Rep. Kris Valderrama

Maddy summaryHB 1300 updates Maryland's Commission for Women by changing how its executive director is appointed and clarifying the Commission's responsibilities. It removes the Secretary of Human Services' authority to appoint the director, stating the director will be a regular state employee (not a "special appointee") and receive standard state compensation. The bill revises the Commission's duties to focus on conducting studies, supporting programs, and advocating for policies that promote equality for women, including career development, violence prevention, and economic opportunities. These changes directly affect the Commission's operations and its executive director, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryMaryland's HB 643 updates requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure by increasing the minimum on-the-job training hours needed. It raises the required practical experience from 1,000 hours to 2,000 hours for most applicants (applying on or after October 1, 2000), and sets a 4,000-hour requirement for those seeking higher-level licensure. The bill also specifies that applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree with an accounting concentration from an accredited institution, plus meet the new hour thresholds. These changes directly affect individuals seeking initial CPA licenses in Maryland, effective October 1, 2026. The law modifies existing sections of Maryland's Business Occupations and Professions code without altering exam or character requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 993 prohibits Maryland counties and municipalities from banning short-term rentals solely because the operator (e.g., a tenant or subtenant) rents the property, not because they own it. It allows local governments to restrict operators who are lessees or sublessees to operating only one short-term rental property within their jurisdiction. The bill defines "short-term rental" as housing offered for less than 31 consecutive days (excluding hotels, motels, or student housing) and clarifies that property owners can still set their own rules about rentals. This directly affects local governments' ability to regulate rentals by tenants and operators who lease the property. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 706 (Federal Obligations Enforcement Act) authorizes Maryland's Central Collection Unit to collect delinquent federal funds owed to the state, directly affecting the state government and the federal government. Key provisions allow the Unit to place liens on federal property within Maryland, withhold state payments to the federal government, and refer delinquent funds for enforcement. The bill establishes that the Board of Public Works can determine federal delinquency when the government fails to comply with court decisions on spending. It modifies existing Maryland law to reserve state jurisdiction over federal land and creates specific procedures for collecting funds. The law focuses on concrete enforcement mechanisms for unpaid federal obligations to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1059 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to evaluate specific Asian American history training programs from seven approved organizations (including the Smithsonian and Asian American Education Project) for inclusion in its teacher professional development program. It creates a grant program providing up to $2,000 per teacher to cover costs for these trainings and up to $1,000 annually per school library to purchase age-appropriate books and resources on Asian American and Pacific Islander history. The bill mandates annual state funding of $500,000 starting in fiscal year 2028 to support these grants. The bill directly affects Maryland public school educators and school libraries by expanding access to culturally specific professional development and learning materials.

Maddy summaryHB 386 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA and Maryland's budget process, mandating that the Governor withhold funds if WMATA fails to submit required reports (like safety assessments and financial data) or if it doesn't develop a rail signaling workforce transition plan by July 2028. The bill also requires WMATA to provide detailed annual reports on safety, ridership, finances, and capital investments to trigger full funding. If WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, or misses the workforce plan deadline, the Governor must withhold the funds until these conditions are met.

Maddy summaryHB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 997 modifies how Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry calculates prevailing wage rates for state construction projects. It prohibits the use of wage data from investor-owned electric and gas companies when determining these rates, and requires the Commissioner to vacate any prevailing wage rate calculated using such prohibited data. The bill mandates a recalculation using allowable data sources for affected projects. This directly impacts state contractors and workers on public works projects requiring prevailing wage compliance, ensuring rates reflect broader local wage patterns rather than utility sector data. The changes apply to state procurement projects covered under Maryland's prevailing wage laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1299 requires appraisers to notify buyers, sellers, or their designated point of contact if an appraisal value may be below the contract price or refinance estimate. Interested parties (like lenders or real estate agents) can then submit verified sales data or pending sale documentation within 48 hours for the appraiser to consider. The final appraisal report must include an addendum detailing the notification, submitted data, and whether the additional information changed the valuation. This applies to residential property transactions in Maryland and aims to standardize communication during the appraisal process.

Maddy summaryHB 444 prohibits Maryland state and local governments, including county sheriffs and agencies, from entering into new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It requires existing agreements to be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the law’s effective date (June 1, 2026). The bill specifically targets contracts, memorandums, or agreements that allow local entities to assist in federal immigration enforcement under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. This directly affects local law enforcement agencies and government bodies that previously collaborated with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to prevent state/local resources from being used for immigration enforcement under federal programs.