Maddy summaryHB 623 creates Maryland's Purple Star Colleges Program to recognize colleges providing strong support for military-connected students, while updating the existing Purple Star Schools Program. The bill directly affects military-connected students (including service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents) and colleges, including both public/private higher education institutions and private career schools. Key provisions require colleges to appoint a military liaison to assist new military-connected students with transitions, and maintain an easily accessible website with resources on relocation, enrollment, academic planning, and support services. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will administer the program and establish minimum criteria for colleges to earn Purple Star designation.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits placing children in unlicensed settings (such as hotels, motels, or nonresidential offices) under Maryland's out-of-home placement program for foster care, with limited exceptions for kinship caregivers or parental placements. It creates a new Child and Youth Placement Review Panel within the Governor’s Office to oversee placements and requires the Placement Manager to convene a Rapid Response Team for urgent cases. The bill also establishes an Advisory Council to improve Maryland’s system of care for children and families and modifies hospital overstay protocols for pediatric patients. These changes directly affect children in foster care, hospitals, and the agencies managing their care, aiming to ensure safer, licensed placements.
Maddy summaryHB 350, the "Voting Rights Act of 2026," applies to local elections in Maryland counties and cities, protecting the voting rights of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups. It prohibits election methods that weaken the voting power of these groups, preventing them from electing preferred candidates or influencing election outcomes. Courts will determine violations by examining past election patterns and federal voting rights standards, rather than requiring proof of discriminatory intent. If a violation is found, courts can order remedies like changing election systems, but must respect existing statewide election practices.
Maddy summaryHB 1010 modifies Maryland's African American Heritage Preservation Program to allow funding for noncapital projects, such as cultural preservation and education initiatives, rather than capital projects like building construction. The bill establishes that the AAHP Grant Fund may accept grants and donations, requires an annual $5 million state appropriation, and limits individual or organizational grants to $500,000. It directs the Trust and Commission to competitively review applications for projects that preserve or share African American history and culture, considering factors like public urgency and geographic diversity. This change directly affects nonprofits, local governments, and community groups seeking funding for cultural programs, not physical infrastructure. The bill does not alter the program's existing administration by the Trust and Commission.
Maddy summaryHB 1547 requires applicants for barber and cosmetologist licenses in Maryland to complete a domestic violence awareness training. The Maryland Department of Labor will develop and administer this free, 1-hour training, which will be available both in-person and virtually. The training is designed to help licensees recognize signs of domestic violence, communicate with potential victims, and provide information on support resources. Additionally, current licensees will need to complete this one-time training requirement to renew their licenses.
Maddy summaryThis Maryland law regulates the sale of kratom products by requiring retailers to clearly label the factual basis for any health claims and prohibiting the sale of contaminated or adulterated items. The bill sets specific limits on alkaloid content, bans the sale of synthetic derivatives, and restricts sales to individuals under the age of 21. It also forbids advertising kratom as having therapeutic benefits and prohibits marketing materials that appeal to minors, such as cartoons or images of people appearing under 27. Retailers who violate these rules face civil penalties, fines, or misdemeanor charges, while the state health department is tasked with reporting adverse health events related to kratom use.