Del. Teresa Woorman

Maddy summaryHB 445, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) and private health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses (supportive devices like braces) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates annual coverage for orthoses, including repairs, replacements, and components, without lifetime dollar limits or higher copays than other medical benefits. The bill clarifies that coverage must include all orthoses deemed medically necessary by a provider for daily living or essential job activities. It directly affects Maryland residents enrolled in Medicaid or private health plans covering hospital/medical benefits, ensuring access to these devices without restrictive lifetime limits or unnecessary barriers.

Maddy summaryHB 3, the Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act, exempts financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who died while on duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at Maryland public colleges. It directly affects children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, correctional officers, and Maryland National Guard members who were residents of Maryland at the time of their death. The bill amends Maryland law to define "public safety employee" broadly and requires the Commission to create implementing regulations. The exemption applies to public higher education institutions statewide and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 586 allows Maryland county library boards to appoint a student member to their board. The student must be a junior or senior at a local high school in good standing, selected through a process set by the board, and serve a one-year term. This student member has voting rights on all policy matters, with the board able to extend voting to non-policy issues if desired. The bill directly affects county library boards and high school students across Maryland by adding this new membership role to existing governance structures.

Maddy summaryHB 439 is a renaming bill that updates the official names of two Maryland state entities. It changes "Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to "Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing" and similarly renames the "Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to include "Deafblind" in its title. The bill makes technical updates to multiple sections of Maryland law to reflect these new names across state government references. This change directly affects how these offices and councils are formally identified in state documents and communications, with no new policies or services being created.

Maddy summaryHB 634 (LEAD Act of 2026) requires Maryland police training programs to include specific instruction on interacting with individuals with dementia or autism. It directly affects all entrance-level and in-service police training curricula across state, county, and municipal departments. Key provisions mandate training in six areas: locating wandering individuals, searching near water, sensory-aware approaches, reunification, documentation, and interagency coordination. The law amends Maryland's Public Safety Code to add these requirements, effective October 1, 2026. It focuses on practical, life-saving protocols rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1372 requires the Maryland Health Care Commission, working with the Office of Health Care Quality, to create a process for publishing health facility inspection data (including inspection dates, quality ratings, next inspection dates, and compliance statements) on a public website. It establishes the Maryland Department of Health Centralization Commission, composed of legislators, department officials, and health board leaders, to advise on improving efficiency between the Department and health occupations boards. The bill also mandates that all health occupations boards meet minimum cybersecurity standards set by the Secretary of Information Technology. These changes directly affect health care facilities subject to inspections, health occupations boards, and the Maryland Department of Health.

Maddy summaryHB 1523 prohibits retailers from selling, distributing, advertising, or exposing for sale "unauthorized consumable products," defined as tianeptine products and specific kratom products (as outlined in Maryland Health law). It directly affects businesses like stores, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and food/drink companies that handle these products. The bill authorizes the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission to seize, confiscate, or destroy such products and requires the Maryland Department of Health to report related changes to the Commission. These changes amend enforcement provisions to strengthen oversight of products not legally permitted under existing cannabis and health regulations.

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 564, the Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act, requires businesses that provide pet cremation services to give pet owners a written description of available services. This applies specifically to registered cemeterians, cemetery operators, and permit holders selling or offering pet cremation services for pet remains. The written description must be provided to the owner of a deceased pet or their agent when arranging for cremation. The bill aims to increase transparency and ensure pet owners receive clear information about service options before making arrangements.

Maddy summaryHB 769 revises Maryland's rules for conditional licenses allowing social work applicants to practice while awaiting exam results. It directly affects applicants facing exam delays and their supervising social workers, requiring supervision during the conditional period. Key changes include: (1) allowing conditional licenses only for initial applicants facing exam unavailability, (2) creating a 1,500-hour supervised experience alternative to passing the exam for full licensure, and (3) setting a 12-24 month expiration period with no renewals. The bill also requires the State Board to track licenses and report annual data to legislative committees on conditional license usage.