Maddy summaryHB 474 requires Maryland's Commission on Health Equity, working with the Department of Health, to create a health equity advisory committee. This committee will identify the top 10 health disparities affecting vulnerable groups (including racial minorities, unhoused individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities), review annual hospital reports, and make recommendations. The bill also mandates that all licensed hospitals in Maryland submit annual health equity reports analyzing disparities in care access and outcomes for these groups, with hospital systems required to submit both disaggregated and aggregated reports. These reports must be published on hospital websites, directly affecting hospitals and aiming to address systemic health inequities.
Del. Sarah Wolek
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 457 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create and offer a mandatory professional development course on student well-being by July 1, 2026. The course must cover eight specific well-being dimensions (social, environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and financial) and be available to all school personnel and administrators through asynchronous learning. It mandates that the course be priced comparably to other professional development offerings with the same number of credits. The bill focuses on equipping educators with teaching methods to support students' holistic development, not on specific student outcomes.
Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill redefines consent in sexual crime laws to mean a clear and voluntary agreement, explicitly stating that past relationships, clothing choices, or submission due to fear do not constitute consent. It removes the requirement for force or threats to prove a crime, instead making the lack of consent a standalone element that can be shown through words or actions. The law also clarifies that consent can be withdrawn at any time and cannot be documented in writing. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Maryland Judiciary report annual statistics on sexual crime charges and convictions, broken down by county and demographic factors, until 2029.