Sen. Kevin Harris

Maddy summaryHB 1346, the PACE Act, protects criminal defendants and juvenile respondents from having their creative works (like music, poetry, art, or film) used as evidence against them in court. The bill requires courts to make four specific findings before admitting such expression: that the creator intended it literally (not figuratively), it directly relates to the specific crime, it addresses disputed facts, and it has unique value not available through other evidence. This applies to all criminal and juvenile proceedings, with an exception allowing creative expression to be used in juvenile cases for mental health evaluations. The law aims to prevent artistic expression from being misinterpreted as confessions or evidence of guilt without strong judicial scrutiny.

Maddy summaryHB 692 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to study whether video toll facilities in Maryland can reliably capture only the rear license plate of vehicles instead of both front and rear plates. The study must identify necessary system upgrades and assess potential impacts, such as accuracy or enforcement effects, of this change. The Authority must complete the study and report findings to the Governor and legislature by December 1, 2025. This bill does not implement the change but evaluates its feasibility for future consideration. The study directly affects toll operations managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority.

Maddy summaryHB 1458 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee that tipped workers in Maryland earn at least the state minimum wage regardless of tips received. It directly affects service industry workers (like servers and bartenders) currently paid below minimum wage under "tip credit" systems. The amendment would bar the state from denying this right unless justified by a compelling interest using the least restrictive means. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, it would require employers to pay the full minimum wage without counting tips toward that amount. This changes current practice where employers can pay a lower base wage if tips make up the difference.

Maddy summaryHB 639 requires sports venue owners (for professional events) and university governing bodies (for college events) to allow attendees to bring and use reusable beverage containers during sporting events. The bill defines a "reusable beverage container" as one made of aluminum or stainless steel, holding up to 24 ounces, and designed for multiple uses. Venue operators may require containers to be empty upon entry but cannot ban reusable containers entirely. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting attendees at Maryland sports venues and the operators of those venues.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 1318 creates a new "Class C-PCL" license for premium cigar lounges in Maryland, allowing businesses that primarily sell cigars and pipe tobacco to serve beer, wine, and liquor on-site. It directly affects tobacco retailers seeking to add alcohol service, requiring them to generate at least 60% of daily revenue from cigars/accessories and install proper ventilation. The license exempts these lounges from Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act, but mandates visible smoking notices, employee acknowledgments of secondhand smoke exposure, and an annual $2,000 fee. Local licensing boards may issue one such license per 150,000 county residents, with a temporary ban on new alcohol licenses for tobacconists extended until June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits local governments to allowing no more than 10 cents per paper carryout bag charged by retailers. It applies to all counties and municipalities that have enacted laws requiring or permitting such fees. Retailers, including stores and restaurants, would be restricted to charging this maximum fee under local ordinances. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1400, the "No Tax on Tips Act," requires restaurants and food service businesses to clearly disclose service fees (including their amount and whether they go to employees) on menus or visibly before ordering. It prohibits employers from counting tips toward meeting minimum wage requirements for tipped workers, ensuring they receive the full minimum wage without tip credits. Additionally, the bill allows tipped employees to subtract qualified tips from their state income tax bill (effectively making tips tax-free) and provides businesses a tax credit for wages and tips paid to employees. This directly affects tipped workers in restaurants and similar establishments, as well as the businesses that employ them.

Maddy summaryHB 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.