Del. Anne Kaiser

Maddy summaryHB 938 requires continuing care providers (like senior living facilities) with a governing body to appoint an alternate member if only one resident representative serves on that body. The alternate can attend all meetings and vote only when the regular representative is unavailable. The bill also mandates that providers consult with resident associations before appointing an alternate and ensures residents can access nonconfidential meeting details within a month of approval. This applies to all continuing care providers in Maryland operating under the current governance structure.

Maddy summaryHB 535 establishes the Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries Fund to provide care, preservation, and restoration for cemeteries in Maryland that are abandoned (where the operating organization no longer exists and ownership is unclear) or neglected (with maintenance citations, deterioration, or vandalism). The bill creates a voluntary income tax checkoff option on state tax forms, allowing individuals to contribute directly to the fund, which will also receive state budget appropriations and interest earnings. The Maryland Department of Labor will administer the fund, with money used exclusively for cemetery maintenance and restoration - supplementing, not replacing, existing cemetery oversight funding. The fund is nonlapsing, meaning it carries over year to year, and must be reported to the legislature annually.

Maddy summaryHB 448, the Modernization of Military Laws Act, updates Maryland laws to better support veterans, active service members, and military families. It standardizes key definitions like "veteran" and "uniformed services" across all state laws, requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to create transition support policies, and eases voting access by allowing military members to file candidacy certificates remotely with an affidavit. The bill also updates housing and employment discrimination protections for veterans and clarifies election rules for service members. These changes directly affect military personnel, veterans, and their families across Maryland’s state government and election systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1069 prohibits Maryland insurers from including clauses that grant them sole discretion to interpret policy terms in health insurance, life insurance, and annuity contracts. It applies to all insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) selling policies in Maryland. The law amends state insurance regulations to ban such clauses, requiring interpretations to align with Maryland law rather than insurer preferences. The prohibition applies to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 795 requires public service employers in Maryland (such as state/local government offices, public schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations) to certify employee full-time status for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. It establishes specific procedures for completing the federal loan forgiveness form and clarifies that employers must share data directly with the U.S. Department of Education. The bill also mandates the Student Loan Ombudsman to develop and distribute awareness materials about the program to borrowers, higher education institutions, and employers. These changes aim to streamline certification processes and increase participation in the federal loan forgiveness program.

Maddy summaryHB 840 requires Maryland's public senior higher education institutions (including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State, and St. Mary's College) to create and publish student support plans for pregnant and parenting students. The plans must include referrals to government assistance programs (like child care scholarships and Medicaid), adoption resources, priority class registration, flexible scheduling, and health care provider networks. Institutions must post these plans online by August 1, 2026. The law aims to ensure these students have access to necessary resources while complying with federal anti-discrimination protections under Title IX.

Maddy summaryHB 452 requires the Maryland Green Building Council to update outdoor lighting guidelines by October 2026, focusing on reducing light pollution and setting a color temperature limit of 3,000K or lower for new fixtures. It prohibits state funds from being used for outdoor lighting on state buildings, parks, or trails unless fixtures meet specific efficiency standards, including using 3,000K or cooler light, minimizing upward light spill, and providing only necessary illumination. Exemptions include Department of Transportation projects, correctional facilities, and sports field lighting. The bill also creates a waiver process for special lighting needs and mandates a Department of Transportation review of highway lighting practices by September 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 32 establishes a Forensic Review Board within the Maryland Department of Health to review eligibility for release for people found not criminally responsible (NCR) at state facilities. The bill requires each facility to create a board of licensed healthcare providers that must annually assess NCR individuals and recommend to courts whether they should be discharged or released conditionally. It also creates a Community Forensic Aftercare Program to monitor people on conditional release. These changes replace current procedures under Maryland’s Criminal Procedure and Health laws, adding specific annual review requirements and written record-keeping for release decisions. The bill directly affects NCR patients in state facilities and their release pathways.

Maddy summaryHB 300 changes how Maryland reimburses nonprofit organizations for indirect costs on state-funded grants and contracts. It requires nonprofits to receive reimbursement at the same rate they use for federal grants, or at a minimum of 10% of modified direct costs if no federal rate applies. This applies to nonprofits (tax-exempt under 501(c)(3), (4), or (6)) receiving state funds for services, whether the funds are solely from the state or combined with nonfederal sources. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 514 revises Maryland’s chiropractic licensing rules to update the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ structure and oversight. It changes board membership (requiring 5 licensed chiropractors and 2 consumer members), adds authority for unannounced office inspections when complaints allege violations of CDC infection control guidelines, and mandates health provider exams for licensees or applicants under specific circumstances. The bill directly affects chiropractors seeking licensure or renewal, chiropractic offices, and the Board itself. Key changes include streamlined board appointments, enhanced compliance inspections, and new requirements for health assessments to ensure public safety.