Del. Robbyn Lewis

Maddy summaryHB 1309 establishes a Commission to study racial disparities in Maryland’s criminal justice system, directly affecting African American, Hispanic, and other non-White individuals who experience disproportionate treatment. The Commission, composed of legislative leaders, public defenders, prosecutors, court officials, and community advocates, will examine disparities in policing, arrests, sentencing, and data collection. It will specifically assess cumulative impacts of disparate practices, mandatory minimums (including firearm offenses), and propose reforms like race-neutral risk assessments and expanded judicial discretion. The Commission must make recommendations by 2028, focusing on systemic changes to improve transparency and reduce racial inequities without implementing new laws itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1575, the Community Trust Act, prohibits state and local correctional facilities and their employees from detaining individuals or sharing information with federal immigration authorities based on immigration status, except when required by a judicial warrant or for routine booking. It bans asking about citizenship, prolonging detention for immigration reasons, transferring individuals to immigration authorities without a warrant, or coercing people based on immigration status. Exceptions include when immigration status relates to legal protections under state/federal law or international treaties, allowing facilities to notify individuals or offer voluntary disclosure. Correctional facilities must adopt policies with penalties for violations, and affected individuals can seek damages or injunctions if harmed by a breach.

Maddy summaryHB 524 designates September as African Heritage Month in Maryland by requiring the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing African Americans' contributions to the state. The bill directs the Governor to urge educational and cultural organizations to host programs and activities during this month. It updates Maryland's legal code (specifically renumbering sections in Article 7 of the General Provisions) to include this requirement, effective July 1, 2026. This is a procedural recognition measure with no new funding or regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 709 allows the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to share digital photos or signatures (such as those on driver's licenses) with the Special Investigations Unit of Baltimore City's Department of Housing and Community Development or its successor. The bill explicitly adds this unit to the list of authorized recipients, which previously included courts, criminal justice agencies, and driver license authorities. This change streamlines access to these records for Baltimore City's investigations without altering existing confidentiality rules or public access policies. The bill does not create new requirements or change how MVA records are generally handled.

Maddy summaryHB 1253 (Break STRIDE Act) changes how investor-owned gas companies recover costs for infrastructure projects. It repeals current rules allowing companies to add infrastructure costs to customer bills via surcharges and instead requires them to prove projects reduce leaks, improve safety, and are cost-effective before recovering costs. The bill also mandates 6 months' advance written notice to customers affected by construction. These changes apply only to investor-owned gas companies (not cooperatives) and take effect after a specified date.

Maddy summaryHB 1145 allows Baltimore City's Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success, and Mayor's Office of African American Male Engagement to access and use juvenile records when providing services to a child and developing a treatment plan. The bill clarifies that existing confidentiality rules for juvenile records do not block these specific city offices from accessing records under these circumstances. It also makes these offices liable for unauthorized release of any accessed records. This change affects how these three city offices handle juvenile records for service delivery and treatment planning.

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 928 modifies Maryland's requirements for constructing transmission lines over 69,000 volts. It expands the types of transmission lines needing a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" (replacing the previous focus on overhead lines), and requires the Public Service Commission to consider ratepayer costs and environmental impacts when deciding whether to waive this requirement for certain projects. The bill also removes a prior rule that automatically waived certificate requirements for specific overhead lines. This directly affects electric companies, transmission developers, and the Public Service Commission in their approval processes for new or upgraded power lines.

Maddy summaryHB 897 (the "Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026") requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (>69,000 volts) in Maryland to join regional transmission organizations. It mandates new application details for certain utility projects, creates a Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration, and redirects funds from the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential electricity customers. The bill also requires studies on siting transmission lines and battery storage systems within existing rights-of-way and sets deadlines for the Public Service Commission to review project certificates. These provisions directly affect electric utilities, the Public Service Commission, and residential electricity customers through cost adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 959 establishes Gwynns Falls State Park as a partnership between Maryland's Department of Natural Resources and Baltimore City. The bill prohibits entrance fees, specifies the park's boundaries, and requires the Department to hire an independent consultant to create a master plan for the park. It mandates that $4 million in fiscal year 2028 be allocated specifically for renovating a joint partnership office and visitor center in the park. This bill directly affects Baltimore City residents and park visitors by creating a fee-free, locally managed park with defined operational requirements.