Del. Tiffany Alston

Maddy summaryHB 804 establishes the Aging Resilience Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund under Maryland law. The fund, administered by the Secretary of Aging, will support the Department of Aging's mission through investment earnings, fees, and other designated sources. It can be used for administrative expenses like personnel, partnership development, and programs aligning with the Department's goals. The fund must be held separately by the State Treasurer, with interest earnings credited back to it, and expenditures require compliance with the state budget. This is a procedural bill creating a new funding mechanism rather than changing substantive policies.

Maddy summaryHB 872 requires the Seat Pleasant Police Department to join Maryland's Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System, making membership mandatory for all permanent full-time officers employed there before or after the effective date (June 1, 2026). It specifically ensures officers who were already working for the department before joining the system receive credit for all their past service time. The bill also clarifies that these officers will be eligible for pension benefits based on their entire employment history with the department. This applies only to Seat Pleasant Police Department officers and does not affect other law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 1002 prohibits nursing facilities from involuntarily discharging or transferring residents to temporary housing (like hotels) without confirmation from the receiving facility that it can accept the resident. It requires facilities to provide residents with clear written notices at least 10 days before a discharge or transfer, including the reason, new location, and contact information for hearings. The bill also bans facilities from discharging Medicaid-eligible residents solely because they qualify for Medicaid benefits, and mandates that post-discharge plans include specific care details. These changes aim to protect residents' rights and ensure smoother transitions during involuntary moves.

Maddy summaryHB 838 repeals a requirement that prescribers submit prescriber-pharmacist agreements to their regulating health board. Instead, it allows pharmacists (with specific qualifications, registrations, and training) to directly enter agreements authorizing them to treat opioid use disorder using controlled substances. A key provision requires pharmacists to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for relevant patient data before starting or changing such therapy. This bill directly affects pharmacists, prescribers, and patients with opioid use disorder by expanding pharmacists' role in medication management under defined safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 747 changes the membership structure of Maryland's Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. The bill reduces the number of House-appointed members from two to one and removes specific agency representatives, while adding three industry representatives from the assisted living sector (categorized by facility size: 1-4, 5-9, and 10+ residents). This committee directly affects nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and their residents by shaping oversight of care quality standards. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and modifies existing law without altering the committee's core purpose.

Maddy summaryHB 322 changes the membership structure of Maryland's Health Care Commission. It reduces the number of non-healthcare-related members from nine to eight and adds a required hospital representative (defined in state law) to the seven provider-focused seats. The bill also revises geographic requirements, mandating four members from large-population counties (instead of five) and specifying representation from the Eastern Shore, western counties, and Southern Maryland. These changes take effect October 1, 2026, aiming to adjust the commission's composition to better reflect healthcare provider perspectives.

Maddy summaryHB 442 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives in Maryland to disclose their professional liability insurance status to residents and potential residents. Specifically, these providers must provide written notice (including electronic communication) if they lack coverage or if coverage has lapsed and not been renewed, with timing requirements: at the first visit for potential residents or at application for admission, and within 30 days of a lapse for current residents. The bill also mandates that facilities without coverage post a conspicuous notice for residents and guests. This law does not change insurance requirements but ensures transparency about coverage gaps. It directly affects residents and potential residents of these care facilities by providing clear, timely disclosure of insurance status.

Maddy summaryHB 1117 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain insurers to cover approved "elopement response devices" for specific individuals. These devices - such as door sensors, wearable location trackers, or alert systems - prevent people with cognitive, developmental, or neurological conditions from wandering unsafely (e.g., leaving a supervised area without the ability to return safely). Coverage is mandated when ordered by a qualified healthcare provider and documented in a qualifying plan (like an individualized education plan or dementia care plan) for eligible recipients: those under 21 with early screening eligibility, on home-based waiver programs, or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/dementia. The bill defines these devices as medical equipment or assistive technology under state programs, ensuring coverage without regard to when the program was established.

Maddy summaryHB 915 establishes a workgroup focused on youth transitioning out of foster care in Maryland. The workgroup includes state agency representatives and 15 youth aged 18-25 who have aged out of foster care, along with advocates from relevant organizations. It must identify current resources for housing, education, health, and other needs; assess service effectiveness; and find successful programs by June 1, 2027. The workgroup's report will inform future policy, but the bill itself creates no new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, as defined by the bill. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit a list of their volunteer firefighters to the county, which must then keep this list on file. Counties can meet this requirement by either offering a free annual health exam including cancer screenings or applying for a specific grant to fund advanced screening technologies like multi-cancer blood tests. The law applies to all counties with volunteer fire companies and takes effect July 1, 2026.