Del. Jen Terrasa

Maddy summaryHB 627 clarifies that existing Maryland laws prohibiting disruptive or threatening behavior on school property do not apply to students committing offenses at their own school or at another school during sponsored events like sports. The bill amends Section 26-101 of the Education Code to explicitly exempt these two student groups from the prohibitions and penalties. It also requires county boards to report school disruption data by category (e.g., fighting, weapons) and disaggregate it by student demographics, disciplinary actions, and referrals. This focuses on clarifying legal application and improving data collection for school safety reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 232 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. It requires beverage producers to register, pay fees, and join a stewardship organization to manage recycling, while mandating that containers sold in Maryland display refund information and that retail prices include the refund value (with limited exceptions). Retailers must include refund details on sales receipts, and local governments can create redemption facilities to help meet state recycling targets. The program aims to increase beverage container recycling, reduce litter, and fund public water refill stations through a new grant program, directly affecting producers, retailers, and consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 665 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover annual behavioral health wellness visits starting July 1, 2026. These visits, defined as clinical assessments to identify potential psychiatric or substance use disorders, must be covered regardless of whether a diagnosis is made. Insurers must reimburse providers for these visits at the same rate as visits resulting in a diagnosis. The bill applies to Medicaid recipients and health plans operating in Maryland, effective January 1, 2026, for new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryHB 612 establishes Maryland's Lifesaver Schools Program, which recognizes public schools that provide specific health and safety training to students and staff. To qualify, schools must offer evidence-based first aid training, mental health support programs, schoolwide mental health assemblies, and professional development opportunities for staff during school hours. Schools must also maintain online resources for mental health support and host community outreach events, with recognition requiring reapplication every four years. The program, administered by the Maryland Department of Education, takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 740 requires campaigns in Maryland to disclose when campaign materials (like images, audio, or videos) use AI-generated or altered content that misrepresents reality. It applies to candidates, campaign groups, and registered political entities distributing such materials within the state. The bill mandates clear, visible disclosures: for images, a text statement must appear in readable size; for audio, a spoken warning at the start and end; and for videos, on-screen text visible throughout. These disclosures must state that the media was altered to create a false impression of an event, speech, or appearance. The law amends Maryland’s election code to add this transparency requirement for synthetic media in campaign communications.

Maddy summaryHB 642, the "Ballot Petition Modernization Act," updates Maryland's election laws to allow electronic signatures on ballot petitions and strengthen voter data security. It requires the State Board of Elections to create rules for securely storing voter lists and verifying electronic signatures, replacing outdated paper-based requirements. The bill directly affects petition signers (who can now use digital signatures), circulators (who must verify signatures), and election officials (who must implement new security protocols). Key changes include adding electronic signature procedures, clarifying signature validation rules, and prohibiting commercial use of voter lists.

Maddy summaryHB 703 allows evidence of autism spectrum disorder, developmental disability, or intellectual disability diagnoses to be used in criminal cases when relevant to the defendant's mental state at the time of the alleged offense. It requires judges to consider such diagnoses during pretrial release decisions for defendants with these conditions. The bill updates Maryland's evidence rules (under Article 10-926) and pretrial procedures (under Article 5-216) to incorporate these specific diagnoses. It references existing definitions of "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability" from health law, without altering those definitions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 660 simplifies probate for estates when an original will is lost or destroyed by allowing interested people to file a petition directly with the Register of Wills (instead of the orphans' court). It authorizes the Register to accept a certified copy of the will for administrative probate if heirs and legatees sign a consent form, eliminating the need for a court order. This bill directly affects executors, heirs, and the Register of Wills office in Maryland, streamlining the process for estates where the original will is unavailable. The law applies only to estates of people who died on or after October 1, 2025, and amends Maryland Code sections 5-802 and 5-804.

Maddy summaryHB 613 requires Maryland courts to remove identifying information (like names, addresses, or phone numbers) from court documents in sexual assault cases, unless a judge finds "good cause" to disclose it. It specifically protects victims of sexual assault (defined as alleged victims of certain crimes under Maryland's Criminal Law Article) by mandating redaction of their personal details from all filings, including existing case documents, upon written request. The law also requires the Supreme Court of Maryland to establish rules for implementing this redaction process. This applies to both new court filings and existing cases in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings involving sexual assault. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

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.