Del. Julie Palakovich Carr

Maddy summaryHB 740 requires campaigns in Maryland to disclose when campaign materials (like images, audio, or videos) use AI-generated or altered content that misrepresents reality. It applies to candidates, campaign groups, and registered political entities distributing such materials within the state. The bill mandates clear, visible disclosures: for images, a text statement must appear in readable size; for audio, a spoken warning at the start and end; and for videos, on-screen text visible throughout. These disclosures must state that the media was altered to create a false impression of an event, speech, or appearance. The law amends Maryland’s election code to add this transparency requirement for synthetic media in campaign communications.

Maddy summaryHB 700 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct a new study measuring problem and severe gambling rates specifically for mobile gambling (with an initial report due by July 1, 2030), expanding on existing studies for in-person gambling. It redirects 6.25% of revenue from sports wagering and fantasy sports competitions to the Problem Gambling Fund - up from prior allocations - to support treatment and prevention services. The bill also mandates annual reports by the Secretary of Health, due November 1 each year, detailing how these funds are spent on services like counseling and education. This directly affects Maryland residents seeking gambling treatment and sports betting operators who must remit the specified revenue share.

Maddy summaryHB 456 extends the time victims have to file civil lawsuits for nonsexual child abuse or neglect. It allows claims to be filed up to 20 years after the victim turns 18, or 3 years after the abuser is convicted of a related crime (like child neglect or physical injury). The bill also caps noneconomic damages at $1.5 million per claimant against a single defendant for cases that would have been barred before October 2025. This affects victims seeking compensation and defendants (including government entities) facing liability. The law specifically excludes sexual abuse cases from these provisions.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 632, the Maryland Workplace Fraud Act of 2025, expands workplace fraud protections to cover all private employers - not just those in construction or landscaping. It removes the current industry-specific limitation by repealing Section 3-902 and revising related sections to apply broadly. The bill directly affects workers who may be misclassified (e.g., as independent contractors when they should be employees), ensuring employers properly classify all workers for benefits and labor rights. Key provisions require employers to correctly classify workers under state law, with penalties for violations, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 465 requires the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to adopt regulations addressing problem gambling, including establishing a voluntary exclusion list for individuals seeking to avoid gambling venues and mandating that the Commission share contact information (with consent) with the Maryland Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling. The bill also prohibits individuals under 21 from participating in fantasy sports competitions or paying entry fees, and bans sports wagering operators from offering player-specific proposition bets. Additionally, it requires sports wagering licensees to provide certain transactional data to universities for research purposes. The bill does not directly relate to college athlete protections, as the title suggests, but focuses on gambling regulations and age restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 340 authorizes Maryland's Attorney General to sue fossil fuel companies (specifically publicly traded entities deriving ≥50% revenue from coal/oil/gas with >$1 billion market cap) for climate-related harms caused by deceptive or unlawful actions. It creates a Climate Change Restitution Fund to pay for programs addressing climate impacts like flooding, heat islands, drought, and disease spread, funded by settlements/judgments from such lawsuits. The fund is nonlapsing and managed by the Department of Budget and Management, with interest earnings credited back to it. An Advisory Council advises on fund distribution to the Governor, Attorney General, and legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 417 establishes the Commission on Universal Health Care to study the feasibility of creating a state-run health care program covering all Maryland residents through a single-payer system. The commission, composed of appointed members from government, labor unions, healthcare organizations, and community groups, will examine how to provide comprehensive, equitable coverage - including preventive, mental, reproductive, and hospital care - regardless of income, immigration status, or health needs. It will analyze cost containment strategies, health equity gaps, and models from other states, but does not create the program itself. The commission must report its findings and recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly by 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 151 amends Maryland's county income tax rules by raising the maximum tax rate from 3.2% to 3.7% and limiting counties to no more than eight income tax brackets. It sets specific income thresholds for these brackets (e.g., $1-$25,000 for single filers, $1-$50,000 for joint filers) and requires counties to apply rates above 3.2% only on income exceeding $250,000 (single) or $300,000 (joint filers). Counties using rates above 3.2% must dedicate the additional revenue to public education and transportation funding. This bill directly affects Maryland counties that impose income tax, such as Baltimore County and Howard County, and impacts residents who pay county income tax based on their filing status.

Maddy summaryHB 111 defines and regulates "exploratory committees" - entities formed by potential candidates to test their viability for public office before officially filing as a candidate. The bill specifies that such committees may only spend funds on permitted activities like surveys, direct mail, staff, websites, and equipment purchases, while prohibiting advance payments for future campaign expenses. If an official candidate committee forms from an exploratory committee, any equipment purchases must be at fair market value, and remaining funds must be returned within 120 days. This bill directly affects potential candidates and their committees by establishing clear campaign finance rules for this pre-candidacy phase.