Rep. Sean Stinnett

Maddy summaryHB 849 prevents certain groups from being cut off from Maryland's Child Care Scholarship Program if a freeze on new enrollments is implemented. It specifically protects families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, TANF, or Social Security Income; siblings of currently enrolled children; individuals who recently lost jobs (within 30 days); and government workers furloughed due to a shutdown lasting over 7 days. The bill adds these exceptions to the existing rules that would otherwise allow the program to freeze enrollment. This change ensures these vulnerable groups maintain access to child care assistance during enrollment freezes.

Maddy summaryHB 816 changes the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund's purpose to require that it provide financial security "at affordable rates" for eligible residents who cannot obtain insurance from regular companies. It authorizes the Fund's Executive Director to establish an affordability program that may bypass standard rate regulations under Maryland insurance law. This program would help lower insurance costs for qualifying drivers by allowing the Fund to set rates based on affordability rather than typical industry factors. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland's insurance code to implement these changes, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 919 establishes the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) Grant Program through the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The program provides grants directly to minorities residing in historically redlined neighborhoods and underrepresented communities who aim to become real estate appraisers. Its key mechanisms include closing appraisal gaps in these communities, diversifying the appraisal field, and supporting individuals pursuing PAREA certification. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will administer the grants starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 842 repeals a requirement that a surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty must acquire a dwelling house within two years of the service member's death to qualify for a property tax exemption. The bill directly affects surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, allowing them to qualify for the exemption regardless of when they purchase or acquire the home. Key provisions remove the 2-year acquisition deadline from existing law (Maryland Code, Tax-Property § 7-208(b)), making the exemption available as long as the surviving spouse meets other eligibility criteria. This change takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1387 repeals the requirement that Maryland's Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) must pay fund producers (insurance agents/brokers) a minimum 10% commission on private passenger auto insurance policies. This bill removes the current law (Section 20-512 of Maryland's Insurance Article) that mandated MAIF to pay at least 10% commission (capped at 15% for private passenger auto), giving MAIF discretion to set commission rates without this floor. The change directly affects fund producers who sell MAIF policies, as they may receive lower commissions under the new policy. The repeal takes effect October 1, 2026.

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 216 prohibits individuals from exploiting government benefits through deception, coercion, or exploitation of vulnerable people. It specifically bans recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining others to appropriate their benefits (including Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, and veterans benefits) for personal gain or to benefit others. The law also prohibits financial gain from such exploitation or aiding/abetting these acts, with penalties including up to 25 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. It directly affects benefit recipients - particularly vulnerable populations like disabled or elderly adults - and those who exploit their benefits through threats, false promises, or controlling behavior. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 200 requires home sellers in Maryland to provide buyers with a standardized flood risk disclosure form before finalizing a property sale. The form, created by the Department of the Environment, must detail if a property is in a high-risk flood zone (1% annual chance), moderate-risk area (0.2% annual chance), has flood insurance requirements, or has a history of flood damage or claims. Sellers must provide this form and, if available, a FEMA elevation certificate and records of past flood claims. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting residential property sellers and buyers.

Maddy summaryHB 348 extends the expiration date of a racetrack license at 5200 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore City until July 1, 2029, allowing the business to complete renovations. This bill directly affects the specific racetrack location by preventing license expiration during renovation work. The extension is temporary, automatically ending on July 31, 2029, without requiring further legislative action. It does not change general licensing rules for other businesses or areas in Baltimore City.

Maddy summaryHB 396 requires operators of licensed residential child care programs (like group homes and emergency shelters) to ensure children aged 5-16 in their care receive proper education. It mandates enrolling children in local schools (or approved in-house programs), transferring academic records, meeting with teachers, and providing study time, homework help, and support for extracurricular activities or individualized education plans. The bill also sets new training standards for child care practitioners, requiring background checks, education credentials, and approved training on child development and their role. These changes directly affect residential programs receiving state funding and their staff in Maryland.