Rep. LaToya Nkongolo

Maddy summaryHB 1286 allows barbershops and beauty salons in Anne Arundel County with existing licenses to serve liquor (in addition to beer and wine) for on-premises consumption under specific conditions. It permits up to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.7 ounces of liquor per customer while they receive services like haircuts or cosmetology treatments, or during business fundraising events. The bill eliminates the need for a separate Sunday liquor license and requires service to end by 9 p.m. annually, with a $100 license fee. This change applies only to Anne Arundel County businesses holding valid barbershop or beauty salon permits and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1326 expands who can access child abuse and neglect reports in Maryland. It allows the Department of Human Services to disclose these records to school personnel (including principals and superintendents), child care facility operators, and higher education institutions when they need to investigate or take action against employees or contractors who interact with children. The bill requires safeguards to protect the identity of reporters and others whose safety could be endangered by disclosure. This directly affects schools, child care centers, and colleges by enabling them to address potential abuse concerns involving staff or contractors.

Maddy summaryHB 738 establishes a legal mechanism for Maryland property owners to transfer real estate automatically to designated beneficiaries upon death, bypassing probate court. It creates "transfer-on-death deeds" (TODDs) with specific requirements for creation, revocation, and recording in county land records, while exempting these deeds from certain property transfer taxes. The bill directly affects Maryland homeowners who wish to simplify estate planning for real property, including those with existing life estate deeds that meet specific conditions. Key provisions include standardized forms for TODDs, retroactive application to qualifying pre-existing deeds, and updated recording rules for county clerks.

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 606 expands eligibility for property tax payment deferrals on residential properties in Anne Arundel County to include members of certain reserve military components, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Public Health Service. The bill amends existing law to add these groups to the list of qualifying individuals who qualify for deferrals under the same disability or age criteria already in place (e.g., permanent disability or age 62+). It does not change income requirements or other existing provisions. The change applies to tax years beginning after June 30, 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 677 creates legal immunity for registered reduction operators and veterans service organizations that handle unclaimed hydrolyzed or soil remains (from natural organic reduction) of veterans or their eligible dependents, provided they act in good faith. It amends Maryland law to replace references to "cremated remains" with "hydrolyzed or soil remains" in liability protections, ensuring these entities cannot be held civilly responsible for transferring or receiving such remains for proper disposition. The bill directly affects reduction facilities operating under Maryland's natural organic reduction process and veterans service organizations managing veteran remains. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and updates existing legal language to reflect this new disposal method.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires law enforcement agencies to issue protective body armor to officers before assigning them to any duties other than administrative work. The armor must meet current National Institute of Justice ballistic standards and have not passed its manufacturer-suggested replacement date. Agencies must replace expired armor within 31 days and notify the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission if they fail to do so. The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy will withhold grant funds from agencies that do not comply with these replacement and reporting requirements. The law takes effect on October 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.