Del. Jennifer White Holland

Maddy summaryHB 1499 requires state procurement contracts for construction and services to include specific clauses enabling contract modifications when costs rise due to statutory changes increasing required compensation/benefits or collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects state agencies and contractors by mandating these clauses in all new construction and services contracts signed after October 1, 2025. The bill adds two key provisions: (1) automatic adjustment for site condition differences in construction contracts, and (2) standardized procedures for handling contract claims. It modifies Maryland’s existing procurement law (Section 13-218(b)) to enforce these cost-adjustment mechanisms without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1208 prohibits businesses in Maryland from manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding, or offering for sale food containing four specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red Dye No. 3. It also requires a conspicuous warning label on food products containing Red Dye No. 3 starting October 1, 2025. The full ban on all four ingredients takes effect October 1, 2028. This bill directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating within Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1151 allows sellers of residential property to request a second appraisal if an initial appraisal values the property below its current market value. The bill requires lenders to provide a written copy of this additional appraisal to the seller at no cost. It directly affects residential property sellers who disagree with an initial appraisal, giving them a formal process to seek a revised valuation. The key provision ensures sellers receive a free, written copy of the second appraisal, addressing concerns about appraisal discrepancies during sales transactions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 321 amends Maryland law to change the definition of "purchaser" for pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) regulations, specifically excluding certain nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from this definition. This removes restrictions that previously limited how certain insurance laws applied to PBMs working on behalf of carriers. The bill directly affects nonprofit HMOs that operate internal pharmacies and PBMs managing prescription drug coverage for them. These changes clarify regulatory scope without altering core PBM oversight requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1420 requires each county and Baltimore City Register of Wills to develop a method for people without government-issued ID (like a driver's license or passport) to prove their identity as heirs or beneficiaries when claiming inheritance. This directly affects individuals who lack standard identification but need to access estate assets through probate. The bill mandates that Registers work with the Maryland Registers of Wills Association to create these verification methods. The law takes effect October 1, 2025. (Note: The bill title mentions "noncitizens," but the actual text focuses on identity verification regardless of citizenship status.)

Maddy summaryHB 1352 prohibits Maryland institutions of higher education from denying students access to facilities or services due to sickle cell disease diagnosis and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations. The bill mandates the Maryland Department of Health to develop an education campaign for campuses about sickle cell disease challenges, create uniform procedures with the Maryland Higher Education Commission for supporting affected students, and compile training materials for faculty and staff. Institutions must also establish clear reporting procedures for violations and publicly share accommodation policies. These requirements take effect October 1, 2025, directly impacting all Maryland colleges and universities and students with sickle cell disease.

Maddy summaryHB 986 requires every Maryland county school district to create a new teacher retention program for educators with fewer than two full years of experience. The program must include cohort-based support groups, assign each new teacher a mentor (including retired teachers), survey teachers on challenges, and provide principals with resources to support new teachers. Counties must prioritize support for new teachers from diverse backgrounds and those in schools with high teacher turnover rates, and must compensate mentors and program overseers through additional pay or leave. This bill directly affects new teachers, school principals, and county school districts across Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1198, the Monica Cooper Prerelease Act, requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals in Baltimore City (on at least 3 acres) by 2027. The facility must serve women with low violence/escape risk and satisfactory behavior, offering evidence-based programs like education, vocational training, trauma-informed healthcare, and family reunification support. It mandates the Department of Public Safety to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services - including help with public health benefits applications - and report progress to lawmakers by 2026. This bill directly affects female inmates eligible for prerelease status, aiming to reduce recidivism through gender-responsive reentry planning.

Maddy summaryHB 830 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, as recommended by healthcare providers and aligned with medical guidelines. It also mandates coverage for follow-up cancer imaging (like mammograms or colonoscopies) if genetic testing indicates increased cancer risk, with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these specific services. The law applies to all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients with cancer risk factors and their insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 1001 designates "The Original Maryland Orange Crush" as Maryland's official state cocktail, recognizing its origin at Ocean City's Harborside Bar and Grill. The bill amends Maryland law by adding Section 7-313 to the Annotated Code, formally naming the cocktail in state statutes. This is a symbolic designation with no regulatory or financial impact on businesses, consumers, or state operations. It affects Maryland's official state symbols but does not change any existing laws governing alcohol or cocktails. The change takes effect June 1, 2025.