Annapolis Update
Summary of Local Rep Priorities
Maryland Legislative Districts
The General Assembly began it’s 90 day session in Annapolis on January 8th. Our locally elected representatives–Senator Jack Bailey (R-29), Delegate Matt Morgan (R-29A), Delegate Brian Crosby (D-29B), and Delegate Todd Morgan (R-29C)--have filed bills to address their legislative priorities this year. Legislators can submit bills, of which they are the “Primary Sponsor,” or join others as a “Co-Sponsor.” Lawmakers can also submit bond initiatives to secure state funding for local projects. Here’s what the St. Mary’s representatives have been up to so far.
Del. Matt Morgan
Delegate Matt Morgan has co-sponsored six bills, and is joined by other members of the recently established Maryland Freedom Caucus (MFC). Four of the six bills were filed and failed in previous years, as noted below.
HB156, the “Fairness in Girls Sports Act” would require public and nonpublic high schools to define athletic teams based on biological sex, or label them coeducational. The bill defines “male” and “female” based on a person’s biological sex. It also permits students who feels “deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers direct or indirect harm” to bring civil action against the school, and protects any students reporting a violation of this law. It does not, however, define what method should be used to verify a student's biological sex. This bill failed to pass in 2024. Delegate Todd Morgan is a co-sponsor.
HB353, the “Maryland Constitutional Carry Act of 2025,” seeks to amend the law prohibiting a person from carrying a guy on public or school property, or within a certain distance of places where the public gathers. Instead, this bill alters the “any person” language to “a person under the age of 21.” It also outlaws a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs from carrying a drug, and makes it a misdemeanor to violate the law.
HB355, modifications for retirement income, defines what retirement accounts are eligible for tax modifications. It also phases in how much of the income is eligible for inclusion in federal adjusted gross income for a taxable year in three steps: 30% this year, 60% next year, and 100% starting in 2027. This bill failed to pass in 2024.
HB373 requires the Maryland Department of Health to provide “any data regarding abortion requested by the Centers for Disease Control” unless the action violates federal or State law. This bill failed to pass in 2024.
HB374 prohibits, after October 2025, any person who is incarcerated for first-degree murder from earning diminution credits that could reduce their sentence.
HB394 focuses on “distribution of obscene material to minors” by “establishing that a commercial entity that distributes obscene material to minors on the Internet from certain websites is liable for certain damages.” The new bill covers an “commercial entity…or any other legally recognized entity” which would include non-profits. It also covers news organizations, and radio and television broadcasts. The bill relies on the definition of “obscene” from Criminal Law section 11-203, which says “obscene means that the average adult applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest” and “that the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious artistic, educational, literary, political, or scientific value.” These definitions leave much open to personal interpretation.
Delegate Morgan has not submitted any bond initiatives to secure resources for his district.
Del. Brian Crosby
Delegate Brian Crosby has sponsored four bills and co-sponsored three bills. The first, HB10, alters the law regarding eligibility for the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship by allowing a college or university, at the request of the applicant, to contact the Department of Veterans and Military Families to verify disability status of a veteran.
HB98 establishes rules for the forfeiture of state retirement and pension benefits if a public employee “if found guilty of, pleads guilty to, or enters a plea of nolo contendere to a qualifying crime” committed during the course of the public employee’s duties. The law would apply to anyone participating in the State Police retirement system, Law Enforcement Officers’ pension system, State employees pension and retirement system, Teachers’ pension and retirement system, Correctional Officers’ retirement system, or Judges’ retirement system.
HB125 would create a fourth Circuit Court Judge position in St. Mary’s County.
HB270 requires the “Department of the Environment, Maryland Energy Administration, and the University of Maryland School of Business to conduct an analysis of the likely environmental, energy, and economic impacts of data center development in the State” and deliver the report to the “Governor and General Assembly by September 1, 2026.”
Crosby’s co-sponsored bills include HB1, requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to develop and implement a training program to certify transportation employees to identify and report suspected human trafficking victims; HB29, which is covered in Todd Morgan’s section since he is the primary sponsor; and HB227, authorizing electric co-op’s like SMECO to use unclaimed money from a past co-op member to assist other members with payment or donate to charitable organizations.
Additionally, Delegate Crosby has submitted a $1M bond initiative to secure final funding for the YMCA in Lexington Park.
