Rep. Cheryl Pasteur

Maddy summaryHB 176 requires Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to create and maintain a statewide database of geographic images - including aerial photos and mapping tools - for property appraisals. It also mandates the Department of General Services to procure a uniform system for managing these tools. Counties and Baltimore City must reimburse the state for database costs: 100% of the first $1 million and 50% of any amount above that. The bill further requires the state to develop privacy policies by June 2026 to protect individuals' identities captured in aerial imagery. This affects local governments through cost-sharing and property appraisers through updated appraisal tools.

Maddy summaryHB 163 requires Maryland county school boards to create and adopt policies restricting students' use of personal electronic devices (like smartphones or tablets) during school hours, with specific exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs), documented health needs, or educational activities. The policy must be published online, in school handbooks, and reviewed every two years by the county board or state department. School boards must also establish enforcement procedures, including potential in-school suspensions for violations. This bill directly affects all public school students and county school boards across Maryland, aiming to standardize device use rules while accommodating specific student needs.

Maddy summaryHB 184 prohibits using personal identifying information (like Social Security numbers or bank details) or artificial intelligence/deepfake representations to cause harm, such as physical injury, emotional distress, or financial loss. It specifically bans maliciously sharing personal data online to harass someone or using AI-generated content that mimics real people to deceive others for fraud, health care access, or other benefits. Victims can file civil lawsuits against those who cause harm through these actions. The bill defines "deepfakes" as computer-generated images indistinguishable from real people (excluding cartoons or sculptures) and clarifies that harm includes emotional or economic damage. It updates Maryland’s criminal law to address identity fraud involving AI, without restricting legitimate uses of technology.

Maddy summaryHB 953 strengthens Maryland's Homeowner Protection Program to prevent tax sales from displacing vulnerable residents. It requires tax collectors to display clear program information and application links on their websites, prohibits interest charges on unpaid taxes for enrolled homeowners, and mandates the State Tax Sale Ombudsman to actively boost program enrollment. The bill also establishes new funding mechanisms: the Governor must include annual appropriations for the Homeowner Protection Fund in the state budget, and county governments collectively must contribute a fixed amount each fiscal year. These changes aim to increase access to the program and ensure timely distribution of excess funds from tax sales. The bill alters reporting requirements for counties and updates state-level oversight of tax sale processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 (Maryland Values Act) requires Maryland correctional facilities to detain and transfer individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and have been convicted of a violent crime to federal immigration authorities within 48 hours when requested. It prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining people or prolonging arrests based on immigration status during routine stops or investigations, and bans transferring individuals to federal immigration authorities except for the defined "covered individuals" (those with violent crime convictions and unlawful presence). The bill also terminates existing immigration enforcement agreements between Maryland entities and federal authorities by a specified deadline. This directly affects state/local correctional facilities, law enforcement officers, and individuals with certain immigration statuses and violent crime convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 requires Maryland's Department of Health, working with the Commission on Health Equity, to create a public data dashboard showing health disparities. The dashboard must display age-adjusted health data broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender, covering specific areas like health insurance access, cardiovascular disease, mental health, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The Department must update the dashboard at least every 30 days and post the latest version prominently on its website. This law directly affects Maryland residents by making health equity data more accessible to the public, researchers, and health officials.

Maddy summaryHB 666 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and most health insurance plans to cover calcium score testing for individuals with specific heart disease risk factors. It directly affects people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of early heart disease - requiring coverage if they have at least three of these risk factors. The law mandates coverage starting January 1, 2026, for Medicaid and all health insurance policies issued or renewed after that date. This change applies to insurers, nonprofit health plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations operating in Maryland. The bill does not alter coverage for other medical services but specifically adds calcium scoring to required benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1251 (Doula and Birth Policy Transparency Act) requires hospitals and freestanding birth centers in Maryland to adopt and submit to the Department of Health a specific policy on obstetric care by January 1, 2026. The policy must guarantee birthing parents can have a certified doula present during birth, prioritize newborn bonding, prohibit significant medical interventions (like C-sections or forceps) without informed consent, and detail medical information transfers between providers. Medical liability insurers must also provide the Department of Health with coverage details for obstetric services, including vaginal birth after C-section, upon request. This bill directly affects health care facilities providing obstetric services and insurers, aiming to increase transparency and patient choice in birth settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Maryland's Section 18-601.1 of the Health-General Article, which previously prohibited individuals with HIV from knowingly transferring the virus to others and imposed criminal penalties (fines up to $2,500 or up to 3 years in jail). It directly affects individuals living with HIV who might have been subject to this specific criminal provision. The key mechanism is the removal of the legal prohibition and associated penalties from Maryland's code, effectively eliminating this criminal charge. This change focuses solely on repealing the existing law, not altering broader HIV transmission policies or public health approaches.

Maddy summaryHB 675 modifies Maryland's Rape Kit Testing Grant Fund to specifically fund testing of untested sexual assault evidence kits collected before October 1, 2020, and support related services. The bill directs the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention to distribute funds annually to law enforcement agencies for testing, while prohibiting the fund from supporting the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Tracking System (Section 31-33). It also allocates funding to the State Sexual Assault Coalition for a victim notification hotline providing advocacy, information on untested kits, and guidance navigating the tracking system (Section 9-19). The Executive Director must ensure all pre-2020 kits are tested or determined non-testable by fiscal year end, with funds maintained at prior-year levels unless reduced (Section 5-6). This directly affects law enforcement agencies, victims of sexual assault, and the State Sexual Assault Coalition.