Rep. Jon Cardin

Maddy summaryHB 921 limits when minors in Maryland juvenile facilities can be placed in restrictive housing (isolation or special confinement). It prohibits using restrictive housing for discipline, punishment, or staff convenience, and requires facilities to use it only for immediate safety risks (like harm to self/others or facility security) for the shortest time possible (max 6 hours). Minors can request restrictive housing or withdraw that request at any time, and facilities must provide mental health screenings within 1 hour of placement. The bill also mandates that minors in restrictive housing receive the same access to phone calls, visits, medical care, education, and recreation as other minors, unless safety is at risk.

Maddy summaryHB 645 prohibits intentionally or knowingly providing assisted reproductive treatments (such as IVF, sperm/egg donation, or embryo transfer) using one's own sperm or eggs without the recipient's consent. It creates a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $5,000 fine, and establishes a civil right for affected individuals to sue for damages. The law allows birth mothers, their spouses/domestic partners, or the child born from the treatment to seek compensation - including coverage of treatment costs, up to $50,000 in fixed damages, and attorney fees - and grants children access to the provider's medical records via a protective order. Lawsuits must be filed within 10 years of the child turning 18, 20 years from the treatment date, or 2 years after DNA evidence confirms a claim. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 638 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to increase the mandatory retirement age for most judges from 70 to 73 years. The bill specifically affects judges in all courts except the District Court and certain Orphans' Court judges (with limited exceptions for Montgomery and Harford Counties). Key provisions revise Sections 3, 3A, 5A, 18B, and 41D of Article IV to reflect the new retirement age, requiring judges to retire upon reaching 73 instead of 70. This change would apply to all judges serving in elected or appointed judicial positions, excluding the specified exceptions. The amendment requires approval by three-fifths of both legislative chambers to proceed.

Maddy summaryHB 1005, the Survivor Reporting Reform Act, requires Maryland's Department of Human Services to create a new form for professionals (like doctors, teachers, and social workers) reporting suspected child abuse or neglect when the victim is now an adult (18+). The form must include a notice explaining how the report will be used and ask the adult survivor if they want an investigation. It also mandates that reporters include specific details about the adult survivor (name, contact info) and their caregiver at the time of the abuse, while respecting the survivor's preference for investigation. This change aims to better support adult survivors' autonomy in reporting cases of childhood abuse.

Maddy summaryHB 765 amends Maryland's criminal code to explicitly prohibit counterfeiting or possessing counterfeit leases and rental agreements with intent to defraud. It adds "lease" (subsection a(7)) and "rental agreement" (a(13)) to the list of items protected under counterfeiting laws, which previously covered items like bonds and checks. Creating or aiding in creating such counterfeits becomes a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $1,000 fine, while knowingly possessing them is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a $1,000 fine. The bill directly affects individuals who fraudulently create or use fake rental documents, such as those attempting to evade rent or commit property fraud.

Maddy summaryHB 1472, the Better Small Business Employee Benefit Act of 2026, exempts professional employer organizations (PEOs) from certain health benefit plan requirements when providing coverage to small employers in Maryland. The bill requires PEOs to provide written disclosure of specific plan details to small businesses before offering health benefits. This change modifies Maryland’s insurance laws to remove the requirement for PEOs to offer plans through the state’s health benefit exchange, while ensuring transparency for small employers. The bill directly affects small businesses that use PEOs for employee health benefits and the PEOs themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 185 modifies Maryland's Estates and Trusts law to clarify when a married person creating a trust for their spouse's benefit is not considered the "settlor" of that trust for tax purposes. Specifically, it applies when the trust meets federal tax requirements (treated as qualified terminable interest property under IRS rules), is created during the spouse's lifetime, and the creator becomes a beneficiary after the spouse's death. This change directly affects married individuals using certain trust structures to manage estate taxes and asset protection. The bill ensures that such trusts are treated consistently under Maryland law with federal tax rules, shielding the creator's interest from being considered their personal asset for tax calculation. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1488 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to replace gendered terms like "man," "his," and "him" with gender-neutral language such as "person" and "their." It specifically targets multiple articles and sections across the Constitution (including the Declaration of Rights, Executive Department, and Judiciary Department) to update outdated terminology. The bill does not change substantive rights or policies but modernizes the language to be inclusive. This is a procedural constitutional amendment focused solely on terminology, not on altering legal obligations or government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 1055 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to add Gaucher disease to the state’s mandatory newborn screening program, effective October 1, 2026. This bill directly affects all newborns in Maryland by expanding the list of conditions screened during routine newborn testing, unless parents or guardians object. The key mechanism is amending Maryland’s Health Code (Section 13-111) to explicitly mandate screening for Gaucher disease, which is currently not included in the standard panel. The bill does not alter existing screening protocols or costs but ensures Gaucher disease is screened for alongside other core conditions listed in federal recommendations.

Maddy summaryHB 1 limits how investor-owned electric, gas, and combined gas/electric utility companies in Maryland can pass certain costs to customers through their rates. It prohibits rate recovery for most employee bonuses (except for pre-2025 contracts or union-covered employees) and caps supervisor compensation above 110% of the Public Service Commission Chair’s annual salary. The bill also requires utility boards to adopt written policies limiting spending on entertainment, office renovations, transportation (including private jets), and performance incentives, with policies submitted to the Public Service Commission for review. These rules apply specifically to investor-owned utility companies and aim to prevent ratepayers from funding certain executive or operational costs.