Del. Todd Morgan
Delegate Todd Morgan has sponsored three bills and co-sponsored 10 bills in the House of Delegates. HB29, co-sponsored by Delegate Crosby, excludes taxes and gratuity on an electronic payment transaction from being included in the overall total upon which the credit card company charges a fee. It also permits businesses who believe they have been charged in error to request a refund if they provide proof.
HB425, which is cross-filed in the Senate as SB23 and sponsored there by Senator Jack Bailey, alters provisions regarding auctioneers in the State Boat Act. Essentially, it adds auctioneers to the definition of a boat dealer if the auctioneer is in possession of the boat title.
HB446, a cross-file of SB186 from Senator Bailey, restricts certain Department of Natural Resources regulations from prohibiting the holder a of Commercial Blue/Flathead Catfish, Finfish, or Trotline license from fishing in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay south of the Bay Bridge.
HB67, the first of Delegate Todd Morgan’s co-sponsored bills, prevents a local board of elections from opening or counting an absentee ballot unless the signature has been verified by a witness and the local board. It does not apply to active duty service members, spouse, or dependents who are overseas.
HB81, the “Protect Maryland Farm Lands Act,” requires fair market value of agricultural or farming land be valued at 350% of the highest appraisal value of the property if the land is being acquired by the government for eminent domain.
HB91 requires an election judge to establish a voter's identity by requesting a valid, government issued photo ID and a current bill, statement, or check that displays the voter’s name and address. If this can’t be satisfied, the voter must use a provisional ballot.
HB137, the “School Safety Act of 2025,” prohibits “in person attendance if a child has been charged with a crime of violence until the child is found not guilty or the charge is dismissed.” Additionally, it requires local school systems to provide alternative education options for these students.
HB147 requires each local Board of Education to develop a policy “prohibiting elementary and middle school students from using a personal electronic device or cell phone during school hours.” A student can use their electronic device if required by their IEP, to monitor a documented health issue, or when directed by an educator for educational purposes.
HB187 seeks to prevent benefits exploitation by prohibiting a person from “recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining an individual for purposes of appropriating their government benefits.”
HB368 requires the Governor to “annually proclaim May as Maryland Native Plant Month.”
HB397 alters a loan program to “authorize the Maryland Agriculture and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation to provide loans up to $25K for certain seasonal full-time jobs, and reduces from 5 to 3 years the number of years a person must have been a licensed seafood dealer in order to be eligible to receive these funds.”
HB403, the “Protecting Marylanders from Violent Offenders Act of 2025,” requires state or local corrections with custody of an undocumented immigrant serving a sentence from being convicted of a crime to transfer the person to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security upon request.
Delegate Todd Morgan has also co-sponsored a bond initiative with Delegate Jeffrie Long of Calvert County, to service $315K for Annmarie Gardens.
Sen. Jack Bailey
Senator Jack Bailey has sponsored a total of 10 bills in the Senate. Two were covered above under Todd Morgan, since Delegate Morgan is the sponsor of the companion building in the House. The other 8 bills sponsored by Senator Bailey include:
SB30, which increases from $15K to $20K the amount allowed as a subtraction modification under Maryland income tax retirement income.
SB53, requiring DNR to permit a tidal fish licensee who is authorized to catch crabs to start at least four hours before sunrise between July 1 and September 30.
SB76, requiring DNR to suspend a person’s oyster license for two years for their first violation and up to 10 years for two or more violations rather than revoking a person’s license.
SB87 expands the scope of the annual young-of-the-year survey by DNR to conduct the survey at sampling sites in the central region of the Chesapeake Bay.
SB100 allows an authorized deer hunter who wounds a deer to pursue the animal after legal hunting hours based on the means authorized by the hunting season or specific permit.
SB112 makes assaulting an official, umpire, referee, or judge officiating at a sporting event a misdemeanor and allows law enforcement to arrest with probable cause without a warrant.
SB128 requires DNR to print an assigned permanent ID number for someone who completes the course of instruction in conservation and in competency and safety of firearms.
SB155, the “Long-Term Care Relief Act of 2025,” limits eligibility for credit, and altering the maximum credit, against State income tax for long-term care insurance premiums paid by a taxpayer for insurance to taxpayers 85 or old with an adjusted gross income less than $100K for an individual or $200K for a couple.
