Del. Caylin Young

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 requires anyone seeking to relocate human remains from a burial site to first obtain approval from the Office of Cemetery Oversight before requesting authorization from a State’s Attorney. This replaces the previous requirement to publish a newspaper notice, instead mandating documentation of Oversight approval for permanent relocations. The bill also establishes procedures for temporary relocations (requiring later Oversight approval), sets standards for reinterment in approved locations, and directs fines/fees to the Cemetery Oversight Fund. It directly affects individuals, families, or entities moving remains from burial sites, including cemeteries and unmarked sites.

Maddy summaryHB 973, the Better Buildings Act of 2025, requires new buildings and major renovations (costing 50%+ of a structure's replacement value) in Maryland to meet all space heating, water heating, and laundry demands without fossil fuels. It mandates energy conservation standards and requires buildings to be "electric- and solar-ready," meaning they must have sufficient electrical capacity, wiring, and physical space for future installation of electric appliances and solar panels. The bill amends Maryland law to adopt these standards through the Department of Labor, aligning with but allowing stricter energy efficiency requirements than the International Energy Conservation Code. This directly affects developers, builders, and property owners constructing or significantly renovating buildings in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 648 establishes the BRIDGE Program within Maryland's Department of Commerce to provide grants to qualifying business incubators. The program targets incubators that primarily serve businesses in Maryland, require formal incubator programs for early-stage companies, and have staff trained to support socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Grants cover planning, facility improvements, equipment, and operating costs (with limits on covering more than 25% of operating expenses after the first year), ranging from $100,000 to $400,000 per fiscal year. Preference is given to incubators led by disadvantaged individuals, located in underserved communities or designated zones, or focused on supporting startups led by disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Maddy summaryHB 387 imposes an excise tax on firearms dealers' gross receipts from firearm sales within Maryland and to Maryland residents. The tax revenue will fund three existing state programs: the Coordinated Community Supports Partnership Fund (Education), the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund (Health), and the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund (Public Safety). The bill creates new tax provisions under "Title 7.7" in the Tax-General Article to collect and distribute these funds, replacing previous language in multiple code sections. This directly affects firearms dealers through the new tax obligation and directs funding to community safety and health programs. The policy change is a concrete tax mechanism for reallocating firearm sales revenue to specific public safety initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 556 decriminalizes the personal use of drug paraphernalia (such as syringes, capsules, or containers) for administering controlled substances, removing criminal penalties for this activity. The bill repeals current laws that treated possessing or using such items for injecting, ingesting, or introducing drugs into the body as a misdemeanor. This change eliminates fines and potential jail time for first-time offenses related to personal drug administration. The bill does not affect penalties for using paraphernalia in connection with manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing drugs.

Maddy summaryHB 358 establishes the Soccer Opportunities Program within Maryland's State Department of Education to increase soccer participation for minority students in their communities. The program funds youth soccer nonprofits meeting specific criteria: at least 50% minority players or 50% students qualifying for free school lunches, with grants capped at 50% of a program’s annual cost (requiring matching funds). It mandates a minimum $100,000 annual appropriation for fiscal years 2027-2029, administered by the State Superintendent. The bill directly affects qualifying youth soccer nonprofits and minority students in Maryland public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 381, the "Healing Our Scars Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers, HMOs, and managed care organizations to cover aesthetic services and restorative care for victims of domestic violence starting January 1, 2026. The bill applies specifically to services treating physical injuries caused by domestic violence, as defined in Maryland law (including injuries from current or former spouses or cohabitants), and mandates coverage only when a licensed physician determines the care is medically necessary. It amends existing health and insurance laws to include this requirement, applying to all relevant health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2026. The law aims to address physical injuries sustained in domestic violence cases by expanding access to necessary medical and cosmetic recovery services.

Maddy summaryHB 465 requires the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to adopt regulations addressing problem gambling, including establishing a voluntary exclusion list for individuals seeking to avoid gambling venues and mandating that the Commission share contact information (with consent) with the Maryland Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling. The bill also prohibits individuals under 21 from participating in fantasy sports competitions or paying entry fees, and bans sports wagering operators from offering player-specific proposition bets. Additionally, it requires sports wagering licensees to provide certain transactional data to universities for research purposes. The bill does not directly relate to college athlete protections, as the title suggests, but focuses on gambling regulations and age restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 383, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) and certain private health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses - custom devices treating neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions - starting January 1, 2026. The bill mandates coverage for the devices themselves, components, repairs, and replacements without lifetime limits or higher copays than other medical benefits. It specifies that replacements must be covered if a healthcare provider determines they’re needed due to physiological changes, irreparable damage, or repair costs exceeding 60% of replacement costs. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and insured individuals in Maryland requiring orthotic devices for daily living, work, or physical activity. The law amends Maryland’s Health and Insurance Articles (sections 15-103 and 15-820) to establish these coverage requirements.