Rep. Scott Phillips

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland's legislative scholarship programs to exempt certain applicants from competitive examination requirements and to allow scholarship funds to be used for real estate appraisal training. Specifically, it removes the exam requirement for students who have completed at least one year at an eligible institution, those who graduated high school five years prior, applicants to approved private career colleges, and community college students. Additionally, it authorizes senatorial and Delegate scholarships to cover expenses for completing the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria program. The changes apply to both new scholarship applications and the existing scholarship programs, affecting current and future recipients who meet the specified eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 310 limits the use of restrictive housing (locked cell confinement for 22+ hours daily) for incarcerated individuals in Maryland state facilities who have a developmental or intellectual disability. It requires a licensed clinical professional to assess new inmates for these disabilities during intake and to recommend against placing them in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days within any 30-day period. This 15-day limit does not apply if the individual commits a "prohibited act," such as causing serious injury, making threats, or possessing weapons. The bill directly affects incarcerated people with these disabilities and mandates correctional facilities to follow this assessment and limitation process.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 requires new or renewed environmental permits for facilities in Maryland neighborhoods identified as "at-risk" (based on high pollution levels or proximity to pollution sources like power plants or landfills) to include a "burden report" detailing existing environmental health issues. The state Department of the Environment must deny permits if approval would worsen pollution stressors in these areas, using Maryland’s Environmental Justice Tool to define "at-risk" census tracts. It applies specifically to air quality permits for construction and water discharge permits for facilities like power plants, waste sites, or mining operations. The bill mandates public participation in permit reviews for these facilities and requires the Department to document its assessment for judicial review.

Maddy summaryHJ 8 is a symbolic resolution apologizing for Maryland's historical role in racial terror lynchings. It formally acknowledges the state's complicity in 38 documented lynchings between 1854-1933, including failures to protect Black citizens, colluding with local governments to conceal perpetrators, and failing to pass anti-lynching laws. The resolution commits Maryland to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, though it does not establish new programs or allocate funds. It directly addresses the legacy of harm experienced by Black Marylanders and their descendants. This is a procedural resolution, not a law with enforceable provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1293 requires behavioral health programs (like mental health or substance abuse treatment facilities) operating inpatient facilities to verify if residents are required to register under Maryland’s sex offender registry. Specifically, facilities must ask residents directly about registration status and confirm if they are listed on the registry. If a resident is required to register, facilities must help them comply by informing them of legal obligations, coordinating with authorities, and documenting these efforts. Non-compliance can result in fines up to $10,000 per violation or licensing penalties for repeated failures.

Maddy summaryHB 1468 requires hospitals in Maryland to create a written "safe discharge labor plan" before discharging or transferring any patient in active labor (defined as a pregnant person showing labor signs per medical standards). The plan must include clinical justification for the discharge, travel safety assessment, a plain-language explanation of risks and warning signs, and proof the patient understands the plan. Hospitals must maintain these records for 21 years, provide annual staff training on maternal care and patient communication, and prominently post patient rights in labor departments. The bill also mandates annual reports to the health department tracking discharge practices and any adverse outcomes following discharge.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 requires courts to order individuals under court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) to surrender firearms to law enforcement and prohibits firearm possession during the AOT period, if the court determines the person poses a risk of causing physical harm with a firearm. This applies specifically to people already subject to AOT orders under Maryland law, not the general public. Key provisions include mandating court risk assessments, requiring surrender to police (with receipts and storage details), allowing limited transportation of firearms under court orders, and permitting firearm return upon AOT order expiration - unless the person is otherwise barred from firearm ownership. The bill amends Maryland’s health code to integrate these firearm restrictions into existing AOT proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 1125 requires Maryland state agencies planning major capital projects (over $2 million in cost or exceeding 75 feet in height) to develop community engagement plans and conduct outreach within a 1-mile radius of the project site. Agencies must provide plain-language project summaries, hold public meetings with virtual options, mail notices 45 days before key decisions, and allow 30-day public comment periods. They must submit annual reports detailing outreach efforts and public feedback to the Department of Budget by October 1, with the Department compiling and sharing these reports with lawmakers and impacted communities by December 1. This applies to projects on state-owned property or funded with state money, excluding certain grant programs and local legislative initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with enforceable policy changes. Maryland's General Assembly formally joins other states (like California and Oregon) and local jurisdictions in endorsing the "Back from the Brink" initiative. It urges Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and asks the U.S. President and Senate to endorse that treaty. The resolution expresses concern about nuclear risks but does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or entities.

Maddy summaryHB 960 establishes Maryland's Federal Employee-to-Entrepreneur Program within the Department of Commerce to assist former or transitioning federal employees in starting businesses. The program provides annual training, one-on-one coaching, and tools for business planning, compliance, marketing, and capital readiness to 60 participants (4 cohorts of 15) each fiscal year. It requires the Department to develop application procedures and a curriculum, with $400,000 in annual state funding to support these services. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, creating a structured pathway for federal workers seeking entrepreneurial careers.