Del. Bonnie Cullison

Maddy summaryHB 444 prohibits Maryland state and local governments, including county sheriffs and agencies, from entering into new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It requires existing agreements to be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the law’s effective date (June 1, 2026). The bill specifically targets contracts, memorandums, or agreements that allow local entities to assist in federal immigration enforcement under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. This directly affects local law enforcement agencies and government bodies that previously collaborated with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to prevent state/local resources from being used for immigration enforcement under federal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 825 (Tahjai's Law) requires Maryland's Governor to annually proclaim May as "Brain Health and Chronic Headache Awareness Month," aligning with national brain tumor awareness efforts. It establishes a permanent Maryland Brain Health Grant Fund to provide financial support to nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community programs for brain health awareness, screening, prevention, and services like treatment for brain tumors, chronic headaches, and traumatic brain injury. The Maryland Department of Health must develop guidelines for incorporating brain health evaluations into routine physical exams and recommend insurance coverage parity for necessary diagnostic tools. Additionally, the Department must submit annual reports on brain tumor prevalence, emergency visits related to brain conditions, access to diagnostic imaging, and barriers to care.

Maddy summaryHB 1589 simplifies how Maryland residents can update the sex designation on their birth certificates and state-issued IDs. It allows individuals (or their guardians for minors/disabled adults) to request a new birth certificate with a changed sex designation by submitting a written request under penalty of perjury, plus a healthcare provider's statement confirming medical treatment for gender transition or an intersex condition. The bill removes the previous requirement for a court order to change sex designation on birth certificates and expands options for indicating sex on driver's licenses and ID cards. This directly affects transgender and intersex Marylanders seeking to align official documents with their gender identity.

Maddy summaryHB 1469 requires Maryland’s Insurance Administration to create a workgroup to study the current definition of "specialty drug" in health insurance. The workgroup, including pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacists, insurers, hospitals, and healthcare providers, will examine how the definition impacts patients and stakeholders, compare it to federal and state standards, and recommend a revised definition. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by January 1, 2027, after which the bill expires on June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects health insurers, pharmacies, hospitals, and patients using high-cost specialty drugs, aiming to clarify definitions that influence coverage and costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1209 prohibits licensed mental health providers from offering conversion therapy or making false claims about it, directly affecting providers and helping victims who suffered psychological harm. The bill creates a private legal cause of action for individuals harmed by conversion therapy, removes limits on noneconomic damages in such cases, and extends the statute of limitations to account for delayed recognition of harm. It also requires insurers covering providers who perform conversion therapy to charge a surcharge, with funds going to a new "Conversion Therapy Surcharge Fund." These changes aim to provide legal recourse and financial accountability for the psychological injuries linked to conversion therapy.

Maddy summaryHB 1119 amends Maryland's Health Occupations code to clarify and update the scopes of practice for licensed social workers. It specifically allows licensed certified social workers-clinical (section 19-101(h)) to practice independently without supervision, removing a prior requirement. The bill adds permitted activities to "practice social work," including psychosocial assessment and evaluation, case management, and care coordination. These changes directly affect all licensed social workers in Maryland, defining their permitted duties based on their specific license category (bachelor's, master's, certified, or clinical).

Maddy summaryHB 704 establishes Maryland's Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program within the State Department of Education. It provides state funding to cover the difference between federal reimbursement rates for free and paid school meals, directly supporting Maryland schools with high poverty rates (25%+ students qualifying for free meals) that participate in the federal child nutrition program. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2028 to complement federal funds, with funds distributed based on school poverty concentration and geographic diversity. Schools must report on program outcomes, meal debt resolution, and reasons for opting out of federal eligibility, with annual reports published online.

Maddy summaryHB 944 modifies Maryland's health care oversight rules by ending an exemption that previously allowed certain hospital mergers to bypass certificate of need requirements. It requires health care entities (like hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities) to notify both the Maryland Health Care Commission and the public before making major ownership changes. The bill establishes a public interest review process to evaluate these transactions, using specific criteria to determine if they align with community needs. The Executive Director of the Commission must decide on such transactions within a set timeframe, ensuring faster oversight of significant health care market shifts. This directly affects hospitals and health care providers planning major ownership changes in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 935 requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals, directly affecting women eligible for prerelease programs at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The bill mandates a separate facility meeting specific criteria: at least 3 acres, not within 1 mile of other prisons, and designed to house 1.25 times the 2024 prerelease-eligible population. It requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services (including gender-responsive programming) and report progress to legislative committees by a specified deadline. The facility must operate by June 1, 2023, with the Department of General Services directing procurement for its construction.

Maddy summaryHB 615 adds crisis pregnancy clinics to Maryland's definition of "health care provider" for medical record confidentiality purposes. This means clinics offering pregnancy-related health care (including mobile facilities) must now follow the same state laws protecting patient records as hospitals and other medical providers. The bill specifically clarifies these clinics are not covered under federal HIPAA rules but must comply with Maryland's existing confidentiality standards. It directly affects crisis pregnancy clinics by requiring them to handle patient records under the same legal protections as other healthcare facilities. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.