Del. Denise Roberts

Maddy summaryHB 1093, the "Small Landlord Eviction Relief Act," modifies Maryland law to clarify how landlords handle tenant belongings during evictions and restricts local governments from requiring landlords to cover moving costs. It adds a new definition (§8-407) stating "moving expenses" include costs for packing, unpacking, storing, or transporting a tenant’s personal property, but explicitly prohibits counties or municipalities from enforcing local rules that force landlords to pay for these expenses or provide moving services. The bill amends existing eviction statutes (§§8-401, 8-402, 8-402.1) to incorporate these changes, ensuring landlords can remove tenant belongings without local mandates for moving assistance. This directly affects landlords (who no longer face local moving expense requirements) and tenants (who lose potential local protections for moving costs).

Maddy summaryHB 1041 creates an exemption for Maryland homeowners associations (HOAs) facing severe financial emergencies - such as natural disasters, fraud, or major property damage - from strict reserve funding requirements. It requires HOAs to develop a detailed "Reserve Recovery Plan" within 90 days, approved by a two-thirds board vote, outlining how they will address the crisis and restore reserve funds. HOAs must provide quarterly updates to owners and maintain documentation of recovery efforts. Violating these provisions would be considered an unfair trade practice, allowing lot owners to pursue legal action. The bill directly affects HOAs and their members by temporarily easing financial obligations during emergencies while maintaining accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 696 eliminates citizenship requirements for members of certain Maryland state boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups. It replaces these requirements with a mandate that appointees should reflect the "full diversity of the State to the extent practicable." The bill affects multiple state entities across health, environment, labor, and other sectors by changing appointment rules in over 20 specific code sections. This policy change directly impacts who can be appointed to these bodies, prioritizing diversity considerations over citizenship status.

Maddy summaryHB 665 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover annual behavioral health wellness visits starting July 1, 2026. These visits, defined as clinical assessments to identify potential psychiatric or substance use disorders, must be covered regardless of whether a diagnosis is made. Insurers must reimburse providers for these visits at the same rate as visits resulting in a diagnosis. The bill applies to Medicaid recipients and health plans operating in Maryland, effective January 1, 2026, for new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryHB 724 establishes the Commission on Abandoned and Neglected Maryland Cemeteries within the Office of Cemetery Oversight. The commission will identify neglected cemeteries statewide, create a searchable database of abandoned sites, and develop guidelines for repairing and maintaining burial grounds - particularly focusing on historically significant African American cemeteries. It will also provide support to descendants seeking to preserve these sites and coordinate with local governments and developers to protect burial lands. The bill directly affects Maryland cemeteries, their descendants, local jurisdictions, and entities involved in cemetery preservation.

Maddy summaryHB 606 requires real estate professionals - such as developers, builders, brokers, and agents - to report the final sale price of new homes sold in Maryland into a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or similar public database within 30 days of the sale. This applies specifically to new home sales and directly affects those selling new properties. The key provision mandates that final sale prices, not initial listings, be entered into existing MLS systems used by real estate professionals. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to increase transparency in new home pricing data without creating new reporting systems.

Maddy summaryHB 381, the "Healing Our Scars Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers, HMOs, and managed care organizations to cover aesthetic services and restorative care for victims of domestic violence starting January 1, 2026. The bill applies specifically to services treating physical injuries caused by domestic violence, as defined in Maryland law (including injuries from current or former spouses or cohabitants), and mandates coverage only when a licensed physician determines the care is medically necessary. It amends existing health and insurance laws to include this requirement, applying to all relevant health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2026. The law aims to address physical injuries sustained in domestic violence cases by expanding access to necessary medical and cosmetic recovery services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Task Force to study how Maryland can improve support for people returning to society after incarceration. The group includes government officials, legal representatives, and individuals with personal experience in the criminal justice system, such as former inmates and family members of those currently in prison. The Task Force will evaluate current reentry services, identify missing resources, and create a plan to form a new Division of Returning Citizens within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This proposed division would coordinate existing programs and expand access to housing, employment, socialization, and health services for individuals after their release.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law updates rules on how contraceptives are sold and allows registered nurses to provide certain nonprescription medications without a doctor's order. The bill removes criminal penalties for selling contraceptives through vending machines in schools and clarifies that only natural membrane condoms, not all nonlatex condoms, are banned from such machines. It also authorizes a committee to create a list of over-the-counter drugs and devices that registered nurses can dispense at local health departments. Additionally, the legislation defines key terms like "dispense" and "authorized prescriber" to guide how nurses handle these medications. These changes aim to improve access to reproductive health products and expand the role of nurses in public health settings.

Maddy summaryHB 575 reformulates Maryland's Criminal Injuries Compensation Board by expanding it from five to seven members and mandating that the new composition reflect the state's racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity. The bill specifically requires at least one board member to be a survivor of violence from a community facing high rates of violence and incarceration, while another must represent an organization assisting victims with compensation applications. It also updates the definition of "victim" to include individuals who suffer physical or psychological injury while trying to prevent a crime, apprehend an offender, or assist law enforcement or emergency services. Additionally, the legislation clarifies which crimes are eligible for compensation and outlines the qualifications for third-party professionals who can assist in claims. Finally, the act grants the Governor the authority to include funding for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund in the annual state budget.