Rep. Charles Otto

Maddy summaryHB 1238 creates a new "liquor tasting license" for Somerset County, allowing businesses with existing Class A beer, wine, and liquor licenses to offer free liquor tastings. The license permits customers to try up to half an ounce per offering (with a maximum of five offerings daily) without charge, strictly for sampling purposes. Businesses must pay fees based on duration - $20 for one day, $200 for 26 days, $300 for 52 days, or $400 for 104 days - added to their standard Class A license costs. The bill applies exclusively to Somerset County and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 894 creates a new permit process for incidental bat take in Maryland, replacing the existing Delmarva fox squirrel provision. It requires applicants (like developers or landowners) to submit a detailed conservation plan showing how they’ll minimize harm to bats, secure funding, and justify why alternatives weren’t used. The Secretary of Natural Resources must then verify the plan won’t harm bat recovery, impacts will be minimized, and funding is secured before issuing a permit. This directly affects projects in areas with bat habitats where accidental harm might occur during construction or land development.

Maddy summaryHB 1144 would bar individuals alleged to have committed assault or caused bodily injury to transit staff or passengers from using Maryland's state public transit services or stations for set periods. First offenses trigger a 30-day exclusion, second offenses 180 days, and third offenses or weapon use result in a lifetime ban. State officials can adjust these exclusion periods, and violators face trespassing charges under existing law. The bill applies specifically to incidents occurring on transit vehicles or at transit stations, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 425 exempts licensed auctioneers acting on behalf of sellers (without taking title to the vessel) from being classified as "dealers" under Maryland's State Boat Act. This change specifically affects auctioneers who sell boats for owners or secured parties, such as lienholders, where title passes directly to the buyer. The bill amends the State Boat Act by adding a clear exclusion to the definition of "dealer" in Section 8-701(c)(3), ensuring auctioneers aren't subject to dealer licensing requirements when operating under these conditions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 893 changes Maryland's oyster fishing regulations by replacing license revocation with license suspension for certain violations. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to suspend (not revoke) oyster licenses for up to 2 years for first offenses or up to 10 years for repeat offenses involving violations like harvesting near closed areas, using prohibited gear, or harvesting outside time restrictions. The bill also creates a reinstatement process: individuals whose licenses were revoked before July 1, 2025, can regain their license after 2 years for a first violation or 10 years for a repeat violation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies directly to oyster harvesters in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 375 (Jay's Law) modifies Maryland's transportation code to allow bicyclists, riders of play vehicles, and unicyclists to ride on sidewalks or sidewalk areas unless prohibited by local ordinance. It requires these riders to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and users of electric personal assistive mobility devices when on sidewalks or in crosswalks. The bill directly affects cyclists, pedestrians, and local governments (which retain authority to ban sidewalk riding). Key provisions amend sections 21-1103 and 21-1202 of Maryland's Annotated Code, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 857 allows licensed Maryland deer hunters who wound a deer during legal hunting hours to pursue and kill it after hours, provided they use only the same hunting method authorized for their season (e.g., archery or firearms). The bill amends Maryland’s natural resources law (Section 10-428 of the Annotated Code) to create this exception to standard hunting hour restrictions. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources must adopt regulations to implement the new rule, which takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed deer hunters who wound deer during legal hours but cannot complete the harvest before closing.

Maddy summaryHB 967 legalizes the 2025 Edition of Somerset County's Code of Public Local Laws and any related supplements, confirming they contain valid laws enacted by Maryland's General Assembly. This procedural bill ensures the code is officially recognized as evidence of law in all state courts and by public officials, replacing the need for separate citation of individual statutes. It affects Somerset County by formally adopting its updated local law code, effective July 1, 2025, without creating new policies or changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 844 increases annual salaries for specific Somerset County officials by raising their pay rates: the Sheriff from $85,000 to $105,000, County Commissioners from $10,000 to $12,000, the President of Commissioners from $11,000 to $13,000, County Roads Board members from $10,000 to $12,000, and the President of the Roads Board from $11,000 to $13,000. These changes apply only to terms beginning after October 1, 2025, and do not affect current officeholders serving terms starting before that date. The bill amends existing Maryland law sections governing county salaries and explicitly states it does not apply retroactively to current terms. The adjustments take effect at the start of the next elected term following the October 2025 effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 222 prohibits the sale, transfer, or use of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) for fuel gas piping systems unless it meets specific safety standards: either the LC1027 standard from the International Fuel and Gas Code or proven resistance to 36 coulombs of electrical arcing. It directly affects builders, contractors, and suppliers working on new construction or major renovations (over 50% of building square footage) of natural gas or propane piping systems in Maryland. The bill mandates compliance for these systems and imposes civil penalties up to $1,000 for violations. It takes effect October 1, 2027.