Rep. Ben Barnes

Maddy summaryHB 465 (Stop Silencing Survivors Act) creates legal immunity for individuals who in good faith disclose allegations of sexually assaultive behavior (defined as acts meeting Maryland’s criminal law standards for sexual offenses or equivalent offenses). It protects disclosers from liability claims unless proven to have acted with actual malice or intentionally shared false information. The bill also requires courts to award attorney fees and costs to successful defendants in such cases. This directly affects survivors reporting abuse, individuals sharing such information, and courts handling related civil cases. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1315 requires Maryland health insurers to cover all childhood and adolescent immunizations recommended by either the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the American Academy of Pediatrics' schedule, without deductibles. It directly affects health insurers offering family coverage in Maryland, mandating these vaccines as part of the required "minimum package of child wellness services." The bill expands current coverage to include all recommended vaccines under these two authoritative sources, rather than a limited list. This policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, for all new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryHB 477 revises Maryland's child care regulations for family child care homes and centers, primarily changing adult-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes. It increases the allowable number of children under age 2 in family child care homes from 4 to 5 and updates ratios to require 1 adult for every 4 infants (under 1 year) and 1 adult for every 5 toddlers (1-2 years). These changes apply directly to licensed child care providers operating family child care homes and centers statewide. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and also clarifies probationary teacher qualifications for child care centers.

Maddy summaryHB 1424, the "Protect Our Federal Workers Act," expands state financial assistance to Maryland residents affected by federal government disruptions beyond just shutdowns. It renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and broadens eligibility to include current federal employees not paid during shutdowns *and* Maryland residents recently terminated due to federal office closures, relocations, or mass layoffs. The bill allows funds from the state’s Catastrophic Event Account to cover costs for these individuals, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This changes existing law to provide loans for both ongoing shutdowns and post-layoff financial hardship from federal facility changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1388 establishes a Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) for eligible members of Maryland's Employees' Pension System and Teachers' Pension System. The bill creates a new provision (Section 23-401.1) allowing qualifying state employees to delay formal retirement while continuing to receive pension benefits based on their service. To implement this, the State Retirement Agency must seek a specific IRS determination letter to ensure the program meets federal tax requirements. The program directly affects state employees who meet the existing service and age criteria under the pension systems, providing them an alternative to immediate retirement. This is a structural change to the pension rules, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 1545 allows Maryland to withhold state payments to the federal government when the federal government fails to pay overdue funds that courts have ruled it must pay. The Board of Public Works would first determine if the federal government is delinquent in paying funds owed to Maryland, based on court decisions upholding congressionally approved spending. The Comptroller could then withhold up to the amount of the overdue funds, after consulting with the Board. This bill directly affects how Maryland manages its financial transactions with the federal government when payments are overdue.

Maddy summaryHB 1546 requires Maryland's Central Collection Unit (CCU) to collect delinquent federal funds owed to the state, specifically when the federal government fails to comply with court decisions upholding congressionally approved spending. The Board of Public Works gains authority to officially declare the federal government delinquent in these cases, and the CCU can place liens on federal property within Maryland under those circumstances. This bill amends existing state law (sections 3-302, 3-304, and 10-208 of the State Finance and Procurement Article) to formalize these collection procedures and lien mechanisms. It directly affects how Maryland handles unpaid federal obligations, streamlining the state's ability to recover funds through established legal channels.

Maddy summaryHB 1099 changes Maryland's rules for punitive damages in civil negligence cases. It requires plaintiffs to prove "gross negligence" (defined as reckless disregard for others' safety) by clear and convincing evidence before punitive damages can be awarded. The bill also imposes a 50% surcharge on all punitive damage awards, which must be paid by the defendant and deposited into the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund (an education funding program). This surcharge is separate from the punitive damages amount and cannot be disclosed to juries. The bill applies only to cases filed after its effective date of October 1, 2025, and does not affect past cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows terminally ill Maryland residents with decision-making capacity to request medication to end their lives through a structured process. It requires two physician consultations (including a consulting physician confirming the diagnosis), a mental health assessment, and written requests spaced at least 15 days apart. Pharmacists may dispense the medication only to qualifying patients, and the law clarifies that providers acting under these rules won’t violate assisted suicide laws. Death from self-administered medication will be recorded as natural causes for insurance and legal purposes.

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.