Rep. Anne Kaiser

Maddy summaryHB 1335 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to hire an outside expert to conduct a study on state IT and cybersecurity workforce compensation. The study must compare salaries of state IT professionals with federal, local, and private-sector roles, evaluate the impact of current pay adjustments and benefits, and provide recommendations to improve recruitment and retention. The department must submit the findings to the Governor and legislature by November 1, 2027, and the law expires automatically on June 30, 2028. This bill does not change pay rates but mandates research to inform future decisions affecting state IT and cybersecurity staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1148 creates an Heirs Protection Program to prevent tax sales of inherited homes. It allows heirs (people who inherit a home after a homeowner's death) to become the official property owner, stay in their homes, and access property tax relief without losing the home to tax sales. The program is funded by a new Heirs Protection Fund financed by state and county governments, and requires the State Tax Sale Ombudsman to provide outreach and grants. The bill also expands eligibility for certain property tax credits to include heirs who aren't yet listed as the official property owner, under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 849 prevents certain groups from being cut off from Maryland's Child Care Scholarship Program if a freeze on new enrollments is implemented. It specifically protects families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, TANF, or Social Security Income; siblings of currently enrolled children; individuals who recently lost jobs (within 30 days); and government workers furloughed due to a shutdown lasting over 7 days. The bill adds these exceptions to the existing rules that would otherwise allow the program to freeze enrollment. This change ensures these vulnerable groups maintain access to child care assistance during enrollment freezes.

Maddy summaryHB 753 would require Maryland's State Tax Sale Ombudsman to create a process allowing homeowners to designate family members or representatives to handle tax sale matters on their behalf. It mandates that dwellings be withheld from tax sale if the homeowner has a physician-documented terminal illness or medical hardship. The bill also increases the maximum home value eligible for the Homeowner Protection Program and grants priority enrollment in the program to homeowners with terminal illness or medical hardship. These changes directly affect Maryland homeowners facing tax sale proceedings, particularly those with serious health conditions or limited capacity to navigate the process.

Maddy summaryHB 1305 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to annually report specific data on students in the state's child welfare system, including school stability, graduation rates, college enrollment, and disciplinary rates. The report must break down data by county, age, gender, race, and ethnicity while protecting student confidentiality. Additionally, the Department of Education and Department of Human Services must submit a 2026 report identifying service gaps, best practices from other states, and recommendations to improve educational outcomes for foster youth. This bill directly affects foster youth in Maryland's child welfare system and the state agencies responsible for their education and care.

Maddy summaryHB 1300 updates Maryland's Commission for Women by changing how its executive director is appointed and clarifying the Commission's responsibilities. It removes the Secretary of Human Services' authority to appoint the director, stating the director will be a regular state employee (not a "special appointee") and receive standard state compensation. The bill revises the Commission's duties to focus on conducting studies, supporting programs, and advocating for policies that promote equality for women, including career development, violence prevention, and economic opportunities. These changes directly affect the Commission's operations and its executive director, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 861 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to post the Statewide IT Master Plan on its website within six months of a governor's inauguration in their first term. If the deadline is missed, the Secretary must notify the governor and five specific legislative committees (Senate Budget Committee, Senate Education/Environment Committee, House Appropriations, House Government/Labor/Elections, and Joint Cybersecurity Committee) in writing within 10 days. The notification must explain the delay and provide a new publication date, not exceeding three months after the original deadline. This bill updates existing law to clarify posting requirements and accountability for delays.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 establishes a Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch within Maryland’s Coordination and Analysis Center to enhance state-wide security planning. It requires the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate responses to infrastructure attacks and sets cybersecurity reporting standards for critical infrastructure owners (like utility companies and hospitals). The bill also allows these private sector operators to join Maryland’s Information Sharing and Analysis Center to share threat data and receive security best practices. These provisions aim to improve threat identification, vulnerability assessments, and cross-sector coordination for systems vital to public safety and the economy.

Maddy summaryHB 963 repeals a Maryland law that previously prohibited noncitizens from serving as personal representatives (executors) of estates unless they were U.S. permanent residents and related to the deceased (e.g., spouse, ancestor, descendant, or sibling). The bill removes this citizenship barrier, allowing any qualified individual - including noncitizen residents - to be appointed as an executor without needing to meet the previous relationship or residency requirements. This change directly affects noncitizen residents seeking to manage estates in Maryland probate court. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1377 establishes a 18-month pilot program to redirect unused, unopened prescription drugs to a state repository program. It requires participating pharmacies (repositories) to collect eligible medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, package them properly, and transfer them to designated drop-off sites for distribution to eligible patients - while sending controlled substances directly to the DEA. The program aims to expand medication access for underserved communities, reduce pharmaceutical waste, and ensure drug safety through collaboration between Maryland’s Secretary of Health and the federal DEA. The pilot runs from July 2026 through December 2027, with mandatory reporting on collected medications by October 1, 2027.