Del. Jason Buckel

Maddy summaryHB 1188 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies, agents, and local detention facilities to run a national criminal database search when taking custody of an individual. If the search reveals someone not lawfully present in the U.S. has an outstanding criminal warrant, the agency must notify federal immigration authorities and may hold the person for up to 48 hours to facilitate transfer. The bill prohibits local governments or agencies from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities in these cases. It directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and jail facilities across Maryland, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1374 expands eligibility for publicly funded prekindergarten to include 3-year-olds in certain private providers. It modifies the definition of "Tier I child" to include 3-year-olds whose families meet income requirements (≤300% federal poverty level) or are homeless, live in counties where private providers have opted to enroll them, and choose full-day programs. Eligible private providers (licensed, charging tuition ≤ "cost of quality," meeting quality standards) must sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards to enroll these children. The bill directly affects qualifying 3-year-olds, eligible private prekindergarten providers, and local departments responsible for notifying families about enrollment options.

Maddy summaryHB 1403 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous 3-year average enrollment method with an average of daily enrollment counts on specific dates (September 30, December 31, March 31, and the last day of the prior school year). The bill also excludes the 2020-2021 school year from calculations if it appears in the 3-year average, addressing pandemic-era enrollment disruptions. This directly affects all Maryland school districts receiving state education aid, as it will determine their funding amounts starting in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 amends Maryland law to include historical horse races in the definition of "sporting event" for sports wagering purposes, allowing licensed sports betting facilities to accept wagers on past races. It specifically authorizes Class A-2 licensees - such as video lottery operators with 1,000 or fewer terminals and existing horse racing licensees - to offer these wagers under defined conditions. The bill expands the range of eligible events for sports betting without altering current licensing requirements or tax structures. This change affects the sports wagering industry by creating a new betting category for historical horse races, directly impacting licensed operators and consumers seeking this option.

Maddy summaryHB 1289 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to establish regulations for drug and alcohol treatment programs regarding patient discharges and referrals. It mandates that programs cannot discharge patients who would become homeless without appropriate residential care referrals, and must provide timely referrals to services like medical care, mental health support, employment assistance, and substance use treatment within 3 working days. The law also requires programs to ensure continuity of care during transitions between facilities or to homeless shelters by securing referrals before transfer. These standards apply to certified treatment programs and aim to improve coordinated care for individuals with substance use disorders.

Maddy summaryHB 1185 allows Maryland public high schools to permit homeschool students enrolled in state-approved home instruction programs to join school sports teams under the same conditions as enrolled students. It specifically requires schools to follow COMAR guidelines for home instruction programs and gives priority to enrolled students if team spots are limited. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to clarify that homeschoolers in compliant programs may participate in athletic activities outside regular school hours without earning academic credit. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting homeschool families and public high school athletic departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maryland public high school students to earn one math credit toward graduation by completing a college-prep computer science or programming course instead of a traditional math class. Students must take the course after completing Algebra II, and county school boards must certify eligible courses to the state Department of Education. It modifies existing graduation requirements to expand math credit options for students pursuing computer science pathways. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1305 requires Maryland's Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports to form a workgroup by December 2025 to study whether its grant system effectively matches community behavioral health services to local school needs and distributes funding equitably across the state. The workgroup must include school system representatives and review all 2024 grants to assess service alignment and geographic fairness. The bill prohibits the Consortium from awarding new grants in fiscal year 2026 while this study occurs. Grants may resume in 2027 only if the study confirms the system is both effective and equitable. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2026, without requiring further legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 requires law enforcement agencies to report student arrests for specific serious offenses (like violent crimes or gang-related violations occurring off school grounds) to the Maryland Center for School Safety, Juvenile Services Education Program, State Board of Education, and the State’s Attorney within 24 hours. The State’s Attorney must then notify these same agencies of court outcomes. This applies to students aged 5-22 in public or nonpublic schools across Maryland. The bill creates a formal reporting chain to ensure schools and safety programs receive timely information about student arrests and legal dispositions.

Maddy summaryHB 1317 requires Maryland county school boards to include specific termination terms in contracts with county superintendents. If a contract ends before its full term, the superintendent must receive a cash settlement equal to one year’s pay (plus one month per additional full year remaining), or just the remaining term’s pay if less than one year remains. The bill also mandates that superintendents retain health benefits for one year after termination or until they secure new employment, whichever comes first. These provisions apply to all new contracts signed on or after July 1, 2025, and exclude superintendents removed under specific disciplinary procedures. The law directly affects county superintendents and school boards in Maryland.