Del. Jheanelle Wilkins

Maddy summaryHJ 5 is a non-binding resolution affirming Maryland's commitment to inclusive education. It directs public schools to ensure curricula reflect the histories and experiences of communities that have faced discrimination - including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. The resolution explicitly states that curricula should encompass "the breadth and diversity of Marylanders’ lived experiences" to support students' development as engaged citizens. It does not create new laws or funding requirements but serves as a policy statement for educational institutions.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJ 6) is a symbolic statement by Maryland's General Assembly expressing support for nuclear disarmament efforts. It formally joins 73 other jurisdictions (including seven states and over 75 counties/municipalities) that have passed similar "Back from the Brink" resolutions. The resolution urges Maryland's U.S. Congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the five key policies of the Back from the Brink initiative (like ending hair-trigger alerts and ending first-use nuclear policies). It also calls on the U.S. President and Senate to endorse the international treaty banning nuclear weapons. As a resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal position statement.

Maddy summaryHB 818 allows courts to award reasonable attorney fees and expenses to winning plaintiffs who sue to correct violations of rights protected by Maryland's Constitution or Declaration of Rights (e.g., cases against state agencies or local governments). It also permits fees to winning defendants only if the plaintiff's case was filed in bad faith or without legal basis. Courts must use factors from Maryland Rule 2-703(F)(3) to determine fees, and the law explicitly overrides standard fee limits under Maryland's Tort Claims Act for these cases. The bill applies only to cases filed after its October 1, 2025, effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 709 allows Maryland counties to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid "good cause" reason (like nonpayment or lease violations) to evict tenants or refuse lease renewals, rather than allowing no-cause evictions. If a county adopts such a law, landlords must disclose in writing whether they are subject to it and provide specific ownership details (including property counts) using forms developed by the state Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. The bill also mandates that landlords include this disclosure in leases and court filings related to evictions. This applies only to tenants and landlords in counties that choose to implement these local protections, not statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 941 requires the Governor to include at least $5 million annually in the state budget for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2027, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is appropriated. This addresses a historical funding disparity identified by the state legislature, where UMES (as Maryland’s 1890 land-grant institution) received less per-student state funding than UM College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution) from 1987-2020. Funds must be supplemental to existing appropriations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill aims to fully remedy the $321 million shortfall over time through mandatory annual appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 499 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) changes Maryland’s expungement process to make it easier for people with certain misdemeanor convictions to clear their records. It reduces waiting periods after completing a sentence (removing the previous 3-year limit for some offenses), expands eligibility to include more misdemeanor convictions, and requires courts to confirm restitution payments are made or unpayable before expungement. The bill also prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing expunged records. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 1422 establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and recommend benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by historical inequitable government policies (such as housing segregation and redlining during the Jim Crow era). The Commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, historians, community representatives, and public members, will examine U.S. reparations models and potential benefits like monetary compensation, tax rebates, or housing assistance. It must submit a preliminary report by January 2027 and a final report by November 2027 to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on research and recommendations, not on implementing specific reparations.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 expands juvenile court jurisdiction in Maryland by removing previous restrictions that excluded certain serious cases from juvenile court. It directly affects children aged 10 or older accused of specific violent or dangerous offenses (like murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, or firearm-related crimes) that would be treated as adult crimes if committed by an adult. The bill repeals provisions that previously barred juvenile court from handling these cases for children 10+ (for certain crimes) or 16+ (for crimes like murder, kidnapping, or firearm offenses), meaning more serious cases will now be processed in juvenile court unless transferred to criminal court. This change shifts jurisdictional authority without altering the underlying criminal laws or penalties.

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 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.