Del. Robbyn Lewis

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Maryland law to improve the process for certifying victims of qualifying crimes who apply for U Nonimmigrant Status (a federal visa for crime victims). It creates a rebuttable presumption that victims or their representatives (like parents, guardians, or next friends) are helpful to law enforcement if they haven’t refused to provide information, shortens the certification timeline to 30 days (7 days if the victim faces immigration removal), and requires certifying entities to develop language access protocols for non-English speakers. The bill directly affects victims of certain crimes and their families seeking this visa, ensuring certifications are more timely and accessible. These changes aim to streamline the state’s role in supporting federal visa applications without altering the visa program itself.

Maddy summaryHB 811 requires Maryland counties to annually identify areas where students might walk to school (based on distance eligibility) and report on safe walking routes like sidewalks, crosswalks, or paths. County governing bodies must then build necessary infrastructure to create these safe routes for students, using the reports from school boards. If a required route crosses a non-county road, counties must collaborate with the controlling entity to develop and implement a plan. The bill applies to all counties and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1342 restricts pesticide use on Maryland state-owned properties (like parks and government grounds) by requiring that only specific "listed" pesticides or registered pesticides for defined purposes (e.g., controlling invasive species, weed management, or public health threats) may be applied. It mandates state agencies managing such properties to adopt a model plan developed by the Department of Agriculture, which requires at least 20% of unencumbered land to remain untreated with cosmetic pesticides, bans pesticides toxic to pollinators unless necessary for public health, and prioritizes native plants for pollinator habitat. The bill directly affects all state agencies managing public property, requiring them to adapt the model plan to their specific sites by October 2025. This creates concrete policy changes by limiting pesticide types, protecting pollinator areas, and aligning state practices with environmental safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 1044, the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2025, requires certain local governments (cities, counties, or county school boards meeting specific criteria) to obtain preclearance from the Attorney General or Anne Arundel County Circuit Court before enacting or implementing "covered policies." These policies include election methods, redistricting, voter registration rules, polling place locations, and other significant voting-related changes. The bill targets jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations, significant racial voting disparities, or large protected-class populations. It mandates that these governments submit proposed changes for review to ensure they do not discriminate before implementation. The law also prohibits voter intimidation or obstruction and allows legal action if the review process fails.

Maddy summaryHB 1043, the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2025, requires local election offices and municipalities to provide public notice before changing voting procedures that could impact protected classes (like racial minorities or voters with disabilities). It mandates 15 days’ notice for meetings considering changes to voting policies (e.g., polling locations, language assistance, or disability access) and 48 hours’ notice after adopting such changes. The bill prohibits local governments from implementing voting changes that create disparities in voting access for protected classes and allows affected individuals to file lawsuits to enforce the law. Remedies for violations require approval from the Attorney General, and the State Board of Elections must maintain a public notice website for all changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1476 prohibits Maryland employers from disclosing or threatening to disclose an employee’s immigration status to government agencies to hide violations of labor, wage, or tax laws. It directly affects employers who might use immigration status to conceal issues like unpaid wages (under Maryland’s Wage and Hour Law) or failure to provide benefits. The bill authorizes Maryland’s Commissioner of Labor and Industry to investigate complaints, attempt mediation within 90 days, and impose civil fines up to $10,000 for repeated violations. Employers can request an administrative hearing within 15 days of a penalty notice. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 846, the Transportation Access and Revenue Act, requires businesses providing short-term vehicle rentals and peer-to-peer car sharing to collect sales tax on these services. It directs 45% of the tax revenue from these services to the Transportation Trust Fund (for roads and transit projects) and the remainder to a coastal conservation fund. The bill also mandates that sales tax revenue from electricity used to charge electric vehicles at public charging stations (not under residential rates) be allocated to the Transportation Trust Fund. This changes how certain transportation-related tax revenue is distributed, affecting car-sharing companies, rental businesses, and electric vehicle charging providers.

Maddy summaryHB 735 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from Maryland's Certificate of Need (CON) requirements. This means psychiatric health care facilities and providers offering mental health services no longer need state approval to establish, operate, or expand these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the definition of "medical service" in Section 19-120(a)(6)(i) and removing it from the list of services requiring a CON under Section 19-120(j)(iii)(5). This directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health providers by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for their operations.

Maddy summaryHB 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.