Del. Aaron Kaufman

Maddy summaryHB 477 modifies Maryland's evidence rules to allow certain out-of-court statements in assault in the second degree cases where the defendant caused the witness's unavailability. It permits such statements as evidence if the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the defendant engaged in wrongdoing to make the witness unavailable. The bill requires statements to have been given under oath, written and signed, or recorded verbatim, and mandates early notice to the defense about the statement's use. This directly affects criminal trials for assault in the second degree by expanding admissible evidence while adding procedural safeguards. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school principals to investigate every student fight or physical struggle by gathering witness statements, video evidence (if available), and input from all students involved. It prohibits school staff from disciplining students who, after investigation, more likely than not used reasonable force necessary to protect themselves or escape an attack. If a student was disciplined but later found to have acted in self-defense, the school must remove all related discipline records from their file. The law directly affects students involved in fights, school administrators, and the handling of disciplinary records in Maryland public schools.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with enforceable policy changes. Maryland's General Assembly formally joins other states (like California and Oregon) and local jurisdictions in endorsing the "Back from the Brink" initiative. It urges Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and asks the U.S. President and Senate to endorse that treaty. The resolution expresses concern about nuclear risks but does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or entities.

Maddy summaryHB 971 creates a workgroup to study whether Maryland should adopt a fee-for-service model for all Medicaid services, meaning providers would be paid directly per service (instead of through managed care organizations). The workgroup, composed of two legislators, a health care commission representative, and three Governor-appointed members (including a provider and an advocate), will assess the feasibility of this change. The study will examine how a fee-for-service model could work across the entire Medicaid program, including its impact on access and costs. The bill does not change current Medicaid policy but mandates this study to inform future decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 917 limits when health insurance companies in Maryland can deny payment for past medical services (retroactive denial of reimbursement). It restricts such denials to cases involving coordination of benefits within 18 months of payment or after insurers provide providers with training on billing standards within 3 months. The bill requires insurers to give providers written explanations with supporting details for any denial and prohibits denials based on service outcomes or without first discussing the circumstances with the provider. It also mandates that insurers developing retroactive denial policies create training plans for healthcare providers on reimbursement protocols. The law applies to all insurance policies effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maryland Department of Health to create regulations ensuring that drug and alcohol treatment programs discharge patients only when it is appropriate for their mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis. It specifically prohibits discharging patients who would become homeless or need residential care, while requiring programs to refer such individuals to halfway houses or recovery residences if they agree to that level of care. The legislation also mandates that treatment programs establish referral agreements for medical, mental health, legal, and social services within three working days after creating an individualized treatment plan, and ensures these agreements remain valid even if a patient is discharged. These standards apply to medium-intensity and high-intensity residential treatment programs in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 881 establishes a 10-member Task Force on Not-for-Profit Funeral Establishments to study the feasibility of allowing not-for-profit funeral homes in Maryland. The Task Force includes legislative appointees, representatives from funeral associations, and faith-based community representatives (African American, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant). It will analyze licensing data, review similar laws in other states, and assess potential impacts before reporting findings to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2026. The bill expires automatically on September 30, 2027, with no direct policy changes enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 818 requires Maryland public colleges to cover tuition, room, board, required books, course materials, supplies, and equipment for foster care recipients and homeless youth who qualify. It defines "foster care recipient" as individuals in out-of-home placements (with specific age or guardianship criteria) and "homeless youth" as those verified under federal McKinney-Vento guidelines. To qualify, students must enroll before age 25 for a vocational certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree, file for federal/state financial aid, and cannot use scholarships/grants toward covered costs. The exemption lasts until the student earns their degree or 10 years after starting their program, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryHB 1356, the Maryland Employee Civic Activity and Lawful Expression Protection Act, prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against employees for engaging in off-duty civic activities, political expression, or lawful online speech. It protects all employees - including interns, part-timers, and temporary workers - from retaliation such as termination, demotion, or denial of promotion for activities like protesting, volunteering, or sharing opinions online outside work hours. The law bans employers from coercing political contributions, forcing attendance at political events, or maintaining policies that restrict protected activities, with exceptions only for conduct that disrupts job duties or reveals trade secrets. Employees can pursue civil lawsuits for violations without exhausting administrative remedies first.

Maddy summaryHB 737 requires health insurance plans (HMOs) to pay non-contracted healthcare providers at minimum rates: 140% of Medicare rates for trauma care, and 125% of the 2019 rate adjusted for inflation for other services. This affects independent doctors, hospitals, and clinics that treat HMO members but aren’t directly contracted with them. The law updates payment standards to better reflect current costs using Medicare’s inflation index, replacing older fixed-rate calculations. It ensures non-contracted providers receive fairer compensation for services rendered to HMO enrollees.