Del. Jheanelle Wilkins

Maddy summaryHB 525 prohibits using AI-generated deepfakes (synthetic media) to influence voters in Maryland elections. The bill defines "fraud" to include deepfakes - AI-created videos, audio, or images that falsely depict candidates or alter their appearance/speech - to prevent deceptive influence. It bans anyone from intentionally using such deepfakes to sway voting decisions, whether through force, threats, or other means. Violations are misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects individuals or groups distributing deepfakes during elections in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 201 requires Maryland local election boards to mail the state-approved absentee ballot application to every eligible voter at least 60 days before each statewide primary election. This applies to all voters who do not already have permanent absentee ballot status under existing law. The bill mandates this proactive mailing to simplify the absentee voting process for voters ahead of primaries. It does not affect voters with permanent absentee status, who continue to receive ballots automatically. The law amends Maryland’s Election Law to standardize this notification requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 requires all Maryland county school districts to develop age-appropriate water safety and swimming instructional content for public school students, integrating it into health and physical education by July 2026. It also mandates each county board to create a plan by December 2025 outlining strategies to increase student access to swimming pools and facilities through community partnerships, cost-effective transportation, and resource coordination. The plan must identify public/private partners and recommend policy changes if needed. Implementation of the curriculum begins in the 2026-2027 school year, while the access plan requirement expires June 30, 2026. This bill directly affects all public school students in Maryland counties and their local school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1151 allows sellers of residential property to request a second appraisal if an initial appraisal values the property below its current market value. The bill requires lenders to provide a written copy of this additional appraisal to the seller at no cost. It directly affects residential property sellers who disagree with an initial appraisal, giving them a formal process to seek a revised valuation. The key provision ensures sellers receive a free, written copy of the second appraisal, addressing concerns about appraisal discrepancies during sales transactions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 986 requires every Maryland county school district to create a new teacher retention program for educators with fewer than two full years of experience. The program must include cohort-based support groups, assign each new teacher a mentor (including retired teachers), survey teachers on challenges, and provide principals with resources to support new teachers. Counties must prioritize support for new teachers from diverse backgrounds and those in schools with high teacher turnover rates, and must compensate mentors and program overseers through additional pay or leave. This bill directly affects new teachers, school principals, and county school districts across Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 317 establishes a three-county pilot program to test curbside voting in Maryland, allowing voters with mobility challenges to cast ballots without entering polling places. The bill requires designated locations in one small, one medium, and one large-voter county, prioritizing accessibility for historically disenfranchised communities and proximity to public transit. Local election boards must equip these sites to maintain ballot secrecy while enabling voters to complete ballots independently or with assistance upon request. The program will operate during early voting and election day hours at locations like community centers, with specific rules to prevent electioneering near voting zones. This pilot aims to assess curbside voting's viability before potential statewide implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1198, the Monica Cooper Prerelease Act, requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals in Baltimore City (on at least 3 acres) by 2027. The facility must serve women with low violence/escape risk and satisfactory behavior, offering evidence-based programs like education, vocational training, trauma-informed healthcare, and family reunification support. It mandates the Department of Public Safety to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services - including help with public health benefits applications - and report progress to lawmakers by 2026. This bill directly affects female inmates eligible for prerelease status, aiming to reduce recidivism through gender-responsive reentry planning.

Maddy summaryHB 1325 establishes a 5-year pilot program (2026-2030) to create regional pools of substitute child care providers for Maryland child care facilities. The program, administered by a state-selected nonprofit, will recruit and support qualified providers to fill temporary staffing gaps in licensed centers, family homes, or large family child care homes. Key mechanisms include organizing pools across rural, suburban, and urban regions; helping providers meet background checks, training, and credential requirements; and developing a digital matching platform to connect providers with facilities. The program requires annual $350,000 grants to the nonprofit and $375,000 in annual state budget appropriations, with final reporting due to the legislature in 2029.

Maddy summaryHB 610 expands expungement eligibility in Maryland by allowing certain criminal charges to be cleared from records when dismissed without a conviction. Specifically, it adds that charges may be expunged if the court issued a "no finding" or terminated the case without a finding - rather than resulting in a conviction. This applies to charges already listed as eligible under current law (such as specific misdemeanors and felonies), without changing the list of offenses. The bill does not alter existing eligibility criteria but broadens the circumstances under which expungement is possible for dismissed cases.

Maddy summaryHB 830 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, as recommended by healthcare providers and aligned with medical guidelines. It also mandates coverage for follow-up cancer imaging (like mammograms or colonoscopies) if genetic testing indicates increased cancer risk, with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these specific services. The law applies to all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients with cancer risk factors and their insurers.