Del. Tiffany Alston

Maddy summaryHJ 8 is a symbolic resolution apologizing for Maryland's historical role in racial terror lynchings. It formally acknowledges the state's complicity in 38 documented lynchings between 1854-1933, including failures to protect Black citizens, colluding with local governments to conceal perpetrators, and failing to pass anti-lynching laws. The resolution commits Maryland to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, though it does not establish new programs or allocate funds. It directly addresses the legacy of harm experienced by Black Marylanders and their descendants. This is a procedural resolution, not a law with enforceable provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1553 modifies Maryland's guardianship laws for disabled adults to improve family access and streamline petitions. It requires courts to include a schedule for family members (by blood or marriage) to visit the disabled person in all guardianship orders, unless the court determines it is not in their best interest. The bill allows family members to petition for guardianship if the current guardian is neglecting the disabled adult (medically or physically) and authorizes temporary guardianship petitions. Additionally, it mandates health care evaluations within 21 days before filing petitions and requires courts to handle these cases on an expedited basis.

Maddy summaryHB 1334, the Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act, requires each county board of education to create a written parent and family engagement policy by the start of the 2027-2028 school year. This policy must include parental input, provide translation services, and outline how schools will collaborate with families. Additionally, starting in the 2028-2029 school year, every public school must develop a Parent-School Compact detailing shared responsibilities - such as school curriculum quality, parental support for learning, teacher qualifications, and regular communication between parents and staff. The bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and their families by mandating structured, written frameworks for parental involvement.

Maddy summaryHB 383 prohibits Maryland municipalities from restricting access to the area of municipal beaches above the mean high tide line solely to residents. If passed, it would prevent towns from charging non-resident fees or requiring residency to use these public beaches. The bill applies only to beaches owned by municipalities (not state parks) and specifically targets the accessible beach area affected by tides. It takes effect October 1, 2026, requiring municipalities to allow all public access to this beach zone regardless of residency. This directly affects all beachgoers and municipal beach management policies.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJ 9) is a formal statement by the Maryland General Assembly condemning violence against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, and Sudan. It specifically addresses ongoing crises involving mass civilian harm, displacement, and credible reports of war crimes and genocide risk, urging the U.S. government to take four concrete actions: secure immediate ceasefires, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, release unlawfully detained civilians, and support independent accountability mechanisms. The resolution does not create new laws but formally expresses Maryland’s position and urges federal action, emphasizing the protection of civilians and adherence to international law. It was introduced by multiple Maryland delegates and aligns with the state’s prior statements on global humanitarian crises.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school principals to investigate every student fight or physical struggle by gathering witness statements, video evidence (if available), and input from all students involved. It prohibits school staff from disciplining students who, after investigation, more likely than not used reasonable force necessary to protect themselves or escape an attack. If a student was disciplined but later found to have acted in self-defense, the school must remove all related discipline records from their file. The law directly affects students involved in fights, school administrators, and the handling of disciplinary records in Maryland public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 917 limits when health insurance companies in Maryland can deny payment for past medical services (retroactive denial of reimbursement). It restricts such denials to cases involving coordination of benefits within 18 months of payment or after insurers provide providers with training on billing standards within 3 months. The bill requires insurers to give providers written explanations with supporting details for any denial and prohibits denials based on service outcomes or without first discussing the circumstances with the provider. It also mandates that insurers developing retroactive denial policies create training plans for healthcare providers on reimbursement protocols. The law applies to all insurance policies effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Maryland government entities and contractors from entering into agreements to detain individuals in facilities owned, managed, or operated by private companies. It also bars state and local governments from paying for, subsidizing, or providing financial incentives related to the construction, operation, or management of privately run detention facilities. The law defines detention facilities broadly to include correctional, immigration, and other facilities used to detain people, while still allowing private companies to provide ancillary services like education, medical care, and maintenance. Additionally, the bill prevents government agencies from approving zoning variances or permits for buildings intended for private detention use, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maryland Department of Health to create regulations ensuring that drug and alcohol treatment programs discharge patients only when it is appropriate for their mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis. It specifically prohibits discharging patients who would become homeless or need residential care, while requiring programs to refer such individuals to halfway houses or recovery residences if they agree to that level of care. The legislation also mandates that treatment programs establish referral agreements for medical, mental health, legal, and social services within three working days after creating an individualized treatment plan, and ensures these agreements remain valid even if a patient is discharged. These standards apply to medium-intensity and high-intensity residential treatment programs in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 884 requires Maryland to appropriate at least $5 million annually to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2028, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is funded. This addresses a historical funding disparity between UMES (Maryland's 1890 land-grant university for historically Black students) and the University of Maryland, College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution), which received less state funding per student from 1987-2020. Funds must supplement - never replace - existing state budget allocations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty investment, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill mandates annual appropriations that cannot decrease year-over-year, aiming to fully remediate the identified funding gap.