Del. Pam Queen

Maddy summaryHB 419 requires natural gas companies in Maryland to submit detailed plans to the Public Service Commission for infrastructure replacement projects. These plans must include project descriptions, safety analyses, leak reduction potential, cost comparisons with alternatives (like leak repair), and 2-year advance notices to customers about upcoming construction. The bill allows gas companies to recover costs through a capped monthly surcharge - maximum $2 per residential account - with non-residential rates set at least equal but subject to the same cap. It prioritizes projects based on public safety risk and cost-effectiveness, excluding projects that connect to new customers or increase company revenue. The law directly affects gas companies (requiring new filings) and ratepayers (via the surcharge), while ensuring transparency for customers near construction sites.

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.

Maddy summaryHB 495 requires Maryland schools with existing antidiscrimination policies to update those policies to include specific information, such as reporting options for sexual violence, school contact details, investigation processes, victim resources, and medical facility locations. It mandates that policies be written in plain, age-appropriate language, printed for readability, available in common languages spoken by students/staff (5%+ of population), and accessible via oral interpretation for less common languages. Schools must distribute policies annually through handbooks, email, campus postings, and websites, and provide mandatory training to students at the start of each school year and to employees within four weeks of hire. This applies to all public/private K-12 schools, preK programs receiving state funding, and colleges in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 635 requires police officers to document the specific reason for every traffic stop (e.g., speeding, broken taillight) on the citation or police report. It limits enforcement of certain vehicle law violations (like expired registration) to "secondary" actions only - officers must first stop a driver for a primary violation (e.g., speeding) before citing a secondary issue. If an officer fails to document the reason or violates the secondary enforcement rule, evidence from the stop may be excluded in court, and the officer could face administrative discipline. This bill directly affects police procedures during traffic stops and the admissibility of evidence in legal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 393 (Exempt Income Protection Act) changes Maryland's wage attachment rules to protect more low-income debtors. It replaces the previous exemption (75% of disposable wages) with a new formula: 150% of the federal poverty level for the debtor's household size, multiplied by weeks earned. Employers must now notify debtors in writing about their exemption amount, calculation method, and how to contest the attachment. This directly affects people who owe money and have wages garnished, ensuring clearer protections and transparency in the process. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Qualified Resident Enrollment Program to help individuals in Maryland who currently lack health insurance access enroll in qualified plans. It defines "qualified residents" as people living in the state who are not incarcerated, regardless of their immigration status, and who do not qualify for existing federal or state assistance programs like Medicaid or Medicare. The program allows the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to manage enrollment, potentially with help from a third-party contractor, and requires a specific federal waiver approval before it can begin. Additionally, the legislation creates a dedicated fund to finance the program's operations and administration, ensuring it has the necessary resources to function.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 requires the Maryland Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, and Maryland Higher Education Commission to each designate a staff member dedicated to analyzing state workforce needs and sharing data to guide higher education policies. The bill establishes a new advisory council to oversee program reviews and mandates that the Commission publish clear administrative guidelines for its approval process. It also introduces a grant fund to support public universities collaborating on new graduate programs and sets specific rules for online degree offerings and institutional mission statements. Additionally, the legislation requires institutions to submit letters of intent before launching new graduate programs and allows for objections to proposed online courses under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 432 updates Maryland state laws to replace the outdated term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" across various court and criminal procedure statutes. This change directly affects legal definitions used in juvenile proceedings, competency evaluations, and the handling of defendants who may be unable to stand trial. The bill ensures that references to intellectual disabilities are consistent throughout the legal code, including sections governing the commitment of children and the assessment of defendants' fitness for trial. By modernizing this terminology, the legislation aligns state laws with current medical and social standards without altering the underlying legal processes.