Rep. Bob Long

Maddy summaryHB 1008 prohibits Maryland state and local governments from imposing a vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) tax, mileage-based user fees, or tolls based on GPS tracking. It also bans requiring private vehicle owners to install devices that track mileage for tax reporting. The bill specifically repeals provisions allowing VMT taxes and adds new restrictions in tax and transportation laws, effective October 2025. It does not affect existing reciprocal fuel tax agreements under current law. This directly impacts state/local authorities and private vehicle owners by preventing new mileage-based fees or tracking requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 285 (Absentee Ballot Transparency Act of 2025) requires Maryland’s State or local election boards to provide candidates with a list of registered voters who have requested absentee ballots for an upcoming election. The list must include each voter’s email address and telephone number if available, but only for electoral purposes (not commercial use). It amends Maryland Election Law § 3-506(a) to specify that this information cannot be disclosed for address confidentiality program participants. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects candidates seeking office in Maryland elections.

Maddy summaryHB 115 (Voter Privacy Act of 2025) amends Maryland election law to standardize how election judges verify a voter's identity at polling places. It requires judges to either ask voters for their birth month/day (compared to registration records) or accept one of three ID types: a Maryland voter registration card, a valid Maryland driver's license, or a photo ID issued by a state/federal entity. This applies to all voters seeking to cast a ballot in Maryland elections. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and replaces previous verification procedures without changing voter eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 67 requires Maryland local election boards to verify both the voter's signature and a witness's signature on absentee ballot return envelopes before counting the ballot, with exceptions for active-duty military members overseas and their spouses/depedents living overseas. The bill mandates that boards compare the voter's signature against their registration record to confirm authenticity, replacing current processes for signature verification. This directly affects all absentee voters who mail in ballots, except those covered by the military exceptions. The law aims to strengthen ballot security by adding a witness signature requirement and standardized verification steps for all absentee ballots. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's election laws to require voters to show specific proof of identity, such as a government-issued photo ID or a combination of non-government ID and a document like a utility bill, in order to cast a regular ballot. If a voter cannot provide the required identification, the election judge must refer them to vote using a provisional ballot instead. The legislation also strengthens penalties for knowingly voting under a false name and clarifies rules regarding who can assist voters with disabilities or language barriers in the voting booth.

Maddy summaryHB 263 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to name a new bridge replacing the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge the "Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge" upon its completion. The bill amends transportation laws to include this name in official listings of bridges and toll facilities. It also sets a deadline: the Authority must notify state officials within 5 days of the bridge opening, with the naming requirement taking effect only if notice is received by December 31, 2030. This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming, with no policy changes beyond the bridge's designation.