Del. Sheila Ruth

Maddy summaryHB 1065 establishes a grant program for Maryland manufacturers of cement, concrete, or construction materials that use coal ash waste (like fly ash or bottom ash) as feedstock. It requires the Department of the Environment to award grants to eligible manufacturers meeting specific criteria, including using Maryland-sourced coal by-products, creating jobs in communities affected by coal waste, and demonstrating measurable greenhouse gas reductions compared to conventional materials. The bill also mandates that all state government agencies give procurement preference to bids that incorporate these coal by-products. This directly affects cement/concrete manufacturers, state purchasing decisions, and communities near coal waste generation sites. The policy change focuses on repurposing existing coal waste for construction materials through financial incentives and procurement rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1237 establishes a new "Residential Pollinator Protection and Neighbor Notification Registry" managed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. It requires pesticide businesses with residential subscription contracts to inspect properties before each application, communicate findings and recommend non-chemical options, and provide written safety information to customers. The bill also mandates posting visible signs for 48 hours after pesticide applications and creates the registry for residents who want advance notice of pesticides applied to nearby properties. Residents can register to receive notifications if their property is adjacent to a registered location, and the form asks about pesticide sensitivities, pets, or pollinator habitats. This directly affects residential customers, pesticide licensees, and the Department of Agriculture.

Maddy summaryHB 1213 lowers Maryland's transfer tax rates for specific affordable housing properties to increase housing accessibility. It creates a new "deed-restricted property" category requiring 15% of units to be affordable to households earning ≤80% of the area median income (defined as housing costing ≤30% of income). The bill reduces tax rates for these properties: 0.25% (under $1M), 0.375% ($1M-$10M), and 0.5% ($10M+) versus standard rates for similar properties. It also adds a 0.5% tax rate for transfers involving certain low-income housing tax credit developments, directly benefiting first-time homebuyers and affordable housing developers.

Maddy summaryHB 807 requires all Maryland teacher preparation programs to integrate specific training in teaching English language learners (ELLs) into their curricula. This includes adding dedicated instruction on ELL competencies - such as language development, equitable literacy opportunities, and working with linguistically diverse students - starting in the 2028-2029 academic year, along with a mandatory three-credit course focused on ELL teaching methods. The bill directly affects all undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs in Maryland, mandating they incorporate these competencies throughout their coursework, not just in a single course. It aims to ensure future teachers gain practical skills to support ELL students in classrooms across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1027 requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to establish a telephone voting system for absentee ballots, specifically for voters who certify having a print disability (a condition preventing reading standard printed materials). The bill mandates the State Board to select, certify, and acquire a system meeting strict security and accessibility standards - including ballot secrecy, accuracy, paper trail requirements, and toll-free access - after independent testing by a federally approved lab. Eligible voters must submit a form certifying their disability to be added to a list, and the State Board must send them detailed instructions, a toll-free number, and voting dates 75 days before absentee ballots are mailed. The bill also requires the State Board to implement a public education campaign about the system and report progress to legislative committees by December 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 704 establishes Maryland's Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program within the State Department of Education. It provides state funding to cover the difference between federal reimbursement rates for free and paid school meals, directly supporting Maryland schools with high poverty rates (25%+ students qualifying for free meals) that participate in the federal child nutrition program. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2028 to complement federal funds, with funds distributed based on school poverty concentration and geographic diversity. Schools must report on program outcomes, meal debt resolution, and reasons for opting out of federal eligibility, with annual reports published online.

Maddy summaryHB 937 establishes a workgroup to study emergency preparedness for youth camps and RV parks in Maryland. The workgroup, composed of state agency representatives, legislators, and industry stakeholders (including camp and park owners), will create a county-by-county inventory of these facilities, review emergency policies from other states, and make recommendations for potential new laws. It will report findings to the legislature by December 31, 2027. This bill does not create new regulations but initiates a study to inform future policy. The workgroup expires automatically on September 30, 2028.

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 350, the "Voting Rights Act of 2026," applies to local elections in Maryland counties and cities, protecting the voting rights of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. It prohibits election methods that weaken the voting power of these groups, preventing them from electing preferred candidates or influencing election outcomes. Courts will determine violations by examining past election patterns and federal voting rights standards, rather than requiring proof of discriminatory intent. If a violation is found, courts can order remedies like changing election systems, but must respect existing statewide election practices.