Del. Jen Terrasa

Maddy summaryHB 517 clarifies that counties and cities in Maryland can adopt stricter local emission standards or air quality rules than state or federal levels, provided their standards are equally or more stringent. It also confirms local governments retain authority to regulate solid waste management systems without being limited by certain state provisions. The bill requires the Department of the Environment to publish clear information about this local authority on its website by October 1, 2026. This law directly affects local governments seeking to implement more protective environmental regulations within their jurisdictions. It does not change existing state standards but removes ambiguity about local regulatory power.

Maddy summaryHB 473 repeals the current ban preventing public school employers in Maryland from negotiating class size limits with teacher unions. It removes the prohibition in Section 6-406(c)(3) that previously barred discussions about "the maximum number of students assigned to a class" during collective bargaining. This change directly affects certificated school employees (like teachers) and their unions, as well as public school employers (county school systems). The bill enables these parties to negotiate class size as part of their collective bargaining agreements, alongside other terms like salaries and working conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 560 repeals two tax exemptions for data centers in Maryland: one that exempted sales and use tax on qualifying equipment purchases and another that allowed local governments to reduce property tax on data center equipment. This bill directly affects data centers previously eligible for these breaks, requiring them to pay standard sales and use tax on equipment and full property tax on their assets. The repeal removes Sections 11-239 (Tax-General) and 7-248 (Tax-Property) from Maryland law, eliminating the eligibility requirements and certification process for these exemptions. As a result, data centers will no longer qualify for these specific tax benefits under current law.

Maddy summaryHB 484 modifies Maryland's corporate income tax code to disallow deductions for certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising expenses that are deductible under federal law. It specifically targets expenses paid by "covered entities" (pharmaceutical sponsors or companies owning drug outsourcing facilities) for advertising "covered drugs" (prescription drugs under federal law) to the general public via media like TV, radio, social media, or digital platforms. The bill requires these expenses - already deducted federally - to be added back to Maryland taxable income, effectively eliminating the state tax deduction for such advertising. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and directly affects pharmaceutical companies engaging in DTC advertising for covered drugs.

Maddy summaryHB 384 allows minors who are parents to directly file or respond to child support court cases without needing a legal guardian. It amends Maryland law to override the standard rule requiring minors to have a representative, granting minor parents the legal capacity to initiate or defend child support actions (both temporary and permanent). This change specifically affects minor parents seeking or defending child support for their children. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1380 requires Maryland hospitals providing obstetrical services and freestanding birthing centers to meet minimum perinatal care standards as a condition of licensure. The bill mandates the Maryland Department of Health to adopt regulations establishing these standards, which must meet or exceed existing Maryland Perinatal System Standards. Hospitals and birthing centers must comply with these standards to maintain their operating licenses. The law amends specific sections of Maryland's Health Code (19-319 and 19-3B-03) to implement this requirement, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 (Maryland Values Act) requires Maryland correctional facilities to detain and transfer individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and have been convicted of a violent crime to federal immigration authorities within 48 hours when requested. It prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining people or prolonging arrests based on immigration status during routine stops or investigations, and bans transferring individuals to federal immigration authorities except for the defined "covered individuals" (those with violent crime convictions and unlawful presence). The bill also terminates existing immigration enforcement agreements between Maryland entities and federal authorities by a specified deadline. This directly affects state/local correctional facilities, law enforcement officers, and individuals with certain immigration statuses and violent crime convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and maintain an online directory of home health care providers. The directory must let people search for providers by criteria like language skills, certifications, or special training, and include details such as provider names, licenses, training, and abuse reports. It directly affects individuals seeking home health care services (like nursing or therapy in their homes) and the home health care providers themselves. The bill does not change licensing rules but aims to make it easier for people to find qualified providers and supports provider recruitment through features like job listings and training connections.

Maddy summaryHB 553 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) to cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring for eligible pregnant, postpartum, or chronically ill individuals starting January 1, 2026. It specifically covers Medicaid recipients with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, or cardiometabolic disorders. The bill mandates coverage for validated home blood pressure monitors and reimburses healthcare providers for training, data interpretation, and remote monitoring support. Additionally, it requires the state to launch an education campaign and submit annual reports on usage, health outcomes, and cost savings related to the program.

Maddy summaryHB 970 prohibits Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations from requiring patients to try less expensive diabetes medications before covering insulin. It directly affects people with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes who rely on insulin or similar insulin analogs for treatment. The bill bans "step therapy" or "fail-first" protocols - where insurers force patients to attempt alternative drugs first - regardless of how insurers label these policies. This change takes effect for all new or renewed health insurance policies on or after January 1, 2026.