Del. Karen Toles

Maddy summaryHB 1346, the PACE Act, protects criminal defendants and juvenile respondents from having their creative works (like music, poetry, art, or film) used as evidence against them in court. The bill requires courts to make four specific findings before admitting such expression: that the creator intended it literally (not figuratively), it directly relates to the specific crime, it addresses disputed facts, and it has unique value not available through other evidence. This applies to all criminal and juvenile proceedings, with an exception allowing creative expression to be used in juvenile cases for mental health evaluations. The law aims to prevent artistic expression from being misinterpreted as confessions or evidence of guilt without strong judicial scrutiny.

Maddy summaryHB 1074 creates new criminal offenses related to gift card misuse in Maryland. It prohibits taking or receiving a gift card without consent (with intent to use/sell), keeping a lost/mislaid gift card to use/sell, selling or buying gift cards from unauthorized sellers, and falsely making or transferring gift cards. The law specifically defines "gift card" to include physical, digital, and code-based cards (e.g., prepaid balances on paper, plastic, or digital devices), excluding credit cards and paper checks. Violations involving gift cards under $100 are classified as misdemeanors, punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine. This bill directly affects individuals who handle or transfer gift cards, including those who find or purchase them.

Maddy summaryHB 1081, titled the "Unmask Hate Act," prohibits intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person while hiding or concealing their face with a mask or other device to conceal identity. It directly affects individuals who use face coverings to intimidate others, making such acts a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail or $1,000 in fines for repeat offenses. The bill includes exceptions for mask-wearing during religious observances, occupational safety, holidays, weather protection, or medical reasons like limiting illness spread. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1073, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," makes it a felony to steal mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or private carriers (like FedEx or Amazon) from a doorstep or designated pickup location. The bill directly affects individuals who steal such items without the recipient’s permission, targeting "porch piracy" thefts. It prohibits knowingly taking or controlling delivered items with the intent to deprive the owner, punishable by up to five years in prison. The law amends Maryland’s Criminal Law code to specifically address this type of theft, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 944 repeals two provisions in Maryland law that affected how courts handle parental rights termination cases. It removes language allowing social services departments to bypass reunification efforts if a parent lost rights to a child's sibling, and eliminates the requirement for courts to consider whether a parent previously lost rights to a sibling. The bill simplifies the process by removing this specific factor from court evaluations when determining if parental rights should be terminated. This change directly affects juvenile courts, social services departments, and parents involved in termination proceedings under Maryland's Family Law.

Maddy summaryHB 607 establishes the PAREA Grant Program to provide financial assistance to minorities residing in historically redlined neighborhoods and underrepresented communities for training to become real estate appraisers. The program aims to close appraisal gaps in these areas, diversify the appraisal profession, and support individuals pursuing real estate appraisal careers. Administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the grants directly target residents in communities historically excluded from the appraisal field. This policy creates a concrete pathway for career development in a specific profession while addressing documented disparities in real estate services.

Maddy summaryHB 941 requires the Governor to include at least $5 million annually in the state budget for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2027, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is appropriated. This addresses a historical funding disparity identified by the state legislature, where UMES (as Maryland’s 1890 land-grant institution) received less per-student state funding than UM College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution) from 1987-2020. Funds must be supplemental to existing appropriations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill aims to fully remedy the $321 million shortfall over time through mandatory annual appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 499 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) changes Maryland’s expungement process to make it easier for people with certain misdemeanor convictions to clear their records. It reduces waiting periods after completing a sentence (removing the previous 3-year limit for some offenses), expands eligibility to include more misdemeanor convictions, and requires courts to confirm restitution payments are made or unpayable before expungement. The bill also prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing expunged records. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 1422 establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and recommend benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by historical inequitable government policies (such as housing segregation and redlining during the Jim Crow era). The Commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, historians, community representatives, and public members, will examine U.S. reparations models and potential benefits like monetary compensation, tax rebates, or housing assistance. It must submit a preliminary report by January 2027 and a final report by November 2027 to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on research and recommendations, not on implementing specific reparations.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 expands juvenile court jurisdiction in Maryland by removing previous restrictions that excluded certain serious cases from juvenile court. It directly affects children aged 10 or older accused of specific violent or dangerous offenses (like murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, or firearm-related crimes) that would be treated as adult crimes if committed by an adult. The bill repeals provisions that previously barred juvenile court from handling these cases for children 10+ (for certain crimes) or 16+ (for crimes like murder, kidnapping, or firearm offenses), meaning more serious cases will now be processed in juvenile court unless transferred to criminal court. This change shifts jurisdictional authority without altering the underlying criminal laws or penalties.