Del. Aaron Kaufman

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires owners of private construction projects and contractors to include specific payment terms in contracts. It mandates that owners pay contractors within 60 days of receiving a valid invoice after work completion, and if payment is withheld, they must provide written notice explaining the reason within 60 days. Unpaid amounts accrue 9% annual interest starting on the 60th day. Subcontractors must also be paid within 60 days of invoice or 7 days after the contractor receives payment from the owner. This law directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and property owners involved in Maryland construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 247 modifies Maryland's driver's license requirements for unaccompanied homeless youths under 19 who hold a learner's permit. It reduces the waiting period before they can take driver skills examinations from 9 months to 3 months, while maintaining other requirements like completing a 30-hour driver education course and 60 hours of supervised driving (including 10 nighttime hours). The bill specifically applies to youths determined homeless by a Maryland school liaison, Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program, or McKinney-Vento program. This change aims to provide greater access to driver's licenses for a vulnerable population without altering the core training and supervision standards.

Maddy summaryHB 187 creates a new felony offense for exploiting government benefits (such as Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, or veterans' benefits) by knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining individuals to appropriate their benefits for personal gain or to benefit others. It specifically prohibits using deception, coercion (like threatening harm or financial control), isolation, or exploitation tactics to take these benefits, and also bans profiting from such exploitation or aiding in it. Violations carry penalties of up to 25 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects vulnerable individuals who receive government benefits and targets those who exploit them for financial gain. It takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 215 authorizes Maryland's State Board of Elections to use ranked-choice voting in the 2028 statewide primary election for selecting a political party's candidate for President of the United States. If implemented, the State Board must develop and fund a voter education campaign about ranked-choice voting and submit a report on its use by January 1, 2029. The bill also requires the State Board to adopt regulations for reviewing and certifying election-supporting technology, such as electronic pollbooks and risk-limiting audit tools. These changes will affect how presidential nomination contests are conducted and how election technology is managed in Maryland.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland county mental health advisory committees to better include voices from the military and veteran communities. It achieves this by adding a new category that allows the appointment of individuals with experience in mental health care for veterans or those currently serving in the military. The change ensures that these specific groups are represented alongside existing categories such as patients, family members, and medical professionals. This adjustment aims to broaden the committee's perspective on mental health services without altering the overall structure or voting powers of the advisory body.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Task Force to study how Maryland can improve support for people returning to society after incarceration. The group includes government officials, legal representatives, and individuals with personal experience in the criminal justice system, such as former inmates and family members of those currently in prison. The Task Force will evaluate current reentry services, identify missing resources, and create a plan to form a new Division of Returning Citizens within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This proposed division would coordinate existing programs and expand access to housing, employment, socialization, and health services for individuals after their release.

Maddy summaryHB 575 reformulates Maryland's Criminal Injuries Compensation Board by expanding it from five to seven members and mandating that the new composition reflect the state's racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity. The bill specifically requires at least one board member to be a survivor of violence from a community facing high rates of violence and incarceration, while another must represent an organization assisting victims with compensation applications. It also updates the definition of "victim" to include individuals who suffer physical or psychological injury while trying to prevent a crime, apprehend an offender, or assist law enforcement or emergency services. Additionally, the legislation clarifies which crimes are eligible for compensation and outlines the qualifications for third-party professionals who can assist in claims. Finally, the act grants the Governor the authority to include funding for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund in the annual state budget.

Maddy summaryHB 763 modifies the membership of Maryland's Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention by replacing the representative of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Maryland Office with two appointed representatives of the Muslim community. The bill also sets a sunset date for the Commission, requiring it to cease operations after June 30, 2027, and outlines specific expiration dates for the terms of current members to ensure a staggered transition. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports on hate crimes in schools and the state, while maintaining the Commission's existing duties to develop prevention strategies and evaluate state laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for release proceedings for individuals committed to mental health facilities in Maryland. It ensures that discovery rules used in civil court cases also apply to these administrative hearings, allowing for a more thorough exchange of information between parties. The legislation also mandates that courts and the Department of Health promptly notify relevant parties when a violation of release conditions is reported. Additionally, it clarifies the burden of proof for applicants seeking changes to their release conditions and expands the court's authority to modify, extend, or terminate those conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires parties and nonparties filing documents in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases to remove the name and other identifying details of any victim who was a minor at the time of the offense. Under this law, courts cannot share these redacted filings with the public unless the identifying information has been properly removed, with limited exceptions for good cause. The legislation also allows the state's Supreme Court to create rules requiring that unredacted versions of these documents be filed separately under seal to preserve legal access while protecting privacy. Effective October 1, 2024, these measures aim to prevent the accidental exposure of minor victims' identities in public court records.