Del. Ryan Nawrocki

Maddy summaryHB 1620 requires Maryland agencies to allow state or local inspectors general (IGs) to inspect public records when state/local law authorizes their access and they need it for their duties. It directly affects IG offices created by law, such as those overseeing state agencies or local governments. The key provision mandates that custodians (agency officials) must grant this access, while restricting how IGs can share any information obtained under this rule. This bill modifies Maryland's Public Information Act to clarify IG access rights without changing existing exemptions for confidential or privileged records.

Maddy summaryHB 1449 establishes the Maryland Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to independently oversee state agency operations. It creates an Advisory Board (with the Governor, Comptroller, and legislative leaders) to appoint the OIG director, who must have expertise in auditing, law, or public administration and serve a 6-year term. The bill requires all state agencies ("units") to fully cooperate with OIG investigations and audits, protects whistleblowers who report misconduct to the OIG, and ensures confidentiality for OIG records under public information laws. This new office directly affects state agencies by mandating their cooperation and provides a formal structure for oversight of state government spending and operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1510 requires unemployment insurance claimants in Maryland to use two-step verification (like a password plus a code) when accessing online claim services to prevent fraud. It mandates the Department of Labor to review claims with suspicious patterns - such as identical bank account details used across multiple claims - and refer suspected fraud cases to law enforcement. The bill also authorizes the Department to recover overpaid benefits by withholding from state income tax refunds and increases penalties for fraud, including extending disqualification periods for claimants found to have committed fraud.

Maddy summaryHB 1331 requires Maryland’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services to verify eligibility for public benefits (like Medicaid) through automated data-sharing with federal and state agencies, replacing self-attestation. It mandates monthly reviews of death records, incarceration, and address changes, and quarterly checks of tax filings, employment, and income data to ensure ongoing eligibility. The bill prohibits providing benefits to non-citizens, requires annual inspections of retail facilities for certain programs, and establishes new work requirement compliance reviews. These changes directly affect individuals applying for or receiving public assistance by shifting verification from self-reported information to cross-checked data.

Maddy summaryHB 1322 requires Maryland public universities to treat all outdoor campus areas as public forums where students, faculty, staff, and guests can engage in expression without being confined to designated "free speech zones." It allows only reasonable, content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions that don’t disrupt campus operations or block spontaneous assembly. The bill prohibits charging security fees based on speech content and permits the Attorney General or affected individuals to sue schools for violations. This directly affects public university campuses and their community members by clarifying free speech boundaries under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 696 modifies prescription drug coverage for Maryland state retirees based on their hire date. It continues drug benefits for retirees who began state service before July 1, 2011, while ending these benefits for retirees (and their Medicare-eligible spouses/children) who started on or after that date. The bill replaces three existing retiree drug programs with a new reimbursement program covering out-of-pocket costs for eligible retirees who qualify for partial subsidies. It also removes reporting requirements related to Medicare-eligible retirees’ access to services.

Maddy summaryHB 1398 suspends Maryland's state transfer tax on property transactions for three years, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. This directly affects individuals and businesses transferring property through deeds, sales, or other recorded instruments during that period. The bill amends Maryland's tax code to exclude these transactions from the standard transfer tax requirement, applying to both county circuit court recordings and Department filings. It does not change the tax rate or permanent rules, only temporarily halting the tax collection during the specified window. The suspension applies to all qualifying property transfers within the defined timeframe.

Maddy summaryHB 751 requires Maryland's governor to annually proclaim November 7 as "Victims of Communism Memorial Day." The bill directs the Department of Legislative Services to send a copy of the law to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal obligations for citizens or government agencies. The bill is purely ceremonial, aligning Maryland with a national observance previously recognized by the U.S. Congress and President Trump. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1039 requires county school boards to notify parents of students attending schools labeled "failing" (those with a 1-star rating for three consecutive years) annually by January 1, providing a list of alternative options. Students must choose by April 1 to stay at their current school or transfer to a non-failing public school, nonpublic school, or military boarding school. The bill creates a "Right to Learn" scholarship program funded by counties to cover nonpublic school costs for students in failing schools, and mandates school systems to pay for military boarding school enrollment for students with disciplinary issues. Failing schools remain designated until they earn two stars for two consecutive years.

Maddy summaryHB 964, the Secure the Vote Act of 2026, repeals existing requirements for ballot drop boxes (including those at Baltimore City's centralized booking facility) and modifies election rules. It adds new requirements: voters must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register (per Section 3-201.1), obtain photo ID for in-person voting (Section 2-111), and restricts absentee voting to those unable to vote in person due to specific circumstances. The bill also mandates signature verification for absentee ballots, establishes new audit procedures for voter registration lists, and prohibits non-citizens from registering to vote in municipal elections. These changes apply to all Maryland voters and election officials statewide.