Del. Jon Cardin

Maddy summaryHB 434 protects free speech by making it easier to dismiss "SLAPP suits" (strategic lawsuits meant to silence critics). It defines a SLAPP suit as one brought in bad faith against someone who spoke publicly about government actions or public issues (like criticizing a policy or reporting to officials), with the plaintiff now required to prove the lawsuit has "substantial justification." If a defendant successfully moves to dismiss a SLAPP suit, they can recover court costs and attorney fees. This directly affects citizens, journalists, and activists who speak publicly on government matters, ensuring their free speech rights aren’t chilled by costly, meritless lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 530 extends the mandatory annual funding requirement for Maryland's Forestry Education Fund through fiscal year 2031. It requires the Governor to include $250,000 each year (2025-2031) in the state budget for the fund, which supports forestry education and outreach. The fund directly benefits forest landowners, district forestry boards, local governments, and businesses through training, grants, and sustainability programs. This bill modifies the existing funding schedule without changing the fund's purpose or usage rules.

Maddy summaryHB 613 requires Maryland courts to remove identifying information (like names, addresses, or phone numbers) from court documents in sexual assault cases, unless a judge finds "good cause" to disclose it. It specifically protects victims of sexual assault (defined as alleged victims of certain crimes under Maryland's Criminal Law Article) by mandating redaction of their personal details from all filings, including existing case documents, upon written request. The law also requires the Supreme Court of Maryland to establish rules for implementing this redaction process. This applies to both new court filings and existing cases in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings involving sexual assault. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 195 modifies Maryland's rules for dismissing criminal charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial. It sets specific time limits for dismissal: 10 years for first-degree murder or rape charges, 5 years for other felonies or violent crimes, and 3 years for other offenses. The bill requires courts to notify the State’s Attorney and victims (or their representatives who requested it) before dismissal and allow them to be heard. It also lets the state petition for "extraordinary cause" to extend these time limits. This bill directly affects defendants, prosecutors, and victims in ongoing criminal cases involving incompetence rulings.

Maddy summaryHB 245 allows beneficiaries with limited income to pay inheritance tax on eligible property - such as their primary home or maintained agricultural land - in installments, rather than as a lump sum. It applies to individuals with federal adjusted gross income under $125,000 (or $250,000 for spouses filing jointly) who would otherwise be forced to sell the property to cover the tax. The register of wills must approve the payment plan upon application, specifying the schedule and installment amounts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, for estates of people who die on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 160, the "Video Lottery Operations - Campaign Contributions - Parity Act," repeals a Maryland law that banned video lottery license applicants, license holders, and owners of video lottery facilities from making campaign contributions. The bill removes restrictions preventing these individuals or entities from directly or indirectly contributing to candidates' campaign finance committees for nonfederal offices. This change would allow video lottery operation stakeholders to engage in campaign financing on equal footing with other industries. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 763 modifies the membership of Maryland's Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention by replacing the representative of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Maryland Office with two appointed representatives of the Muslim community. The bill also sets a sunset date for the Commission, requiring it to cease operations after June 30, 2027, and outlines specific expiration dates for the terms of current members to ensure a staggered transition. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports on hate crimes in schools and the state, while maintaining the Commission's existing duties to develop prevention strategies and evaluate state laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires parties and nonparties filing documents in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases to remove the name and other identifying details of any victim who was a minor at the time of the offense. Under this law, courts cannot share these redacted filings with the public unless the identifying information has been properly removed, with limited exceptions for good cause. The legislation also allows the state's Supreme Court to create rules requiring that unredacted versions of these documents be filed separately under seal to preserve legal access while protecting privacy. Effective October 1, 2024, these measures aim to prevent the accidental exposure of minor victims' identities in public court records.

Maddy summaryThis law, known as Gabriel's Law, requires Maryland law enforcement and emergency medical services to immediately respond to wellness check requests from healthcare providers or others with credible information about a life-threatening safety concern. When a life-threatening condition is reported, fire, rescue, or emergency medical teams must conduct the check at the same time as police officers. The bill applies to individuals within the agency's jurisdiction and mandates that requests be forwarded without delay to the appropriate agency if the person is located elsewhere. These provisions take effect on October 1, 2024, and aim to streamline the process for ensuring the well-being of individuals in crisis.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Jaycee Webster Victims' Rights Act, requires Maryland commitment units to inform victims, their representatives, and witnesses when a defendant or child respondent is released from confinement. When sending these notifications, the facility must include the name and phone number of a specific victim services employee from the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center to assist those affected. The law also mandates that commitment units notify these individuals about other significant events, such as escapes, transfers, or the death of the person in custody. Additionally, the legislation protects the privacy of witnesses and victims by prohibiting commitment units from sharing their contact information with the defendants.