Del. Natalie Ziegler

Maddy summaryHB 92 prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of beverage containers (like 6-packs of soda or beer) connected by plastic rings unless the ring is made of biodegradable material. It directly affects retailers and beverage sellers who currently use non-biodegradable plastic rings. The bill establishes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation (increasing to $2,000 for repeat offenses) and requires the Department to adopt enforcement regulations. Penalties collected under this law will fund the Maryland Clean Water Fund, with enforcement handled by the Department rather than local governments. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 798 requires Maryland's Office of Overdose Response (with the Department of Health) to create and maintain a public interactive dashboard tracking how settlement funds from opioid-related lawsuits are spent. The dashboard must show, by state, county, and municipality: payment schedules, past spending, spending plans, funded initiatives, and public hearing details. Local governments receiving these funds must submit required financial data through an online portal to the Department for inclusion on the dashboard. The dashboard will be developed and maintained using existing Opioid Restitution Fund money from the state budget, not new appropriations. This bill focuses solely on transparency, with no new policy changes or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 334 establishes a statewide program requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide universal newborn nurse home visiting services to all families with newborns (up to 12 weeks old) residing in Maryland. The program must be evidence-based, offered by licensed nurses, and delivered in homes or virtually, focusing on infant health, maternal well-being, family support, and child development. Crucially, the bill mandates that health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations cover and reimburse these services under existing policies. The program is voluntary for families, with no penalties for declining participation, and requires data collection on outcomes across key domains like reducing child maltreatment and improving school readiness.

Maddy summaryHB 384 establishes the Maryland Disability Service Animal Program within the Department of Disabilities. The program requires the Department to select a nonprofit organization to train service animals and creates a dedicated fund to support eligible individuals with disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act). Key provisions include referring individuals to the nonprofit trainer, providing funding assistance for service animal training, and encouraging successful participants to help with outreach to others. This directly affects Maryland residents with disabilities who need service animals trained to perform specific tasks for daily living.

Maddy summaryHB 628 requires the State Highway Administration to prioritize funding for sidewalk and bicycle pathway construction or reconstruction near highways that follow a Complete Streets policy or Vision Zero program. It affects local governments requesting such projects and the State Highway Administration, which must fund these improvements under specific cost-sharing rules. Key provisions include full state funding for projects in sustainable communities, a 75% state/25% local cost split in priority funding areas, and "system preservation" funding for safety-critical projects. The bill amends existing law to clarify these funding priorities and maintenance responsibilities for completed infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 182 sets new civil penalties for speeding violations recorded by speed monitoring systems (photo radar), with fines increasing based on how much over the speed limit a driver was traveling - ranging from $40 for 12-15 mph over to $350 for 40+ mph over. It restricts where these systems can be used, limiting deployment to specific areas like residential zones (35 mph limits), school zones, and certain highways in Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, and Baltimore counties. Local jurisdictions must authorize the systems through public hearings and local laws before implementation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to civil penalties, not criminal charges.

Maddy summaryHB 707 (Eric’s ID Law) requires Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration to add a voluntary notation for nonapparent disabilities - such as developmental or intellectual disabilities - on driver’s licenses, ID cards, and moped permits. Applicants can choose to indicate this disability without providing proof or paying extra fees, and the notation will appear on the document’s bottom. The law prohibits the Administration from disclosing this information to insurers or using it to refer applicants to medical boards. It also mandates public outreach to inform people about this option. This directly affects individuals with nonapparent disabilities who apply for or renew these documents.

Maddy summaryHB 1144 would bar individuals alleged to have committed assault or caused bodily injury to transit staff or passengers from using Maryland's state public transit services or stations for set periods. First offenses trigger a 30-day exclusion, second offenses 180 days, and third offenses or weapon use result in a lifetime ban. State officials can adjust these exclusion periods, and violators face trespassing charges under existing law. The bill applies specifically to incidents occurring on transit vehicles or at transit stations, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and implement training for transportation sector employees (including those at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Employers must certify employees have completed the training by January 1, 2026, and establish reporting procedures to local agencies and trafficking prevention policies. The bill also protects employees and employers from liability for good-faith reports or responses to suspected trafficking incidents. Additionally, it mandates bilingual safety announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs.

Maddy summaryHB 744 updates Maryland's traffic safety laws by increasing penalties for dangerous driving. It defines reckless driving as driving 30+ miles per hour over the speed limit (previously undefined), adds 2 points to a driver's record for negligent driving, and adds 6 points for speeding over 30 mph above the limit. The bill also redefines aggressive driving as committing two or more specific traffic violations (like tailgating or illegal passing) during a single driving period, with fines up to $1,000. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of these offenses, with the law taking effect October 1, 2025.