Del. Nick Allen

Maddy summaryHB 1405 establishes clear rules for towing charges and legal rights when vehicles are removed from private parking lots in Maryland. It creates a legal right (lien) for towing companies to hold vehicles until specific fees - like towing, recovery, storage, or notice costs - are paid, affecting parking lot owners, towing companies, and vehicle owners. The bill requires local governments to set up administrative hearings where owners can challenge towing legitimacy, and mandates parking lots to display clear signage listing towing fees, reclaim hours, and hearing contact info. It also specifies who can pay to release a vehicle (owners, lessees, insurers, or agents) and clarifies that police-initiated towing follows similar lien rules.

Maddy summaryHB 637 adjusts how Maryland allocates highway user revenue grants to Baltimore City, counties, and municipalities. It revises the percentage of funds from the Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account distributed annually: Baltimore City’s share increases from 8.3% (2020-2023) to 12.1% starting in 2026, counties’ share rises from 3.2% to 15.3%, and municipalities’ share grows from 2.0% to 2.6%. These changes apply to fiscal years 2024 through 2028 and beyond, as specified in amended sections of Maryland’s transportation code. The bill ensures these grants are funded only after debt service and operating expenses are covered.

Maddy summaryHB 670 prohibits sending unsolicited obscene images or videos via electronic means (like text or email) to someone who didn't consent to receive them. It directly affects individuals who send such material, making them liable for civil lawsuits. Victims can seek economic damages, emotional distress compensation, and up to $30,000 in statutory damages (with a minimum of $1,500) if the recipient had explicitly forbidden the material. The law exempts internet service providers, streaming services, and healthcare providers sending medical images. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 663 creates a new civil lawsuit for people harmed by realistic deepfake images or revenge porn. It allows victims to sue if someone distributes a computer-generated image that looks real (and isn’t a drawing, cartoon, or sculpture) falsely showing them with intimate parts exposed or engaged in sexual activity. The bill clarifies that victims can seek damages, attorney fees, and court orders to stop the distribution. It also updates criminal law to clarify that revenge porn distribution without consent - especially when the victim expected privacy - is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail or a $5,000 fine. The law specifically excludes artistic works like drawings or paintings from coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 759 requires Baltimore County to create a special fund using fines collected from speed monitoring systems. After covering the costs of operating these systems, any remaining fines must be deposited into the fund. The fund can only be used to pay for traffic calming devices (like speed bumps or crosswalk improvements) on county roads. This ensures fines directly support local road safety projects rather than general county budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 709 allows Maryland counties to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid "good cause" reason (like nonpayment or lease violations) to evict tenants or refuse lease renewals, rather than allowing no-cause evictions. If a county adopts such a law, landlords must disclose in writing whether they are subject to it and provide specific ownership details (including property counts) using forms developed by the state Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. The bill also mandates that landlords include this disclosure in leases and court filings related to evictions. This applies only to tenants and landlords in counties that choose to implement these local protections, not statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 758 requires local automated speed enforcement programs (like camera systems) to cancel citations if the vehicle or its license plates were stolen at the time of the alleged speeding violation. It prohibits issuing citations until verifying the vehicle or plates weren’t reported stolen, and allows drivers to present stolen vehicle evidence as a defense in court. This directly affects drivers who unknowingly operated stolen vehicles and local governments running automated enforcement programs. The bill updates Maryland’s traffic code to prevent unjust fines for victims of vehicle theft.

Maddy summaryHB 965 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create a fair method for distributing transit grant funds to counties starting in fiscal year 2027. It mandates that funding be based primarily on each county's population (from the U.S. Census) or another equitable metric the department determines, while also allowing for growth of local transit systems. This bill directly affects all Maryland counties receiving funds through the Locally Operated Transit System Grant Program. The new distribution method replaces the previous approach and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1486 (Mateo's Law) requires drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents that cause death or life-threatening injuries to submit to mandatory breath and blood testing for alcohol or drug impairment. It directly affects drivers at fault in such crashes when police have reasonable suspicion of impairment. The bill mandates breath tests for alcohol concentration and blood tests to check for alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances, with medical personnel performing tests shielded from liability (except gross negligence). The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 499 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) changes Maryland’s expungement process to make it easier for people with certain misdemeanor convictions to clear their records. It reduces waiting periods after completing a sentence (removing the previous 3-year limit for some offenses), expands eligibility to include more misdemeanor convictions, and requires courts to confirm restitution payments are made or unpayable before expungement. The bill also prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing expunged records. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentences.