Del. Robin Grammer

Maddy summaryHB 1535 repeals a surcharge currently added to electric and gas bills in Maryland that funded energy efficiency programs and supported greenhouse gas reduction goals. The bill removes the requirement for utility companies to recover costs for past energy efficiency programs (including those from 2008) through this surcharge and eliminates the need for companies to disclose how the surcharge covers these historical costs. It also amends related provisions that allowed the surcharge to be used for rate relief for residential customers. As a result, the surcharge will no longer appear on customer utility bills.

Maddy summaryHB 1536 creates a 60-day tax- and fee-free period for Maryland residential and commercial customers of electric and gas utilities, suspending specific state taxes and fees during this time. The bill directly affects utility customers by eliminating payments for taxes and fees outlined in sections of the Tax-General and Public Utilities Articles. It requires the Comptroller to announce the period and mandates refunds for any state taxes or fees paid in error during this suspension, whether collected directly by the Comptroller or by public service companies. This policy change provides immediate financial relief for utility customers without altering existing tax structures beyond the specified 60-day period.

Maddy summaryHB 1248 requires large online platforms (with 100,000+ U.S. monthly active users) to establish a clear process for individuals to report and request removal of non-consensual intimate images or videos. Platforms must disable or remove such content within 48 hours of a valid request, identify copies, and prevent new copies from being displayed. The law mandates data logging for legal purposes but excludes email services, broadband providers, and platforms primarily featuring non-user-generated content. It directly affects major social media and content-sharing platforms, not small sites or personal communications services. The bill focuses on creating a standardized removal mechanism for victims of non-consensual image sharing, without altering criminal penalties for the act itself.

Maddy summaryHB 373 requires the Maryland Department of Health to share abortion-related data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when requested, unless sharing would violate federal or state law. This law directly affects the Maryland Department of Health, which must comply with CDC data requests unless legal conflicts exist. The key provision mandates routine data submission for public health tracking, with an exception only if state or federal law prohibits it. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter abortion access or medical procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1357 requires the Maryland Department of Health to annually collect and report detailed cost data for four key reproductive health services: birth (including complications and neonatal care), postpartum care (including mental health), pregnancy care (routine visits and testing), and abortion (procedures, complications, and medication). This data collection applies to hospitals, healthcare providers, and other entities offering these services, with strict privacy safeguards to protect patient information. The department must publish a public report each December starting in 2025, including regional cost comparisons, trend analysis, and recommendations for cost efficiency. The bill aims to improve transparency in healthcare spending and inform policy decisions without changing existing abortion access or services.

Maddy summaryHB 810 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy mandating the use of a lethality assessment protocol during investigations of domestic violence incidents. The protocol is a research-backed tool that uses specific questions to assess an individual’s risk of serious harm or death from an intimate partner, and it must include connecting victims to local support services. This bill directly affects police departments statewide, requiring them to standardize how they respond to domestic violence calls starting October 1, 2025. It focuses on proactive risk assessment during domestic violence investigations, not criminal penalties or new victim protections.

Maddy summaryHB 353, the "Maryland’s Constitutional Carry Act of 2025," repeals Maryland’s requirement for residents to obtain a permit to carry handguns in public. It directly affects all Maryland residents who wish to carry handguns without a permit, replacing permit mandates with a new standard allowing carrying "as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger" (subject to court review). Key provisions include removing all permit-related sections from Maryland law (Public Safety Article §5-301-5-314) and amending Criminal Law sections to eliminate age restrictions for carrying in vehicles on public roads (previously barred for under-21s). The bill maintains existing prohibitions, such as bans on carrying on school property, with intent to harm, or with a loaded handgun.

Maddy summaryHB 733 allows candidates running for county school boards in Maryland to voluntarily include their party affiliation on their candidacy forms and ballots. Local election offices must display this information if provided by the candidate and cannot disqualify a candidate for including it. The bill maintains that school board elections remain nonpartisan, meaning party labels appear only for voter information without changing the election's nonpartisan status. This directly affects candidates seeking school board seats and local election offices preparing ballots.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 requires Maryland's Department of Health (for Medicaid) and Department of Human Services (for SNAP) to share data with federal and state agencies to verify eligibility for public benefits. Key mechanisms include monthly death record checks, quarterly employment/income reviews using tax and unemployment data, and banning self-attestation for income or residency. It proposes a 6-month benefit lockout for Medicaid recipients aged 19-65 who fail to report eligibility changes (excluding disabled or pregnant individuals). The bill also mandates annual retail inspections for SNAP stores and quarterly public reports on fraud investigations and compliance findings.

Maddy summaryHB 356 changes prescription drug benefit eligibility for Maryland state retirees. It discontinues state prescription drug coverage for retirees (and their Medicare-eligible spouses/children) who began state service on or after July 1, 2011, effective January 1, 2019. The bill repeals three existing retiree drug assistance programs (the Prescription Drug Coverage, Catastrophic, and Life-Sustaining Assistance Programs) and removes requirements for related notices and reports. Retirees who started state service before July 1, 2011, retain access to state prescription drug benefits. The law focuses on updating eligibility rules rather than creating new benefit structures.