Del. Chris Tomlinson

Maddy summaryHB 1334, the Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act, requires each county board of education to create a written parent and family engagement policy by the start of the 2027-2028 school year. This policy must include parental input, provide translation services, and outline how schools will collaborate with families. Additionally, starting in the 2028-2029 school year, every public school must develop a Parent-School Compact detailing shared responsibilities - such as school curriculum quality, parental support for learning, teacher qualifications, and regular communication between parents and staff. The bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and their families by mandating structured, written frameworks for parental involvement.

Maddy summaryHB 1079 creates Maryland's Office of Regulatory Management to streamline state government processes. It requires all executive branch agencies to report on their regulatory permits, licenses, and certifications by December 2026, including processing times, fees, and online capabilities. Agencies must also develop strategies by December 2026 to reduce regulatory requirements by 25% and simplify application processes, aiming to cut approval times for permits and licenses. The bill directly affects state government agencies, not the public, and mandates annual reports starting July 2027 on upcoming regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 976 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous method with an average of enrollment on September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year, directly affecting all public schools receiving state aid based on this metric. The bill also requires the State Department of Education to publish annual reports online and submit detailed data to legislative committees, showing enrollment counts, student categories (including "whereabouts unknown"), and funding allocations by county. These changes aim to standardize enrollment data used for funding calculations starting in fiscal year 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 814 requires state contractors who plan to use subcontractors to submit copies of their subcontractor agreements to the procurement officer before a contract is awarded. This applies to any procurement where a recommended awardee has executed a subcontractor agreement, regardless of whether the main contract requires subcontracting. Contractors may redact confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information from these submissions, and the state Board must create regulations to implement the law. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting state contractors who use subcontractors in procurement processes.

Maddy summaryThis House Simple Resolution (HS 1) creates a legislative investigating committee to examine allegations of misconduct by state agencies involving federal funding. The committee will specifically investigate the Department of Transportation (for improperly charging $360 million in federal funds) and the Maryland Department of Health (for alleged SNAP payment errors), and may expand to other agencies with credible complaints. The committee, composed of eight House members (four Democrats appointed by the Speaker, four Republicans by the Minority Leader), has authority to hold hearings, issue subpoenas, and gather evidence under existing law. It must submit a final report to the House of Delegates with findings and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school principals to investigate every student fight or physical struggle by gathering witness statements, video evidence (if available), and input from all students involved. It prohibits school staff from disciplining students who, after investigation, more likely than not used reasonable force necessary to protect themselves or escape an attack. If a student was disciplined but later found to have acted in self-defense, the school must remove all related discipline records from their file. The law directly affects students involved in fights, school administrators, and the handling of disciplinary records in Maryland public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1349 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to develop a plan converting formerly operational fossil fuel power plants to natural gas facilities. The plan must include feasibility studies, cost assessments, solutions for legal/engineering barriers, a conversion timeline balancing costs and reliability, and draft legislation needed for implementation. The Commission must gather input from energy agencies, utilities, local governments, and advocacy groups through a public stakeholder process. The final plan must be submitted to the Governor and relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects the Public Service Commission and indirectly impacts utility companies, ratepayers, and communities hosting former fossil fuel plants.

Maddy summaryHB 974 removes several existing regulatory requirements for electricity and gas suppliers in Maryland. It repeals rules about licensing energy salespersons, residential supplier terms, and reporting obligations, while modifying how electric cooperatives and standard offer service operate. The bill also changes the name and purpose of the "Education and Protection Fund" to better support customer education about energy choices. These changes aim to reduce regulatory barriers for suppliers, potentially increasing competition in the retail energy market for residential customers. The bill directly affects electricity/gas suppliers, energy salespersons, and residential customers seeking alternative energy providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes who pays for repairs in condo buildings based on where damage originates. If damage starts in a unit (e.g., a leaky pipe in a specific apartment), the unit owner must cover the full repair costs - not just the insurance deductible. For damage from common areas or outside events (like a storm), the condo association covers the deductible. The bill requires associations to send owners an annual written notice detailing these responsibilities. It applies to residential condos but excludes non-residential buildings.

Maddy summaryHB 1024 prohibits the State of Maryland or its local governments from using eminent domain to take privately owned property subject to a permanent agricultural or conservation easement. This directly affects landowners who have placed such easements on their property, including farmers and conservation organizations. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly state that state entities "may not take by eminent domain" these easement-covered properties, while maintaining existing procedures for state roads and Baltimore City. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.