Del. Julie Palakovich Carr

Maddy summaryHB 415 establishes a Family Literacy Pilot Program in Maryland that allows incarcerated individuals to record themselves reading children's books to their children. The program, administered by the State Library Agency with input from correctional services, will operate in four selected correctional facilities (representing all regions, including one for women and one for men) and provide age-appropriate books in multiple languages. It requires written consent from custodial parents, handles book selection and recording logistics, and ensures the program is free for all participants. The State Library Agency must report on the program’s results by December 1, 2028, and the program will expire automatically on December 31, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 197 requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan by July 1, 2026, for establishing Restorative Practices Schools. This plan must be created after consulting with schools already using restorative approaches, which focus on repairing harm through relationship-building rather than punitive discipline. County school boards would need to adopt this plan if they choose to implement restorative practices in their schools. The bill also prohibits corporal punishment in public schools and mandates annual, disaggregated data reports on discipline practices by race, disability, socioeconomic status, and other factors.

Maddy summaryHB 672 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Department of Health to annually assess school health and wellness personnel (including counselors, nurses, psychologists, and therapists) across all public schools. The assessment tracks personnel-to-student ratios, vacancy rates by role, and collects feedback on recruitment and retention strategies from school systems and health departments. It also expands the Maryland Council on Advancement of School-Based Health Centers by adding a school nurse representative to its 16 voting members. Reports on these findings must be submitted to the General Assembly each December starting in 2027. The bill directly affects school districts, health centers, and the 10 designated health professional roles listed in the law.

Maddy summaryHB 455 requires Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families to place American braille tactile flags in one or more state veterans' cemeteries. These flags, designed by the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute, allow blind and visually impaired visitors to experience the American flag through touch. The bill directly affects blind veterans and visually impaired individuals who visit Maryland's five state veterans' cemeteries. It amends state law to mandate the department designate specific locations for these tactile flags as a memorial feature.

Maddy summaryHB 325 allows adults seeking a high school diploma through the GED exam to take all test components in either English or Spanish, directly affecting adult learners, particularly English language learners with interrupted education. The bill requires Maryland's Department of Labor to study offering the exam in additional languages and submit a report to legislative committees by December 2026. It amends existing law to expand language options for the exam while maintaining other eligibility requirements, such as not having previously earned a diploma. The policy change focuses on improving access to the diploma pathway through language flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 (Ace's Law) requires public and nonpublic schools in Maryland to notify a student's parent or guardian within 24 hours if a student leaves school grounds without permission ("elopement"), except for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Behavior Intervention Plan addressing wandering/elopement. Schools must also submit annual reports starting in 2026 detailing elopement incidents by student demographics (disability, race, gender, etc.) and steps taken to prevent them, including staff training on identifying and addressing such behavior. The State Department of Education will collect these reports from school districts and nonpublic schools, verifying data accuracy for zero-incidence reports. This law directly affects schools, parents/guardians, and state education officials through mandatory notifications and data reporting requirements.

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 1121 establishes a temporary pilot program to help foster youth aged 16-22 access childcare subsidies. It directly affects youth who were in state foster care at age 18 or older, removing specific barriers like proof of employment, parental information, or parental authorization from the application process. The program, running from 2026-2028, requires the Department to track subsidy usage monthly and report annually to the legislature on progress. It aims to simplify access to childcare support during critical transitions to adulthood. The bill does not change subsidy amounts but streamlines eligibility for this specific group.

Maddy summaryHB 1475 (Mixed Delivery Model Viability Act) requires Maryland's Office of Child Care Advisory Council to study the state's publicly funded prekindergarten system, which serves children through a mix of public and private providers. The analysis will assess policy differences between public/private providers, reimbursement methods, administrative processes, language accessibility, quality rating procedures, and opportunities for resource-sharing among private providers. The Council must submit an interim report by June 1, 2026, and a final report by December 31, 2027, to the State Board of Education and General Assembly. This bill does not change current law but directs a review to identify potential improvements in program efficiency and equity for providers and families.