Del. Julian Ivey

Maddy summaryHB 864 (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act) requires contractors and subcontractors on Maryland public works projects to employ a minimum percentage of qualified apprentices or journeyworkers instead of paying fees to apprenticeship programs. The bill expands this requirement to cover construction projects for the University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College. It repeals current provisions allowing contractors to pay fees in lieu of hiring apprentices and directs the Secretary of Labor to set an annual apprenticeship hiring percentage for each project. This policy change directly affects contractors bidding on public construction projects valued above specific thresholds, aiming to increase on-the-job training opportunities in skilled trades.

Maddy summaryHB 898, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and expand incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the "Strategic Closing Fund" under the Department of Commerce, alters eligibility and calculation rules for tax credits (including Job Creation, R&D, and film production credits), and extends the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill allows pass-through entities to allocate tax credits to members and removes limits on film production tax credit certificates. These changes directly affect businesses, investors, and film producers seeking state economic development incentives.

Maddy summaryHB 553 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to create a searchable online database of active elevator inspection certificates on its website. This affects building owners and operators who must display valid certificates in elevators, while allowing the public to search for current inspection status by street address, city, or county. The bill does not change inspection standards but makes existing certificate data publicly accessible through a user-friendly tool, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 721, the Uniformed Services Spouses Act, extends existing Maryland benefits for military service members and veterans to include their spouses. It adds "eligible spouse" as a defined term to priority registration at public colleges (within 15 years of service member’s last active duty, max four academic years), community college resource centers with tailored support, and senatorial/Delegate scholarships for spouses of active service members. The bill also modifies hiring preferences for state public service roles to include spouses of veterans. These changes directly affect spouses of active-duty service members and veterans living in Maryland who seek education, career support, or scholarships. The law updates multiple sections of Maryland’s education and employment codes to include spouses in eligibility criteria previously limited to service members themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 895 prohibits large food retailers (defined as those with at least 15,000 square feet selling tax-exempt food) from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data to set prices for individual shoppers. It also bans retailers from using data about protected characteristics (like race or gender) to deny discounts or services to specific customers. The bill further protects union rights by preventing retailers from weakening employee benefits under existing collective bargaining agreements without negotiation. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits placing children in unlicensed settings (such as hotels, motels, or nonresidential offices) under Maryland's out-of-home placement program for foster care, with limited exceptions for kinship caregivers or parental placements. It creates a new Child and Youth Placement Review Panel within the Governor’s Office to oversee placements and requires the Placement Manager to convene a Rapid Response Team for urgent cases. The bill also establishes an Advisory Council to improve Maryland’s system of care for children and families and modifies hospital overstay protocols for pediatric patients. These changes directly affect children in foster care, hospitals, and the agencies managing their care, aiming to ensure safer, licensed placements.

Maddy summaryHB 980 (Kanaiyah's Law) creates the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman within the Attorney General's office to handle complaints about Maryland's child welfare system. It requires juvenile courts to include specific information-sharing requirements in guardianship orders and expands criminal background checks to cover all adults living in a child's guardian's home. The bill also prohibits unlicensed placements for certain children, protects complainants from retaliation, and exempts certain complaint records from public disclosure. These changes directly affect child welfare agencies, guardians, and families navigating the system, aiming to improve transparency and accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 911 authorizes licensees at Laurel Park (and Pimlico Race Course) to conduct live Arabian breed horse racing under specific conditions. The bill requires that Arabian races occur in addition to existing thoroughbred races (not replacing them), with a maximum of one per day and three per race meet, and prohibits using thoroughbred purse funds for these races. All Arabian races must follow existing takeout rules, pay standard taxes/fees, and receive approval from the State Racing Commission. This directly affects racetrack operators seeking to add Arabian breed racing without altering current thoroughbred race schedules or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 557 creates a pre-approval review process for individuals with non-violent criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (e.g., cosmetology, contracting, healthcare roles) in Maryland. It requires state departments (excluding Public Safety and Correctional Services) to provide a binding determination on whether an applicant’s criminal history would block their license *before* they formally apply, based on specific criteria like the nature of the offense, time since conviction, and rehabilitation evidence. The bill prohibits denial solely for past non-violent convictions unless a direct relationship to the job or safety risk exists, and establishes a $100 fee (waivable for low-income applicants) for the review. It applies to most occupational licenses but excludes sex offense convictions and automatically allows licenses after 7 years without new offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 472 extends the expiration date for Maryland's theatrical production tax credit from 2027 to 2032. This credit allows theater producers to claim a reduction on their state income tax for qualifying production costs. The bill directly affects film and theater producers in Maryland who currently qualify for the credit. It modifies existing law (from 2022) to extend the credit's validity period by five additional years, ensuring the program remains active through 2032 without requiring new legislative action.