Del. Lauren Arikan

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 1103 designates the Freedom Flag, created by Richard Nicholas Melito, as Maryland's official symbol of remembrance for the September 11 attacks. The bill amends the Maryland Annotated Code to add a new section (7-320) formally recognizing this flag for commemorating the 2001 attacks. The designation takes effect on September 11, 2026, and serves as a symbolic state recognition without altering existing laws or programs.

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 1244 allows residential property owners within 300 feet of where overhead transmission lines are constructed to sue for diminished property value caused by the project. It modifies Maryland law to let these owners recover damages and seek reasonable attorney fees if they win their case. The bill also requires courts to award defendant attorney fees and costs to the property owner if the final court decision finds the property's assessed value exceeded the appraised value in transmission line condemnation cases. This applies specifically to cases involving overhead transmission lines under Maryland's Public Utilities Article. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 1044 prohibits the release of defendants after conviction but before sentencing or final appeals for specific crimes resulting in the death of a child under 14. It applies directly to individuals convicted of either a violent crime (as defined in Maryland’s Criminal Law §14-101) or a violation of child neglect law (§3-602.1) that caused the death of a victim under age 14. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Procedure Article to bar courts from granting pre-sentencing or pre-appeal release in these cases. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

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 885 prohibits knowingly causing another person to ingest a drug that induces abortion when the person knows the other is pregnant and acts without consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force. It directly affects individuals who attempt to compel another person to take such medication under these conditions. The law creates a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison for violations. The bill, titled the "Women’s Freedom From Coercion Act," takes effect October 1, 2026.