Rep. Mark Edelson

Maddy summaryHB 1463, the "Transit Safety and Investment Act of 2025," mandates minimum annual funding levels for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) from the Transportation Trust Fund. It requires the Governor to include specific operating appropriations (increasing by at least 4.4% annually for 2020-2022) and capital appropriations for MTA's "state of good repair needs," starting at $29.1 million for 2020-2022, rising to $502 million for 2024, and setting a baseline of $450 million annually for 2025-2028 and $550 million annually for 2030-2039. The bill directly affects the MTA’s budget, ensuring predictable funding for transit operations and infrastructure maintenance, while explicitly stating these funds are in addition to existing capital projects like the Purple Line. It does not alter MTA’s authority to fund local transit agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 846, the Transportation Access and Revenue Act, requires businesses providing short-term vehicle rentals and peer-to-peer car sharing to collect sales tax on these services. It directs 45% of the tax revenue from these services to the Transportation Trust Fund (for roads and transit projects) and the remainder to a coastal conservation fund. The bill also mandates that sales tax revenue from electricity used to charge electric vehicles at public charging stations (not under residential rates) be allocated to the Transportation Trust Fund. This changes how certain transportation-related tax revenue is distributed, affecting car-sharing companies, rental businesses, and electric vehicle charging providers.

Maddy summaryHB 432 (Local Transit Sustainability Act) requires Maryland to automatically adjust annual funding for statewide transit systems based on inflation. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the base appropriation is set at $80,533,314, with future increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth - capped at 5% annually. If CPI growth is zero or negative, funding remains unchanged from the prior year. This directly affects all local transit systems receiving state grants under Maryland’s Locally Operated Transit System Grant Program. The bill amends existing law to implement this mandatory inflation-based funding adjustment mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 433 updates Maryland's penalties for reckless driving and aggressive driving. It defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle with willful disregard for safety, and aggressive driving as committing three or more specific traffic violations (like speeding or tailgating) during a single driving event. Convictions for either offense carry a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both for first offenses; second offenses within three years increase jail time to 90 days max. This bill directly affects drivers convicted of these specific traffic violations, not the general public. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 495 requires Maryland schools with existing antidiscrimination policies to update those policies to include specific information, such as reporting options for sexual violence, school contact details, investigation processes, victim resources, and medical facility locations. It mandates that policies be written in plain, age-appropriate language, printed for readability, available in common languages spoken by students/staff (5%+ of population), and accessible via oral interpretation for less common languages. Schools must distribute policies annually through handbooks, email, campus postings, and websites, and provide mandatory training to students at the start of each school year and to employees within four weeks of hire. This applies to all public/private K-12 schools, preK programs receiving state funding, and colleges in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 105 authorizes Maryland's Department of Transportation to issue bonds secured by future federal transportation aid to replace aging light rail vehicles and cover related costs. The bill specifically adds "replacing light rail transit vehicles" to the list of eligible uses for these bonds, alongside existing projects like the Baltimore Red Line and bus infrastructure. It maintains a $1 billion cap on such bonds and requires repayment before reallocating certain transportation taxes. This change directly affects the DOT's ability to finance light rail fleet upgrades using federal funding streams. The bill amends existing transportation code to enable this funding mechanism without altering tax policies.

Maddy summaryHB 407 requires the largest municipal corporation (city or town) in each Maryland county to adopt or update a recycling plan by January 1, 2026, and every five years thereafter. The plan must achieve a 35% reduction in solid waste through recycling by weight for municipalities in counties with over 150,000 residents, or a 20% reduction for those in smaller counties. Municipalities may submit justification for not meeting targets, including economic factors, but must still aim for at least 15% or 10% reduction, respectively. The plan must be fully implemented within 18 months of adoption. This bill directly affects local governments, particularly larger cities in populous counties, aiming to increase recycling rates statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires owners of private construction projects and contractors to include specific payment terms in contracts. It mandates that owners pay contractors within 60 days of receiving a valid invoice after work completion, and if payment is withheld, they must provide written notice explaining the reason within 60 days. Unpaid amounts accrue 9% annual interest starting on the 60th day. Subcontractors must also be paid within 60 days of invoice or 7 days after the contractor receives payment from the owner. This law directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and property owners involved in Maryland construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Gwynns Falls State Park as a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Baltimore City, creating a shared unit of the state park system focused on outdoor recreation and education. The park will include specific existing properties such as Leakin Park and the Gwynns Falls Trail, with a formal agreement defining the financial and operational roles of both the state and the city. To guide development, the law requires the state and city to conduct community surveys, hold focus group meetings, and create an advisory committee comprised of neighborhood, environmental, and historic preservation representatives. Additionally, the bill mandates a summer conservation jobs program for high school students and requires a detailed report to be submitted to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, outlining suitable properties and funding needs.