Rep. Eric Ebersole

Maddy summaryHB 853 creates a State Board of Common Ownership Community Managers within Maryland’s Department of Labor to license and regulate professionals managing residential communities. It directly affects condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations (excluding timeshares) by requiring community managers to hold licenses, mandating community registration under certain conditions, and requiring contracts to include fidelity bonds or theft insurance. Key provisions include setting licensing standards, specifying required contract terms for management services, and establishing a dedicated fund to cover board operations. The bill aims to standardize oversight for community management services across Maryland’s residential communities.

Maddy summaryHB 499, the "Ballot Petition Modernization Act," modernizes Maryland's petition process by requiring the State Board of Elections to adopt regulations for secure voter data handling and electronic signatures. It establishes clear rules for collecting and verifying electronic signatures on petitions, including accessibility standards for voters with disabilities and requirements for circulators to confirm signature validity. The bill updates signature collection procedures, removes outdated prohibitions on electronic signatures, and specifies how voter data must be stored securely to prevent misuse. This directly affects petition circulators, candidates gathering signatures, and voters whose registration data is used in the process.

Maddy summaryHB 926 modifies Maryland's income tax code to adjust how itemized deductions are calculated for certain taxpayers. It requires individuals who itemize deductions to further reduce their Maryland itemized deductions by either the amount of real property taxes paid (capped at $10,000) or $10,000, for tax years 2025 through 2029. This applies to Maryland taxpayers who claim federal itemized deductions, including homeowners who deduct property taxes. The bill also maintains a separate phase-out for high-income earners (exceeding $100,000 single/$200,000 married) where deductions are reduced by 7.5% of the excess AGI. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 930 modifies Maryland’s income tax code to decouple from federal changes affecting education expenses. It prohibits the Governor from joining a federal tax credit program for elementary/secondary education scholarships and adjusts how employer contributions to education accounts (like Maryland’s Prepaid College Trust or College Investment Plans) are treated. Specifically, it adds tax on unused distributions from these accounts if not used for qualified education expenses, while excluding contributions and qualified distributions from taxable income. This directly affects Maryland residents using these education savings accounts and ensures state tax rules differ from federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 488 establishes the geographic boundaries for Maryland's eight congressional districts for the 2026 elections. It specifies exact county and election district portions, using census tract data to define district lines where precincts are split, based on boundaries as they existed on January 13, 2026. This bill directly affects voters in Maryland's congressional districts by determining which communities are grouped together for electing U.S. Representatives. It replaces previous election law sections (8-702 through 8-709) and clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative districts, not congressional ones.

Maddy summaryHB 722 removes the legal protection known as "charitable immunity" that previously shielded charitable organizations (like youth programs or non-profits) from lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. It allows victims to sue these organizations for abuse that occurred while they were minors, regardless of when the abuse happened, and applies retroactively to all past, pending, or dismissed cases. The bill also sets limits on attorney fees for such cases (20% of settlements or 25% of judgments) and takes effect on October 1, 2026. This change directly affects victims seeking compensation and charitable organizations previously protected from liability in these claims.

Maddy summaryHB 331 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. It requires beverage producers to register, pay fees, and join a stewardship organization to manage recycling, mandates that all redeemable containers display refund information, and requires retailers to include the container's refund value in prices. Consumers receive refunds when returning containers to designated redemption facilities, while local governments can operate facilities to earn credits toward recycling targets. The bill also creates a grant program to fund public water fountains and refill stations, aiming to reduce litter and increase recycling rates.

Maddy summaryHB 736 establishes a new tax rate for ready-to-drink cocktails in Maryland, setting it at 60 cents per gallon (or 15.85 cents per liter) - significantly lower than the $1.50 per gallon rate for regular distilled spirits. The bill defines "ready-to-drink cocktails" as pre-mixed beverages containing distilled spirits (up to 12% alcohol by volume) in containers under 16 ounces, directly affecting manufacturers, distributors, and retailers selling these products. It modifies existing tax code sections to create this separate rate category, while maintaining standard tax rates for other alcoholic beverages like wine and beer. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 731 amends Maryland law to regulate fantasy competition operators. It requires the State Lottery Commission to mandate a $50,000 annual registration fee for operators (previously optional), with fees directed to Maryland's education fund. The bill also requires operators to establish a voluntary exclusion program, prohibiting them from allowing individuals on the exclusion list to create accounts or win prizes. Additionally, it updates definitions of "fantasy competition," "sporting event," and "sports wagering" to clarify regulatory scope. These changes directly affect fantasy sports operators and players seeking to self-exclude.

Maddy summaryHB 438 establishes the Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee to create a school board system for correctional education in Maryland's prisons and juvenile facilities. The committee, composed of state officials, correctional education representatives, and experts (including formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofit advocates), must develop a funding and operational plan by June 2028, examining costs for staff, materials, and budget management. This procedural bill does not enact immediate policy changes but sets a timeline for recommendations to the Governor and legislature. It expires automatically on June 30, 2028, after its two-year study period.