Del. Terri Hill

Maddy summaryHB 474 requires Maryland's Commission on Health Equity, working with the Department of Health, to create a health equity advisory committee. This committee will identify the top 10 health disparities affecting vulnerable groups (including racial minorities, unhoused individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities), review annual hospital reports, and make recommendations. The bill also mandates that all licensed hospitals in Maryland submit annual health equity reports analyzing disparities in care access and outcomes for these groups, with hospital systems required to submit both disaggregated and aggregated reports. These reports must be published on hospital websites, directly affecting hospitals and aiming to address systemic health inequities.

Maddy summaryHB 632, the Maryland Workplace Fraud Act of 2025, expands workplace fraud protections to cover all private employers - not just those in construction or landscaping. It removes the current industry-specific limitation by repealing Section 3-902 and revising related sections to apply broadly. The bill directly affects workers who may be misclassified (e.g., as independent contractors when they should be employees), ensuring employers properly classify all workers for benefits and labor rights. Key provisions require employers to correctly classify workers under state law, with penalties for violations, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 534 creates the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, allowing dentists and dental hygienists licensed in Maryland to practice in other participating states without reapplying for separate licenses. The bill establishes a Commission to oversee the compact, requiring all participating states to accept the same national licensing exam (ADEX) and share disciplinary records to ensure public safety. It specifically benefits military personnel and their spouses by eliminating fees and expediting licensure during relocations. The compact also eliminates duplicate paperwork and costs for licensees moving between states, streamlining access to dental care across participating jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 483 removes the previous $300 annual cap on tax credits for hunters donating processed antlerless deer meat to qualified charities. It establishes a new credit limit of $75 per deer for expenses related to butchering and processing the meat, replacing the prior annual maximum. The bill affects individual hunters who donate to 501(c)(3) organizations, requiring donations to comply with state hunting laws. It also adds reporting requirements for donation programs to the Comptroller by January 31 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 392 allows fair housing testers working for approved programs (federal, state, local governments, or qualified nonprofits) to legally record oral communications during housing tests to gather evidence of discrimination. It specifically permits recording only when the tester is a party to the conversation and the purpose is to document potential fair housing violations under federal, state, or local law. Evidence obtained this way can only be used to enforce fair housing laws - not in other legal proceedings. The bill amends Maryland’s electronic surveillance laws to create this limited exception, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 444 amends Maryland's criminal law to prohibit intentionally disrupting critical infrastructure (like power grids or water systems) or public safety answering points (such as 911 centers) through unauthorized computer access or other actions. It directly affects individuals who interfere with these systems, such as by hacking into networks, introducing ransomware, or damaging infrastructure with the intent to deny access or cause malfunction. Key provisions define "critical infrastructure" broadly as systems vital to public safety, health, or economic security, and establish penalties for unauthorized access, data disruption, or sharing access codes that impair these systems. The bill specifically targets acts like ransomware attacks that lock systems and demand payment, clarifying existing law to strengthen protections for essential services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes fees on telephone and mobile service providers to fund Maryland's behavioral health crisis response system. It requires traditional phone companies to pay a fee per subscriber and prepaid wireless providers to pay a fee on each retail transaction, with all collected money going into a dedicated state trust fund. The fund is designated to cover the costs of maintaining the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline and supporting statewide crisis services such as call centers, mobile teams, and stabilization facilities. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state Comptroller audit how these fees are collected and limits the amount of revenue that can be used for administrative expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new regulatory framework for limited licensed radiologic technologists in Maryland, creating a specific license category for individuals who perform basic X-ray duties without a full medical license. The legislation allows unlicensed individuals to take X-rays only in a physician's office under the direct supervision of a licensed professional and restricts these duties to specific procedures like chest, spine, and extremity imaging while explicitly excluding advanced services such as CT scans, mammograms, and radiation therapy. To qualify, applicants must complete a standardized educational program with at least 115 hours of training and 480 hours of clinical practice, pass a certification exam, and maintain their status through continuing education. Additionally, the bill updates the composition of the state advisory committee responsible for overseeing radiation therapy and radiography regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program to ensure that people with disabilities can access medical assistance while working without facing strict financial or age barriers. It requires the Department of Health to provide services to applicants aged 16 and older and prohibits limiting eligibility based on earned or unearned income, assets like retirement accounts, or an upper age limit. The legislation also mandates that the application process use plain language and allows recipients to keep their independence accounts without restrictions on how they spend the funds. Additionally, the state must consult with a coalition of disability advocates twice a year to review and adjust program regulations as needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland county mental health advisory committees to better include voices from the military and veteran communities. It achieves this by adding a new category that allows the appointment of individuals with experience in mental health care for veterans or those currently serving in the military. The change ensures that these specific groups are represented alongside existing categories such as patients, family members, and medical professionals. This adjustment aims to broaden the committee's perspective on mental health services without altering the overall structure or voting powers of the advisory body.