Del. Julie Palakovich Carr

Maddy summaryHB 883 prohibits AI developers from making or causing AI to make claims that the AI is a behavioral health provider or can deliver behavioral health care services. It requires AI sold to Maryland consumers to include clear notices stating users are interacting with AI (not a human) and to detect suicidal thoughts or self-harm, automatically referring users to crisis services. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1 million per offense, with funds directed to Maryland’s Behavioral Health Workgroup Investment Fund. The law directly affects AI developers and sellers operating in Maryland, focusing on preventing misleading AI interactions in mental health contexts.

Maddy summaryHB 386 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA and Maryland's budget process, mandating that the Governor withhold funds if WMATA fails to submit required reports (like safety assessments and financial data) or if it doesn't develop a rail signaling workforce transition plan by July 2028. The bill also requires WMATA to provide detailed annual reports on safety, ridership, finances, and capital investments to trigger full funding. If WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, or misses the workforce plan deadline, the Governor must withhold the funds until these conditions are met.

Maddy summaryHB 1056 designates October 1 as "Purple Lights Night" in Maryland, requiring the Governor to annually proclaim this day. The bill honors individuals in the state who are victims or survivors of domestic violence and expresses support for eliminating domestic violence. It adds this commemorative day to Maryland law through a procedural change in the Annotated Code (Section 7-417), without creating new programs or funding. The bill is purely ceremonial, focusing on symbolic recognition rather than policy implementation. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 160 prohibits Maryland state entities (like agencies and courts) and local governments (counties, cities, school districts, and towns) from assigning Confederate names to real property they own, such as streets, parks, or buildings. It defines a "Confederate name" as one honoring the Confederacy or its soldiers, and explicitly states the law applies only prospectively - meaning it won’t require changing existing names on property already bearing such names. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026, after which new naming decisions must avoid Confederate references. This is a policy change focused on preventing future Confederate naming in public spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 1143 bans the use of the "lung float test" (a hydrostatic lung test) during perinatal autopsies in Maryland. It directly affects the Chief Medical Examiner, deputy examiners, assistant examiners, and authorized pathologists when determining if a death was a stillbirth or occurred after a live birth. The bill prohibits this specific test method and allows parents, guardians, or legal representatives to file a civil lawsuit if the test is used unlawfully. Violations also become grounds for disciplinary action against medical examiners.

Maddy summaryHB 912 (Ash’s Law) clarifies that people caring for free-roaming cats under a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program are not violating animal abandonment laws. It requires local governments to adopt TNR policies that: prohibit requiring caregiver registration, mandate shelters to return eartipped cats (identified by a clipped ear) to their original location, and make TNR the preferred option for impounded cats. The bill also overrides local laws restricting TNR and applies to all Maryland counties and municipalities. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 837 requires all Maryland public and nonpublic schools with athletic programs to include a cardiovascular prescreening as part of the standard physical examination for students participating in interscholastic sports, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This prescreening - based on family history, personal symptoms, and evidence-based guidelines - must be conducted no earlier than 90 days before the school year begins. If a positive finding occurs, healthcare providers must refer students to a cardiologist for further evaluation. Schools must report annual data on screenings and referrals to county health departments, with the Maryland Department of Health publishing public reports analyzing outcomes. The bill directly affects student athletes, schools, and healthcare providers conducting sports physicals.

Maddy summaryHB 1182 allows Maryland public and nonpublic schools to coordinate with students and parents to use locative devices (such as wearable trackers) for monitoring a student's location during elopement (leaving campus without permission) or wandering (leaving classroom area without permission) incidents. This requires documented behavior in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or behavior plan, written parental consent, and limits data collection to what's necessary for addressing the behavior while protecting privacy through safeguards. The State Department of Education must issue guidance on implementation and privacy protections, but the bill does not require schools to provide devices or families to purchase or use them.

Maddy summaryHB 1274 authorizes Maryland public school systems to award three types of diplomas to deceased students: standard diplomas (for students near graduation in 12th grade), posthumous honorary diplomas (for students in 11th/12th grade close to graduation), and in memoriam diplomas (for students in grades K-10 or county residents). To qualify, students must have been enrolled in a Maryland public school, met credit requirements, and been in good standing at the time of death. Schools may only issue these diplomas upon written request from a parent, guardian, or next of kin, and all awarded diplomas are ceremonial with no academic credit or impact on graduation rates. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to establish these specific eligibility criteria and procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 53 bans the import, sale, trade, possession, breeding, or exchange of specific wild animals in Maryland, including foxes, bears, alligators, non-domestic cats/dogs, primates, poisonous snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, and zebras. It directly affects owners of these animals, with exceptions for research facilities, licensed animal exhibitors, nonprofit sanctuaries meeting strict criteria, veterinarians, and short-term travelers. Existing owners of most banned animals may continue possession if they notify local authorities by August 1, 2006, while kangaroo/zebra owners have until December 1, 2026. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and modifies existing criminal prohibitions without creating new penalties.