Rep. Gary Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 1520 increases exemption limits for certain property debtors can protect from creditors in Maryland. It raises the household goods exemption from $1,000 to $5,000 (to $10,000 for disabled veterans) and increases the motor vehicle exemption to $25,000 for elderly or disabled debtors (up from $10,000). The bill also maintains existing exemptions for tools of trade ($5,000), firearms ($3,000), and professional items. These changes apply to debtors facing judgment enforcement or bankruptcy proceedings under Maryland law. The bill does not alter other existing exemptions like child support or retirement funds.

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 402 establishes a Common Ownership Community Ombudsman Unit within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to handle complaints from residents of homeowners associations (HOAs), condominiums, and cooperative housing communities about final adverse decisions made by their governing bodies. The unit will monitor relevant laws, provide members with information and referrals to dispute resolution services, and either make determinations about whether decisions violate laws or refer complaints to local county commissions. The bill also requires all common ownership communities to file governing documents with the Department of Housing and Community Development and mandates the department to create a public database of these documents. Annual reports on the unit's activities, including complaint volumes and actions taken, must be submitted to the department and the General Assembly.

Maddy summaryHB 16 restructures Maryland's Parole Commission by increasing its membership from 10 to 15-20 members and changing how they are appointed. The bill requires the Governor to appoint members from a panel of 8 specific experts (including the Public Defender, a mental health specialist, and a prisoners' rights advocate), with the panel only needed for initial appointments. It eliminates the Commission's authority to use hearing examiners for parole hearings, replacing that role entirely. These changes directly affect parole commissioners, the parole hearing process, and individuals seeking parole in Maryland.

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 386 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA and Maryland's budget process, mandating that the Governor withhold funds if WMATA fails to submit required reports (like safety assessments and financial data) or if it doesn't develop a rail signaling workforce transition plan by July 2028. The bill also requires WMATA to provide detailed annual reports on safety, ridership, finances, and capital investments to trigger full funding. If WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, or misses the workforce plan deadline, the Governor must withhold the funds until these conditions are met.

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 1056 designates October 1 as "Purple Lights Night" in Maryland, requiring the Governor to annually proclaim this day. The bill honors individuals in the state who are victims or survivors of domestic violence and expresses support for eliminating domestic violence. It adds this commemorative day to Maryland law through a procedural change in the Annotated Code (Section 7-417), without creating new programs or funding. The bill is purely ceremonial, focusing on symbolic recognition rather than policy implementation. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1290 authorizes children involved in Maryland's Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) proceedings - where a child faces abuse, neglect, disability, or mental health issues requiring court intervention - to be present at their hearings. The bill requires courts to allow children’s presence unless the child’s attorney determines it’s not in the child’s best interest (with the child waiving their right) or the court makes that finding after considering alternatives. Before excluding a child, courts must explore less restrictive options like adjusting schedules, remote participation, trauma-informed support, or limiting courtroom time. This directly affects children in CINA cases handled by Maryland’s juvenile courts, modifying court procedures to prioritize their participation while ensuring safeguards.

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.