Del. Robin Grammer

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 361 (Sherry and Christian's Law) requires drivers charged with reckless or negligent driving that causes a death to appear in court personally instead of paying fines upfront. It directly affects individuals facing such charges by eliminating the option to prepay fines and mandating court appearances, unless a judge grants a waiver for "good cause." The bill amends Maryland law to specify that courts may allow plea agreements and fine payments only if the appearance requirement is waived. Violations under this section remain punishable by fines up to $1,000, and the law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 394 creates legal liability for commercial websites that knowingly distribute obscene material to minors online, requiring them to use reasonable age verification (like government ID or commercial systems) before access. It prohibits companies or third parties performing age verification from retaining any personal identifying information after granting or denying access to the material. The bill allows minors or their guardians to sue violators for damages related to minors accessing obscene content or improper data retention. It explicitly excludes news organizations, broadcast media, and standard internet service providers from these requirements. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 336 prohibits denying a person the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm solely because they are authorized to use medical cannabis under Maryland law. It directly affects medical cannabis patients who previously faced potential firearm restrictions due to their treatment. The bill adds a new section (5-901) to Maryland's public safety laws, explicitly stating that medical cannabis authorization cannot be the basis for firearm denial. The law will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 354 amends Maryland's criminal law regarding handgun possession by clarifying intent requirements and removing a legal presumption. It eliminates the previous rebuttable presumption that someone transporting a handgun in a vehicle knowingly did so, shifting the burden of proof to the prosecution. The bill also explicitly defines "handgun" to exclude antique firearms and certain replicas, while specifying that violations require proof of intent to injure or kill, or that the firearm was loaded. These changes apply to anyone carrying or transporting handguns in prohibited locations like public schools, vehicles on public roads, or with intent to harm.

Maddy summaryHB 1005 modifies Maryland's income tax code to exclude tips or gratuities from taxable income for workers in specific service industries. It directly affects employees in food service facilities (like restaurants), businesses serving alcohol, hotels, and providers of passenger-for-hire or taxicab services. The bill adds a new provision (Section 10-207(qq)) defining these industries and specifying that tips received in these roles are subtracted from federal adjusted gross income for Maryland tax purposes. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. The policy removes tips from taxable income for these workers, reducing their Maryland income tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 842 requires farm equipment manufacturers to provide independent repair shops and farm owners with necessary documentation (like manuals and diagnostics), updates, and part numbers for repairing farm equipment. It prohibits manufacturers from using contracts to avoid this requirement or withholding part numbers, and mandates that access to parts and information must be offered at fair, reasonable costs comparable to what they provide to their own dealers. The law directly affects farmers who maintain their own equipment and independent repair businesses that serve them. It updates Maryland law to establish clear standards for repair access under a new "Farm Equipment Repair" subtitle.

Maddy summaryHB 679 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to design the new Patapsco River bridge (replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge) and its access roads so vehicles not crossing the bridge won’t be charged a toll. The bill mandates specific entrance and exit configurations to prevent toll collection for drivers using local roads without crossing the bridge. This directly affects the bridge design process and ensures drivers avoid unnecessary toll fees. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and amends Maryland’s transportation code to enforce this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 547 requires Maryland hospitals to publicly list standard charges for common services patients can schedule in advance (like surgeries or imaging), starting in 2025. Hospitals must include at least 400 services until 2029, then 500, in machine-readable and plain-language formats. The bill also prohibits hospitals from selling patient data collected through price estimators and establishes a new Hospital Price Transparency Fund to support these efforts. This directly affects all hospitals in Maryland by mandating clearer pricing and data privacy practices.