Del. Kym Taylor

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 781, the "Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland," requires the State Board of Elections to create guidelines for local election boards to accommodate elderly voters (65+) and voters with disabilities at all early voting centers and polling places. Key provisions include establishing dedicated expedited voting lines, clear signage, priority seating, and specific plans for high-traffic locations. Local boards must implement these guidelines, collect real-time feedback from affected voters during elections, and make immediate process adjustments. The law takes effect for the 2026 statewide primary election, with annual reports to the legislature on implementation effectiveness and voter feedback.

Maddy summaryHB 1521 removes the requirement for social workers to pass an exam to obtain a bachelor's or master's license in Maryland. It also increases the State Board of Social Work Examiners from 12 to 14 members, adding two consumer members (raising their count from 2 to 4). The bill directly affects individuals seeking social work licenses, particularly those applying for bachelor or master level credentials, by eliminating the examination step. These changes are implemented by amending specific sections of Maryland’s health occupations law governing social work licensing and board composition.

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 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 1341 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to establish a 24-hour call center staffed by trained personnel for members appealing denied coverage. It mandates that carriers send detailed written notices within 5 business days for any adverse decision, including specific reasons for denial, clear references to coverage criteria, and contact information for the Health Advocacy Unit. The notice must prominently display "THIS IS AN INSURANCE DENIAL" in bold, include a QR code linking to a guidance video, and provide the call center phone number. Additionally, carriers must conduct an annual survey on member experiences with their internal grievance process. These requirements directly affect health insurance carriers and aim to improve clarity and accessibility for members navigating coverage appeals.

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 667 establishes November 1 as a permanent state legal holiday and employee holiday in Maryland, replacing the current requirement that the Governor annually proclaim the date. The bill repeals Section 7-420 (which mandated the Governor’s yearly proclamation for Maryland Emancipation Day) and updates two key sections of Maryland law to include November 1 as a fixed holiday for state employees and government operations. This means state offices will close and employees will receive the day off every year on November 1, without needing a new gubernatorial order each year. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 385 requires businesses in Maryland using digital point-of-sale systems that automatically prompt customers to leave a tip to: (1) clearly disclose who receives the tip (e.g., employees or the business), and (2) set the default tip amount to $0. This applies to restaurants, bars, and similar service businesses processing card payments. Violating these requirements would be considered an unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practice under Maryland law, subject to enforcement by the Division of Consumer Protection. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with the new requirements applying starting January 1, 2026.