Rep. Brian Chisholm

Maddy summaryHB 320 creates a property tax credit for Anne Arundel County landowners who sell development rights under the Rural Legacy Program. It allows the county to grant a credit against the county property tax for real property located in a designated Rural Legacy Area (as defined in Maryland’s Natural Resources Article) where the owner has sold development rights. This directly affects rural landowners participating in the Rural Legacy Program who choose to restrict future development on their land. The credit replaces an existing provision and becomes effective for tax years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 500 removes two requirements that previously limited the sales tax exemption for precious metal bullion and coins. Specifically, it eliminates the $1,000 minimum sale price and the requirement that sales must occur at the Baltimore Convention Center. The bill expands the exemption to cover all qualifying precious metal bullion (refined metal where value depends on metal content) and historically used coins, while still excluding jewelry and art. This change directly affects buyers and sellers of these items by making the exemption available for more transactions without location or price restrictions. The exemption will apply to all qualifying sales starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 727 modifies Anne Arundel County's Class C (veterans' organization) alcohol license requirements. It removes the current rule that members must have served in a war and instead expands eligibility to include members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Public Health Service. This change directly affects veterans' organizations seeking these licenses in Anne Arundel County by broadening who qualifies as a member. The bill amends Maryland's Annotated Code (Sections 11-1009(b)(1) and 11-1009(a)) to update the membership criteria to align with "uniformed services" rather than war service. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1120 allows members of the U.S. Foreign Service and their spouses to practice licensed professions in Maryland using a valid license from another state, without needing to obtain a new Maryland license. The bill creates new provisions (Sections 10-14A-01 to 10-14A-03) in Maryland law to establish this portability for specific occupations covered under the state's licensing codes. It directly affects Foreign Service employees and their spouses who are already licensed in another jurisdiction and relocate to Maryland for duty. The bill amends multiple sections across Maryland’s licensing codes in State Government, Business Occupations, Education, and Health to implement this change. This policy removes a barrier for these individuals to continue their professional work without repeating licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 596 updates Maryland's law to align with the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act. It establishes that if a person cannot prove they survived another individual by at least 120 hours (5 days) in cases of simultaneous death, they are legally deemed to have predeceased that person. This affects estate distributions, inheritance claims, and insurance payouts where the order of death is unclear. The law applies to property held as joint tenancy, life insurance proceeds, and other assets governed by instruments like wills or trusts. It provides clear rules for dividing assets when simultaneous deaths create uncertainty, avoiding prolonged legal disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 972 establishes the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, a permanent fund to provide annual grants supporting agricultural fairs and education. The fund will receive lottery proceeds (before allocation to the general fund) and replace previous requirements for horse racing fund allocations. It directs specific annual grants: $825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, $550,000 to the Maryland State Fair Society (for youth programs like 4-H and FFA), and $50,000 to the Maryland FFA Association. These grants aim to advance agricultural fairs, education, and youth programs across Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 980 (Kanaiyah's Law) creates the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman within the Attorney General's office to handle complaints about Maryland's child welfare system. It requires juvenile courts to include specific information-sharing requirements in guardianship orders and expands criminal background checks to cover all adults living in a child's guardian's home. The bill also prohibits unlicensed placements for certain children, protects complainants from retaliation, and exempts certain complaint records from public disclosure. These changes directly affect child welfare agencies, guardians, and families navigating the system, aiming to improve transparency and accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 420, the Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act, allows active-duty service members and their spouses in Maryland to practice in their profession under an out-of-state license during certain circumstances, without needing full Maryland licensure. It also updates the definition of "eligible veteran" to include former service members discharged over a specific period before applying for a license. The bill creates a new licensing framework (Subtitle 14A) across multiple Maryland law sections to streamline these processes. This directly affects military personnel, spouses, and veterans seeking to work in licensed professions like healthcare, education, or trades within Maryland.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to expel Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat from the Maryland House of Delegates due to his failure to attend committee meetings or vote on legislation since February 2026. The resolution cites his absence from required legislative duties and his stated priority of personal business over public service as grounds for removal under state constitutional rules. If passed, the measure would trigger a vacancy in District 5, allowing the Governor to appoint a replacement to represent Carroll and Frederick Counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Maryland Aviation Administration to join the federal Transportation Security Administration's Screening Partnership Program, enabling airports to contract private companies for passenger screening instead of relying solely on federal agents. The legislation authorizes this partnership only with the approval of the Governor and the Secretary of Transportation, ensuring oversight before any agreements are made. By adding a new section to state law, the bill formally establishes the legal framework for this security arrangement while repealing and reenacting existing definitions without changes. As an emergency measure passed with a supermajority, it takes effect immediately upon enactment to address public safety needs.