Rep. Robin Grammer

Maddy summaryHB 1035 modifies Maryland's income tax code to allow residents to subtract certain overtime pay from their taxable income, aligning with federal tax rules. It directly affects Maryland taxpayers who earn "qualified overtime compensation" as defined under Section 225 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The bill adds a new provision (Section 10-208(dd)) specifying that qualifying overtime pay - already deductible under federal law - can be subtracted when calculating Maryland adjusted gross income. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and expires June 30, 2029. This is a temporary policy adjustment, not a permanent tax rate change.

Maddy summaryHB 710 amends Maryland's criminal law to clarify and strengthen prohibitions against displaying obscene material to minors. It defines "obscene" material as content that appeals to prurient interest, depicts illicit sexual acts in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious value, and specifies that "item" includes books, videos, magazines, and digital media. The bill directly restricts public schools, newsstands, and businesses frequented by minors from openly displaying such material on their premises, with school principals or managers held accountable. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 for a first offense, increasing to 3 years or $5,000 for subsequent offenses. The law aims to protect minors by targeting specific displays of prohibited material in settings where they are present.

Maddy summaryHB 827, the "Repair the Transportation Trust Fund Act," repeals the automatic annual increase of motor fuel taxes based on inflation (Consumer Price Index), preventing future tax hikes on gas and other fuels. The bill also prohibits state and local governments from implementing vehicle-miles-traveled taxes or similar fees, while requiring the Maryland Transit Administration to meet specific farebox recovery targets for certain transit services. Additionally, it allows the MTA to raise fares without certain public hearings under defined conditions and bans requirements for devices tracking vehicle miles in private vehicles. These changes directly affect transportation funding, transit fare policies, and vehicle taxation across Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 863 reclassifies the theft of a firearm as a felony under Maryland law, previously treated as a lower-level offense. It establishes felony penalties based on the firearm's value: up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine for theft valued at $1,500-$25,000, up to 10 years for $25,000-$100,000, and up to 20 years for $100,000 or more. Convicted individuals must also return the firearm or pay its value to the owner. The bill directly affects anyone who steals a firearm or knowingly possesses stolen firearms, raising penalties for these offenses under Section 7-104 of Maryland’s Criminal Law.

Maddy summaryHB 826 freezes increases to the assessed value of residential property in Maryland for taxable years 2026 through 2028. It directly affects homeowners by preventing local governments from raising property tax assessments based on market value during this period, unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions include zoning changes initiated by the owner, significant improvements adding at least $100,000 in value, changes in property use, or errors in calculation. The bill does not alter tax rates or affect commercial properties, only limiting assessment increases for residential homes.

Maddy summaryHB 632 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from the definition of "medical service" requiring a Certificate of Need (CON) in Maryland. This exempts psychiatric health care facilities and providers of psychiatric or mental health services from needing state approval before establishing or operating these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the list of medical services subject to CON requirements, which currently includes services like surgery, pediatrics, and rehabilitation. This change directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health programs seeking to expand or open without prior state review. The policy shift simplifies regulatory requirements for mental health service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 725 requires Maryland correctional facilities to provide federal immigration authorities with at least 48 hours' notice before releasing an individual, if requested by those authorities, and to transfer the individual to federal custody. This applies specifically to individuals in state or local correctional facilities who are subject to federal immigration enforcement requests. The bill mandates that transfers occur without extending the individual’s custody beyond their scheduled release date. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 719 prohibits Maryland state and local government entities, including county sheriffs and agencies, from adopting "sanctuary policies" that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It repeals existing laws that previously limited police from asking about immigration status during routine stops or detaining individuals solely for immigration violations. The bill requires local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration detainers when legally required and removes barriers to federal agents accessing sensitive locations (like schools) with valid warrants. This directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and local government agencies in their daily interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 693 creates a legal pathway for minors or their parents to sue commercial websites that knowingly distribute obscene material online to minors. It requires these entities to use reasonable age verification methods (like government ID or commercial systems) to confirm users are 18+ before accessing such content and prohibits retaining any user identifying information after verification. The bill excludes news organizations and internet service providers from these requirements. If a commercial entity violates these rules, affected individuals can seek damages for minors accessing obscene material or for improper retention of personal data. This law directly impacts websites hosting adult content and aims to protect minors from exposure to obscene material online.

Maddy summaryHB 712 establishes new rules for holding AI developers and deployers liable when their systems cause harm. It creates a legal path for people harmed by "high-impact" AI systems - like those used in criminal justice, housing, or medical devices - to sue for defective design, lack of warnings, or broken promises. The bill includes key protections: if developers followed safety testing, courts would assume the AI was safe unless proven otherwise, and small businesses (under 20 employees or 10,000 users) are exempt. It also removes "contributory negligence" as a defense in such cases and allows the state attorney general to sue for widespread harm.