Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk

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 1376 requires the Maryland Department of Health to hire an independent consultant to study four state healthcare commissions (HSCRC, MHCC, MCHRC, and MIA). The consultant must examine overlapping duties among these commissions, identify opportunities to streamline operations or consolidate programs, and assess alignment with Maryland’s healthcare models. The study must also evaluate how to improve coverage and access to affordable care for all residents. The Department must report findings to state leadership by January 1, 2026, including recommendations for structural changes and strategies to enhance healthcare delivery. This bill directly affects the Department of Health and the four commissions by mandating a comprehensive review of their roles and operations.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Maryland law to improve the process for certifying victims of qualifying crimes who apply for U Nonimmigrant Status (a federal visa for crime victims). It creates a rebuttable presumption that victims or their representatives (like parents, guardians, or next friends) are helpful to law enforcement if they haven’t refused to provide information, shortens the certification timeline to 30 days (7 days if the victim faces immigration removal), and requires certifying entities to develop language access protocols for non-English speakers. The bill directly affects victims of certain crimes and their families seeking this visa, ensuring certifications are more timely and accessible. These changes aim to streamline the state’s role in supporting federal visa applications without altering the visa program itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1084 repeals a requirement that local correctional facilities must provide at least one FDA-approved opioid medication for treatment, replacing it with a state-funded grant system. The Maryland Secretary of Health will provide annual grants to counties covering the costs of implementing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder. This change shifts funding responsibility from local facilities to the state, expands the Opioid Restitution Fund’s uses, and ensures MAT access for all incarcerated individuals assessed as needing it, including pregnant individuals. The bill directly affects counties (through funding) and incarcerated people (through treatment access) in Maryland’s correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 55 allows individuals with completed misdemeanor or felony sentences to petition courts for expungement (clearing criminal records) at any time if they demonstrate "good cause." Courts must consider factors like the crime's nature, the person's rehabilitation, public safety risk, and how the conviction impacts employment, housing, and education. If denied, the decision cannot be appealed, and the person cannot reapply for five years for the same conviction. This bill directly affects people with past convictions seeking to improve their job prospects, housing options, and access to public assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 establishes a 10-member workgroup to examine mail-in ballot accessibility, specifically focusing on the impact of requiring paper returns on voters with disabilities. The workgroup includes election officials, disability advocates (like Common Cause Maryland and the National Federation of the Blind), and experts in voting accessibility, security, and cybersecurity. It must assess current processes, research accessible alternatives from other jurisdictions, and evaluate options considering security, privacy, cost, and potential discrimination. The group must report findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 31, 2025, with the bill expiring June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1469 imposes a tax on distributors of sugary beverages, syrups, and powders. The revenue generated will fund Maryland's school meal programs, specifically the State Free Feeding Program and the Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program, through the new "Healthy School Meals for All Fund." This tax replaces existing provisions in Maryland's education and tax codes, with all collected funds directed exclusively to these school nutrition initiatives. The bill directly affects beverage distributors by requiring them to pay the tax, while benefiting public schools through guaranteed funding for student meals.

Maddy summaryHB 211 grants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants and postdoctoral associates at Maryland's public universities (including the University System, Morgan State, and St. Mary's College). The bill amends Maryland law to remove these workers from an existing exclusion, creating separate bargaining units for them - distinct from faculty or undergraduate student employees. Key provisions define "graduate assistant" as a graduate student in teaching/administrative/research roles and "postdoctoral associate" as a doctoral-level employee in research positions, explicitly including them in collective bargaining protections. This change directly affects these graduate and postdoctoral workers, allowing them to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions through union representation.