Del. Kathy Szeliga

Maddy summaryHB 982, the "Gun Theft Felony Act of 2025," reclassifies the theft of any firearm as a felony regardless of the firearm's value. Currently, firearm theft could be charged as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500, but this bill makes all firearm thefts automatically felonies. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Law to require that anyone convicted of stealing a firearm must restore the firearm to the owner or pay its value, with penalties including up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $25,000 based on the firearm’s value. This change directly affects individuals who steal firearms, increasing penalties for this specific offense.

Maddy summaryHB 653 mandates that Maryland correctional facilities must transfer undocumented immigrants serving sentences for specific offenses to U.S. Homeland Security. It directly affects undocumented immigrants incarcerated in Maryland who are convicted of terrorism/espionage threats, gang-related crimes (under federal definitions), aggravated felonies, or certain sexual offenses requiring registration. The bill requires transfer if an individual meets any of five specified conditions, including active gang participation or conviction for an aggravated felony. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and adds these requirements to Maryland's Correctional Services code.

Maddy summaryHB 1271 requires healthcare providers to perform a transabdominal ultrasound before most abortions, with a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the ultrasound (or 2 hours if the patient lives 100+ miles from the facility). The bill mandates specific ultrasound standards, including measuring fetal development, offering to show the image or fetal heartbeat, and documenting results. Crucially, it states patients cannot be forced to accept any offered services during the ultrasound, such as viewing the image or receiving a printout. This law directly affects women seeking abortions in Maryland and the healthcare providers performing them, adding procedural requirements to the existing abortion access framework.

Maddy summaryHB 760 allows counties and municipalities to approve certain projects previously denied by the Maryland Historical Trust, directly affecting local governments and project applicants (e.g., developers). It applies specifically when projects were denied due to cemetery protections under §14-121.1 of the Real Property Article or for historic preservation/underwater archaeological permits under State Finance law. The bill requires local planning commissions to hold a public hearing within 60 days of an applicant’s request, publish notice in a local newspaper and online, and recommend approval or denial to the governing body. This creates a new pathway for projects blocked by the Historical Trust, streamlining local decision-making.

Maddy summaryHJ 7 is a symbolic state resolution opposing China's misrepresentation of UN Resolution 2758 to claim Taiwan is part of China. It calls on the UN to stop misusing Resolution 2758 to block Taiwan's participation in UN bodies and to remain neutral on Taiwan's access to UN events. The resolution clarifies that Resolution 2758 only addressed UN representation for "China" and does not endorse China's "One China Principle" or Taiwan's status. It reaffirms the U.S. One China Policy does not recognize China's claim over Taiwan. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect but expresses Maryland's stance on the issue.

Maddy summaryHB 1451, the Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2025, modifies Maryland's Climate Solutions Now Act to require certain climate measures "to the extent economically practicable." It directs building owners to annually measure and report direct emissions data to the Department of the Environment starting in 2025, and sets goals for covered buildings to achieve a 20% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 (compared to 2025 levels) and net-zero emissions by 2040. The bill also updates statewide targets to reduce emissions 60% below 2006 levels by 2031 and reach net-zero statewide emissions by 2045, while adding provisions for zero-emission state vehicle fleets and school buses. These changes apply to building owners, utility contractors, and state agencies implementing climate programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1258, the Energy Equality Act of 2025, prohibits local or state governments from restricting the sale, purchase, or use of consumer goods (including vehicles and appliances) solely based on their energy source, such as electricity, gasoline, or natural gas. It repeals existing Maryland laws requiring the Department of the Environment to maintain a low emissions vehicle program and to establish sales requirements for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The bill also defines "consumer good" broadly to cover personal, household, and agricultural items powered by any authorized energy source. This legislation removes current restrictions on energy source choices for these goods, applying retroactively to existing regulations.

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 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.