Del. Aaron Kaufman

Maddy summaryHB 1574 modifies Maryland's child care licensing rules to require the State Department of Education to issue warnings for first-time violations of new regulations instead of immediate penalties, with potential fines for repeat offenses. It creates a dedicated unit to process and manage criminal background checks for child care staff, ensuring applicants receive timely updates on their check status. The bill also mandates that the State Superintendent list individuals prohibited from child care employment due to supervision failures and establishes a workgroup to study illegal child care operations. These changes directly affect licensed child care centers, registered family child care homes, and all applicants seeking positions involving direct child contact.

Maddy summaryHB 915 establishes a workgroup focused on youth transitioning out of foster care in Maryland. The workgroup includes state agency representatives and 15 youth aged 18-25 who have aged out of foster care, along with advocates from relevant organizations. It must identify current resources for housing, education, health, and other needs; assess service effectiveness; and find successful programs by June 1, 2027. The workgroup's report will inform future policy, but the bill itself creates no new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, as defined by the bill. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit a list of their volunteer firefighters to the county, which must then keep this list on file. Counties can meet this requirement by either offering a free annual health exam including cancer screenings or applying for a specific grant to fund advanced screening technologies like multi-cancer blood tests. The law applies to all counties with volunteer fire companies and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 892 allows descendant community organizations (DCOs) to legally challenge cemetery owners who propose selling, transferring, or changing the use of cemetery land. Currently, only cemetery owners or government entities could initiate such actions; this bill expands standing to DCOs - groups with cultural ties to interred individuals or ancestral connections. The law amends Maryland statutes (Business Regulation §5-101 and Real Property §14-121) to require courts to consider DCO concerns when reviewing these proposals. This change directly affects cemetery owners seeking to repurpose land and DCOs seeking to preserve burial sites as permanent sacred spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 1426 creates a new permit for clinical research pharmacies in Maryland, which are facilities specifically designed to conduct clinical trials. It allows healthcare providers to own these pharmacies under strict conditions, including requiring a licensed pharmacist to be on-site during all operating hours and prohibiting owners from receiving payment for patient referrals. The bill also exempts clinical trials conducted by corporations or entities from being classified as "practice of medicine," meaning trial staff no longer need individual medical licenses for their trial-related work. This change aims to streamline clinical research by removing a regulatory barrier that previously required individual licensing for trial staff.

Maddy summaryHB 598 creates a temporary license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Maryland under specific conditions. It allows the State Board of Physicians to issue a 3-year license (non-renewable) to doctors who hold a WHO-recognized medical degree outside the U.S., completed 2 years of equivalent postgraduate training, practiced medicine for 5 of the last 7 years abroad, passed U.S. medical exams (USMLE Steps 1-3), and meet other criteria like English proficiency and Maryland residency. The license requires physicians to pursue full licensure through board-established pathways after the temporary period ends. This directly affects internationally trained doctors seeking to work in Maryland’s healthcare system, providing a structured but limited pathway to practice.

Maddy summaryHB 450 protects victims of sexual assault or stalking by requiring courts and parties in criminal or juvenile cases to redact identifying information (like names or addresses) from public court records and filings. It directly affects victims, courts, and legal parties by prohibiting disclosure of such information to nonparties unless the court finds "clear and convincing evidence" of good cause to allow it. The bill mandates redaction of victim identifiers in all filings - including charging documents - and requires courts to redact existing records upon written request from the victim. Exceptions only apply when a court specifically authorizes disclosure after reviewing evidence of necessity. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 417 (Public Health - Medetomidine and Xylazine Consumer Protection Act) regulates the sale of veterinary drugs medetomidine and xylazine. It prohibits retailers from selling these products without proof the buyer intends to use them for veterinary, scientific, or institutional purposes, and bans sales to anyone under 21. Retailers must maintain records of sales, including age verification and proof of intended use. Violations carry civil fines up to $6,500 per offense, with penalties deposited into Maryland's Substance Abuse Fund. The bill directly affects pharmacies, veterinary suppliers, and online retailers selling these specific products.

Maddy summaryHB 633 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover salpingectomy (surgical removal of fallopian tubes) as a preventive measure for ovarian cancer. It prohibits these insurers from charging copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for this specific procedure, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for covered individuals. The exception applies only to high-deductible health plans under federal law, allowing the deductible to apply to the procedure in those cases. This law directly affects women eligible for preventive care and the health insurance providers operating in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1167 requires Maryland's Department of Health to replace its outdated Medicaid computer system with a modern, flexible system by 2028. The new system must maintain all current Medicaid functions - including processing medical/dental/pharmacy claims, provider enrollment, and beneficiary inquiries - while meeting federal security and performance standards. The bill mandates integration with existing Medicaid systems by January 2027 and full replacement of the old system by January 2028, subject to federal approval. This change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and healthcare providers through more reliable service delivery.