Del. Aaron Kaufman

Maddy summaryHB 1431 restricts federal immigration enforcement agencies from accessing Maryland state and local government databases without a valid warrant. It requires state/local law enforcement agencies, DMV, and other government units to deny federal requests for personal information, photos, or facial recognition data unless accompanied by a federal or Maryland court warrant. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on all such federal requests received, including how many were denied or granted with warrants. This directly affects Maryland state agencies, local governments, and federal immigration officers seeking access to these databases.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Maryland law to improve the process for certifying victims of qualifying crimes who apply for U Nonimmigrant Status (a federal visa for crime victims). It creates a rebuttable presumption that victims or their representatives (like parents, guardians, or next friends) are helpful to law enforcement if they haven’t refused to provide information, shortens the certification timeline to 30 days (7 days if the victim faces immigration removal), and requires certifying entities to develop language access protocols for non-English speakers. The bill directly affects victims of certain crimes and their families seeking this visa, ensuring certifications are more timely and accessible. These changes aim to streamline the state’s role in supporting federal visa applications without altering the visa program itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1393 requires recreational youth sports programs (for athletes under 19, excluding high school-level programs) to maintain an annual registry of all coaches, volunteers, and staff. This registry must include valid ID, background checks (either state criminal history or commercial screening), signed safety acknowledgments, and proof of annual training in concussion awareness, heat illness, and child safety. The bill also mandates that parents or guardians sign an acknowledgment confirming they received information about head injuries, heat illness, and the program’s removal/return-to-play policies. Additionally, programs must post their removal/return-to-play policies on their website if available.

Maddy summaryHB 811 requires Maryland counties to annually identify areas where students might walk to school (based on distance eligibility) and report on safe walking routes like sidewalks, crosswalks, or paths. County governing bodies must then build necessary infrastructure to create these safe routes for students, using the reports from school boards. If a required route crosses a non-county road, counties must collaborate with the controlling entity to develop and implement a plan. The bill applies to all counties and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 981 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to evaluate how public schools use artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The bill mandates a survey sent to all school districts by August 2025, asking about AI policies for students (including age, disability, and language needs), current AI tools used for learning, infrastructure readiness, and support needs. The Department of Information Technology must assist by reviewing available AI systems for educational use, analyzing their cost-benefit and pedagogical value, and assessing potential statewide implementation. The evaluation will result in an interim report by January 2026 and a final report by December 2026, directly affecting all Maryland public school systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 requires child care centers, youth-serving organizations, schools, and contracting agencies to collect specific information from applicants for roles involving direct contact with minors. Applicants must provide contact details for recent employers (especially those involving minors), sign consent forms for releasing records about boundary-violating behavior, and disclose any past investigations into such behavior - excluding cases where findings deemed allegations unfounded. The bill also mandates annual reporting of this information to the State Department of Education, which will compile and submit it to the General Assembly. This applies to all entities hiring staff who regularly interact with children, focusing on transparency in hiring practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1177 requires Maryland's Attorney General to establish a toll-free hotline for tenants to report repair and maintenance issues in residential properties (including those owned by federal, state, or local governments), with anonymous reporting allowed. The Attorney General's office can refer tenants to legal aid, report violations to local authorities, or take legal action against landlords for violations. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees starting in 2026, tracking complaint volumes, geographic/demographic breakdowns, resolution times, and patterns like repeated complaints against specific landlords. It directly affects renters facing housing maintenance problems across Maryland, aiming to streamline complaint resolution. The hotline will launch October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 establishes a 10-member workgroup to examine mail-in ballot accessibility, specifically focusing on the impact of requiring paper returns on voters with disabilities. The workgroup includes election officials, disability advocates (like Common Cause Maryland and the National Federation of the Blind), and experts in voting accessibility, security, and cybersecurity. It must assess current processes, research accessible alternatives from other jurisdictions, and evaluate options considering security, privacy, cost, and potential discrimination. The group must report findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 31, 2025, with the bill expiring June 30, 2026.