Del. Nicole Williams

Maddy summaryHB 5 updates Maryland's criminal law to explicitly include artificial intelligence-generated images in the definition of "computer-generated image" under child pornography statutes. This means AI-created images that appear indistinguishable from real child abuse material - such as those adapted to look like actual minors - will now be covered under existing laws prohibiting possession or viewing of such content. The bill directly affects individuals who create, possess, or access these AI-generated images, applying the same penalties (up to 5 years in jail or $2,500 fine for misdemeanors) as real child pornography. It maintains exceptions for artistic works like drawings or cartoons and parental photos of children in non-exploitative contexts. The law aims to close a legal gap as AI technology advances, ensuring existing protections apply to digitally generated content.

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 935 requires Maryland high school football games to have either a licensed athletic trainer or an ambulance staffed with emergency medical personnel present on-site during games. This amendment to existing school emergency plan requirements (Section 7-451 of the Education Article) directly affects all public high schools hosting football games in Maryland. The bill adds this specific medical presence requirement to the existing venue-specific emergency action plans, which already cover AED access, heat acclimatization protocols, and cardiac response plans. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not change other established emergency plan provisions for athletic facilities.

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 467 modifies how Maryland calculates its annual funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It replaces a fixed $167 million appropriation with a formula-based calculation tied to WMATA's operating subsidy allocation, requiring a 3% annual increase after the first year (starting from the 2019 appropriation level). The bill also requires WMATA to submit detailed performance reports and financial data to avoid withholding 35% of funds if it receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan. This funding directly affects Maryland taxpayers and WMATA, as it alters the state's annual contribution to WMATA's capital costs. The bill's implementation depends on Virginia and DC enacting similar legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 110 changes Maryland law to require the Child Support Enforcement Administration to provide written notice and make reasonable attempts to contact parents with overdue child support payments *before* suspending their driver's license. The bill adds a process where parents can request an investigation into claims of inaccurate debt, employment impact, or disability before suspension, and allows for work-restricted licenses during this review. It specifically requires written notice of the proposed suspension, including the right to challenge it, and mandates the Administration to consider these requests before notifying the Motor Vehicle Administration. This bill directly affects parents who owe child support and have not paid for 60+ days (non-commercial licenses) or 120+ days (commercial licenses), altering the suspension process to include more safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 210, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," prohibits the theft of mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or commercial carriers. It defines "mail or package" as tangible items left for delivery and makes knowingly taking such items without the recipient's permission a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The bill also allows courts to offer diversion programs for third or subsequent violations instead of jail time. This law directly affects individuals who steal mail or packages, aiming to criminalize what is commonly called "porch piracy." The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 493 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in Maryland public schools to commemorate Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white New Orleans elementary school. It requires each county board of education to create annual educational programs for this day, including symbolic walks, civil rights history lessons, and discussions on racial equality. The State Department of Education must also develop model educational resources, like lesson plans and discussion guides, to support schools in implementing these programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects all Maryland public schools and their students.

Maddy summaryHB 763 requires Maryland public and qualifying nonpublic schools to include age-appropriate material about human and sex trafficking awareness and prevention in health curricula for students in grades 6 through 8. This amendment to existing education law builds upon current sexual abuse and assault prevention programs by adding specific content about trafficking. The law mandates that this material be taught by trained instructors and integrated into standard health education. The policy change applies to all schools participating in the Nonpublic Schools Textbook and Technology Grants Program, effective July 1, 2025.