifying production costs. The bill directly affects film and theater producers in Maryland who currently qualify for the credit. It modifies existing law (from 2022) to extend the credit's validity period by five additional years, ensuring the program remains active through 2032 without requiring new legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 637 ("The Vax Act") requires Maryland's Secretary of Health to issue science-based recommendations for immunizations, screenings, and preventive services using guidance from major medical organizations like the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics. It expands pharmacists' authority to administer flu, COVID-19, and emergency vaccines to patients aged 3 and older (previously limited to 18+ for some vaccines) after completing specific training. The bill also mandates that health insurance plans cover these recommended services without cost-sharing for patients. This directly affects pharmacists, health insurers, and Maryland residents seeking preventive care, particularly children and adults needing routine vaccinations.

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 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.

Maddy summaryHB 892 allows descendant community organizations (DCOs) to legally challenge cemetery owners who propose selling, transferring, or changing the use of cemetery land. Currently, only cemetery owners or government entities could initiate such actions; this bill expands standing to DCOs - groups with cultural ties to interred individuals or ancestral connections. The law amends Maryland statutes (Business Regulation §5-101 and Real Property §14-121) to require courts to consider DCO concerns when reviewing these proposals. This change directly affects cemetery owners seeking to repurpose land and DCOs seeking to preserve burial sites as permanent sacred spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 1614 authorizes the Maryland Transportation Authority Police to use lane direction control signal monitoring systems on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to enforce violations of red lane direction signals. It requires District Courts to remit civil penalties collected from these violations directly to the Maryland Transportation Authority instead of the state. The bill amends existing traffic law sections to clarify that penalties from these automated enforcement systems must be paid to the Authority and that recorded images from the systems are admissible as evidence without authentication. This affects drivers using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge who enter lanes with red signals, enabling automated enforcement of lane direction rules.