Del. Jon Cardin

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 309 establishes confidentiality requirements for peer support programs within Maryland law enforcement agencies. It directly affects law enforcement officers using these programs and peer support specialists (trained officers or Fraternal Order of Police members). The bill mandates strict confidentiality for all peer support communications, with limited exceptions for explicit suicide threats, imminent harm to others, required child/vulnerable adult abuse reports, or criminal admissions. Before any session, specialists must provide written notice of these confidentiality rules to participants.

Maddy summaryHB 600, the "Educational Equality for Service Members Act," updates Maryland's education laws to ensure eligibility for educator certification applies equally to all uniformed services (including National Guard, reserves, and other service branches), not just the traditional armed forces. It revises definitions throughout education statutes to replace "military" with "uniformed services" and clarifies that "veteran" includes those discharged within one year for certification purposes. The bill maintains the existing requirement for active service members, eligible veterans, and their spouses to hold a valid out-of-state license and meet basic qualifications to qualify for expedited certification. This change directly affects service members and veterans seeking teaching careers in Maryland by aligning certification pathways with current service definitions.

Maddy summaryHB 691, the Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act, redefines "uniformed services" to include the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extending veteran benefits to their members who meet federal veteran criteria. The bill amends Maryland's tax, pension, and personnel laws to apply the same rules to all uniformed services - not just the armed forces - ensuring equal access to state benefits like tax relief and retirement programs. It specifically updates definitions in the Maryland Code to include these service members in state programs previously limited to military veterans. This directly affects service members in non-military uniformed services and state agencies administering veteran benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 455 requires Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families to place American braille tactile flags in one or more state veterans' cemeteries. These flags, designed by the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute, allow blind and visually impaired visitors to experience the American flag through touch. The bill directly affects blind veterans and visually impaired individuals who visit Maryland's five state veterans' cemeteries. It amends state law to mandate the department designate specific locations for these tactile flags as a memorial feature.

Maddy summaryHB 938 requires continuing care providers (like senior living facilities) with a governing body to appoint an alternate member if only one resident representative serves on that body. The alternate can attend all meetings and vote only when the regular representative is unavailable. The bill also mandates that providers consult with resident associations before appointing an alternate and ensures residents can access nonconfidential meeting details within a month of approval. This applies to all continuing care providers in Maryland operating under the current governance structure.

Maddy summaryHB 146 amends Maryland's Trust Act to clarify notice requirements when a trustee resigns. The bill requires trustees resigning under the Maryland Trust Act to provide 30 days' notice to "any person that has a right to replace or appoint a successor" (previously not explicitly listed). This directly affects trustees, beneficiaries, settlors (if living), and individuals with appointment authority over trust successors. The change ensures all parties with authority to appoint a new trustee receive formal notice of the resignation, streamlining the transition process while maintaining existing notice standards for other stakeholders. (Section 14.5-705, effective October 1, 2025)

Maddy summaryHB 438 (Buddy's Law) increases the maximum compensatory damages for pet owners when someone negligently causes injury or death to their domesticated pet. It raises the cap from $10,000 to $25,000, covering costs like veterinary care and the pet’s fair market value before death. The law specifically applies to domesticated pets (excluding livestock) and affects owners in Maryland whose pets are harmed by negligence. The bill amends Maryland’s tort law and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how trustees must notify beneficiaries when modifying a trust under Maryland's Trust Decanting Act. It specifies acceptable notice methods: personal delivery, certified mail with return receipt, courier with confirmation, or email/fax if the beneficiary agrees in writing. Beneficiaries can revoke electronic notice preferences at any time by notifying the trustee via required methods. The law applies to all trust modifications under the Decanting Act and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 27 clarifies compensation rules for guardians managing property (for minors or incapacitated adults) and trustees managing trusts in Maryland. It sets specific, calculable rates: 6% on rental income, tiered percentages (6.5%, 5%, 4%, 3%) on other income, and fixed percentages (0.4%, 0.25%, 0.15%, 0.1%) on principal assets. Trustees can now charge reasonable fees under the circumstances or use the new schedule, and final distribution allowances are capped at 0.5% of distributed assets. These changes replace previous ambiguous provisions with clear, standardized rates for guardianship and trust administration.