Sen. Kevin Harris

Maddy summaryHB 973, the Better Buildings Act of 2025, requires new buildings and major renovations (costing 50%+ of a structure's replacement value) in Maryland to meet all space heating, water heating, and laundry demands without fossil fuels. It mandates energy conservation standards and requires buildings to be "electric- and solar-ready," meaning they must have sufficient electrical capacity, wiring, and physical space for future installation of electric appliances and solar panels. The bill amends Maryland law to adopt these standards through the Department of Labor, aligning with but allowing stricter energy efficiency requirements than the International Energy Conservation Code. This directly affects developers, builders, and property owners constructing or significantly renovating buildings in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 611, the "Informed Enrollment Act," requires Maryland colleges admitting first-time undergraduates to prominently display a link to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard on their public websites by July 1, 2026. It mandates that institutions explain the Scorecard’s data on cost of attendance, graduation rates, salary outcomes, and debt directly on their websites and during student recruitment. Colleges must also share this information through orientation events, recruitment materials, and regularly with prospective students, new students, advisors, and career counselors. If the federal Scorecard ends, the Maryland Higher Education Commission must provide comparable data using state sources like the Maryland Longitudinal Data System.

Maddy summaryHB 608 requires Maryland county school boards to grant temporary school admission to students when parents or guardians cannot immediately provide proof of required immunizations. This temporary enrollment lasts up to 60 days, during which parents must schedule an appointment with a health provider or local health department to obtain immunizations, reconstruct lost records, or get evidence of age-appropriate immunity. Parents must then submit proof of the immunization on the next school day following the appointment. The bill directly affects public school students and their families in Maryland, balancing school safety with practical barriers to documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 627 clarifies that existing Maryland laws prohibiting disruptive or threatening behavior on school property do not apply to students committing offenses at their own school or at another school during sponsored events like sports. The bill amends Section 26-101 of the Education Code to explicitly exempt these two student groups from the prohibitions and penalties. It also requires county boards to report school disruption data by category (e.g., fighting, weapons) and disaggregate it by student demographics, disciplinary actions, and referrals. This focuses on clarifying legal application and improving data collection for school safety reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 642, the "Ballot Petition Modernization Act," updates Maryland's election laws to allow electronic signatures on ballot petitions and strengthen voter data security. It requires the State Board of Elections to create rules for securely storing voter lists and verifying electronic signatures, replacing outdated paper-based requirements. The bill directly affects petition signers (who can now use digital signatures), circulators (who must verify signatures), and election officials (who must implement new security protocols). Key changes include adding electronic signature procedures, clarifying signature validation rules, and prohibiting commercial use of voter lists.

Maddy summaryHB 606 requires real estate professionals - such as developers, builders, brokers, and agents - to report the final sale price of new homes sold in Maryland into a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or similar public database within 30 days of the sale. This applies specifically to new home sales and directly affects those selling new properties. The key provision mandates that final sale prices, not initial listings, be entered into existing MLS systems used by real estate professionals. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to increase transparency in new home pricing data without creating new reporting systems.

Maddy summaryHB 106 updates Maryland's definition of "first responder" for 9-1-1 emergency systems to include three specific roles within the Department of Transportation: emergency response technicians, facility maintenance technicians, and vehicle services/recovery technicians. Currently, the definition covers firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency personnel but did not explicitly include these transportation workers. The bill directly affects Transportation Department staff who respond to roadside incidents, such as disabled vehicles or accidents, by recognizing them as first responders under the 9-1-1 system. This change amends Maryland's Public Safety Code (Section 1-301(j)) to add these roles to the official definition. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 253 requires Maryland to automatically mail absentee ballots to eligible voters in pretrial detention at Baltimore City's centralized booking facility, eliminating the need for them to submit separate applications. It mandates a secure, 24/7 monitored ballot drop box at the facility, along with written instructions for voters on how to submit absentee ballots and other election materials. The State Board of Elections must provide the drop box and materials, while Baltimore City election officials will collect ballots weekly and submit them to the appropriate election office. An annual report detailing ballot submissions will be submitted to legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 287 prohibits individuals from simultaneously holding a party office (such as a county central committee position) and an elected public office (like mayor or council member) in Maryland. It amends Section 5-204 of the Election Law to remove previous allowances, making this dual holding explicitly forbidden. The bill directly affects political party officials and elected local government officials who might seek or hold both roles. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not include exceptions for national convention delegates.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates regulations for assisted living managers, primarily by extending the deadline for mandatory licensing and modifying training requirements. It allows managers to delay full licensure until July 1, 2026, while also reducing the required training hours from 80 to a mix of in-person and virtual options, provided the training includes direct faculty interaction. The legislation also clarifies rules for interim managers who step in temporarily and adjusts the composition of the State Board of Long-Term Care Administrators to include more assisted living managers. Additionally, the bill maintains penalties for facilities that fail to employ qualified managers and ensures approved training courses remain affordable and accessible.