Del. Pam Guzzone

Maddy summaryHB 1306 requires courts to order individuals under court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) to surrender firearms to law enforcement and prohibits firearm possession during the AOT period, if the court determines the person poses a risk of causing physical harm with a firearm. This applies specifically to people already subject to AOT orders under Maryland law, not the general public. Key provisions include mandating court risk assessments, requiring surrender to police (with receipts and storage details), allowing limited transportation of firearms under court orders, and permitting firearm return upon AOT order expiration - unless the person is otherwise barred from firearm ownership. The bill amends Maryland’s health code to integrate these firearm restrictions into existing AOT proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 1285 allows schools, colleges, and public buildings to legally possess, store, and administer expired opioid overdose reversal drugs (like naloxone) for up to one year after their expiration date. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly permit this use while maintaining requirements for obtaining and storing these medications. Key provisions include updating school health policies (Section 7-426.5), college prevention policies (Section 11-1202), and public building naloxone placement rules (Section 13-518) to include expired stock within the one-year window. This change aims to increase access to life-saving medication during emergencies without requiring immediate replacement of expired stock.

Maddy summaryHB 1157 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to annually report detailed data on mental health and substance use coverage to the Insurance Commissioner using a standardized template. This data includes access to services by facility type (e.g., outpatient, inpatient), provider type (e.g., psychiatrists, psychologists), and demographics (e.g., youth vs. adult, in-person vs. telehealth), along with network accuracy and availability. The Commissioner must make this data publicly accessible via a website with interactive dashboards. The law directly affects all health insurance companies offering plans in Maryland, aiming to improve transparency about coverage gaps in mental health care.

Maddy summaryHB 1488 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to replace gendered terms like "man," "his," and "him" with gender-neutral language such as "person" and "their." It specifically targets multiple articles and sections across the Constitution (including the Declaration of Rights, Executive Department, and Judiciary Department) to update outdated terminology. The bill does not change substantive rights or policies but modernizes the language to be inclusive. This is a procedural constitutional amendment focused solely on terminology, not on altering legal obligations or government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 444 prohibits Maryland state and local governments, including county sheriffs and agencies, from entering into new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It requires existing agreements to be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the law’s effective date (June 1, 2026). The bill specifically targets contracts, memorandums, or agreements that allow local entities to assist in federal immigration enforcement under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. This directly affects local law enforcement agencies and government bodies that previously collaborated with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to prevent state/local resources from being used for immigration enforcement under federal programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 13 as Korean American Day in Maryland. It requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation urging educational and cultural organizations to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. The bill is procedural and commemorative, with no funding or new policy requirements. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not directly impact individuals or create new legal obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 504 repeals provisions requiring two physician members on Maryland's State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists. The bill removes the requirement for physician members who must hold specific certifications (e.g., American Board of Otolaryngology) and be actively practicing in the state. This changes the board's composition from 15 to 13 members by eliminating the physician slots, directly affecting future appointments for physicians seeking board roles. The bill does not alter the board's regulatory duties over licensed professionals in these fields.

Maddy summaryHB 588 designates May 5 as an annual "Missing and Murdered American Indian and Alaskan Native Women and Girls Awareness Day" for the Governor to proclaim. It requires the Department of State Police to submit a report to the Maryland General Assembly by December 1, 2026, on whether law enforcement agencies collect sufficient data about violence against these communities. The report must include policy recommendations to improve data collection methods, coordinate with federal agencies during investigations, and raise public awareness. This bill directly affects state agencies and aims to address gaps in tracking violence against American Indian and Alaskan Native women and girls, who face disproportionately high rates of violence.

Maddy summaryHB 1264 requires Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid for low-income residents) to cover individual and group counseling for tobacco cessation, subject to state budget and federal law limits. It prohibits the program and managed care organizations from demanding prior authorization for any tobacco cessation product or service. This bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries seeking to quit tobacco use and their healthcare providers. The law amends existing Maryland health code sections to implement these coverage requirements and remove authorization barriers.

Maddy summaryHB 1153 prohibits health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations in Maryland from unilaterally lowering medical claim payments (downcoding) without clinical justification. The bill requires these entities to notify providers within 30 days if they intend to downcode, including specific reasons, references to clinical guidelines, and the original vs. revised codes. It bans practices like downcoding based solely on diagnosis codes, using AI without reviewing medical records, or targeting providers treating complex conditions, and mandates emergency claims be downcoded based on documented symptoms - not final diagnoses. A downcoding decision resulting in nonpayment is treated as a coverage denial, allowing providers to appeal under existing law.