Del. Aaron Kaufman

Maddy summaryHB 670 prohibits sending unsolicited obscene images or videos via electronic means (like text or email) to someone who didn't consent to receive them. It directly affects individuals who send such material, making them liable for civil lawsuits. Victims can seek economic damages, emotional distress compensation, and up to $30,000 in statutory damages (with a minimum of $1,500) if the recipient had explicitly forbidden the material. The law exempts internet service providers, streaming services, and healthcare providers sending medical images. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 818 allows courts to award reasonable attorney fees and expenses to winning plaintiffs who sue to correct violations of rights protected by Maryland's Constitution or Declaration of Rights (e.g., cases against state agencies or local governments). It also permits fees to winning defendants only if the plaintiff's case was filed in bad faith or without legal basis. Courts must use factors from Maryland Rule 2-703(F)(3) to determine fees, and the law explicitly overrides standard fee limits under Maryland's Tort Claims Act for these cases. The bill applies only to cases filed after its October 1, 2025, effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 663 creates a new civil lawsuit for people harmed by realistic deepfake images or revenge porn. It allows victims to sue if someone distributes a computer-generated image that looks real (and isn’t a drawing, cartoon, or sculpture) falsely showing them with intimate parts exposed or engaged in sexual activity. The bill clarifies that victims can seek damages, attorney fees, and court orders to stop the distribution. It also updates criminal law to clarify that revenge porn distribution without consent - especially when the victim expected privacy - is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail or a $5,000 fine. The law specifically excludes artistic works like drawings or paintings from coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 758 requires local automated speed enforcement programs (like camera systems) to cancel citations if the vehicle or its license plates were stolen at the time of the alleged speeding violation. It prohibits issuing citations until verifying the vehicle or plates weren’t reported stolen, and allows drivers to present stolen vehicle evidence as a defense in court. This directly affects drivers who unknowingly operated stolen vehicles and local governments running automated enforcement programs. The bill updates Maryland’s traffic code to prevent unjust fines for victims of vehicle theft.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 requires the Maryland Department of Health to study the feasibility of installing and maintaining landline telephone systems in assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, and nursing homes. The study must examine current phone access, costs (equipment, installation, maintenance), benefits for residents (social interaction, emergency access), potential barriers (infrastructure, regulations), and funding options. It also mandates consulting facility staff, advocacy groups, and residents/families. The Department must submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by September 30, 2026. This bill does not mandate phone installation but directs a comprehensive assessment of the issue.

Maddy summaryHB 545 automates the removal of certain criminal records from public view in Maryland. It directly affects individuals with eligible cases involving cannabis possession (with 3+ years since case resolution) or specific misdemeanors (with 7+ years since resolution, excluding domestic violence or assault charges). The bill establishes a new process where the Judiciary identifies eligible cases monthly starting August 2027, then electronically notifies the Department of Public Safety to automatically remove those records within 30 days. This replaces a previous deadline and creates a permanent, systematic approach for expungement without requiring individuals to file separate requests.

Maddy summaryHB 687, the Community-Oriented Policing Act, prohibits Maryland law enforcement agencies from setting or using arrest, citation, or warrant quotas for officer evaluations, promotions, or discipline. The bill specifically bans agencies from requiring officers to meet specific activity targets (like a set number of arrests) or using those numbers as the primary factor in personnel decisions. It also clarifies that agencies may still use quantitative data for management purposes, as long as it doesn’t dictate officer evaluations. The law amends Maryland’s Public Safety Code and takes effect October 1, 2025. It directly affects all local and state law enforcement agencies and their officers in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 682 prohibits most state and local law enforcement agencies in Maryland from using persistent aerial surveillance - defined as recording video or images over time to track a person’s movements - to gather evidence in criminal investigations. The bill directly affects police departments, sheriffs’ offices, and other public safety units by restricting this surveillance method unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions include obtaining a valid search warrant, executing an arrest warrant, conducting active search/rescue operations, or responding to imminent threats like terrorist attacks with DHS authorization. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and amends Maryland’s Public Safety and Transportation codes to implement these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1422 establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and recommend benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by historical inequitable government policies (such as housing segregation and redlining during the Jim Crow era). The Commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, historians, community representatives, and public members, will examine U.S. reparations models and potential benefits like monetary compensation, tax rebates, or housing assistance. It must submit a preliminary report by January 2027 and a final report by November 2027 to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on research and recommendations, not on implementing specific reparations.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 allows Maryland hospitals to sell unpaid patient medical debt to nonprofit organizations *only* if the nonprofit cancels the debt. This directly affects hospitals (requiring them to amend financial policies) and patients with outstanding medical bills who may have their debt forgiven through this process. Key provisions mandate hospitals to dismiss all pending legal actions for sold debt and prohibit any further collection efforts - including on judgments - on debt sold to qualifying nonprofits. The bill also updates hospital reporting requirements to include demographic data on debt collection practices, but its core change centers on enabling debt cancellation via nonprofit partnerships.