Del. Karen Toles

Maddy summaryHB 646 extends the deadline for a task force studying the creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and expanded reentry services. The bill delays the task force's report submission date from December 31, 2025, to October 31, 2026, and extends the task force's termination date from 2026 to 2027. This procedural bill amends previous legislation (Chapters 936 and 937 of the 2024 Acts) without changing the task force's purpose or creating new services. It directly affects the existing task force by providing additional time to complete its work.

Maddy summaryHB 1424, the "Protect Our Federal Workers Act," expands state financial assistance to Maryland residents affected by federal government disruptions beyond just shutdowns. It renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and broadens eligibility to include current federal employees not paid during shutdowns *and* Maryland residents recently terminated due to federal office closures, relocations, or mass layoffs. The bill allows funds from the state’s Catastrophic Event Account to cover costs for these individuals, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This changes existing law to provide loans for both ongoing shutdowns and post-layoff financial hardship from federal facility changes.

Maddy summaryHB 502 establishes the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within Maryland's Department of Disabilities and creates the "Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative." The bill directly affects state government agencies and employees with disabilities by requiring them to improve hiring, retention, and career advancement opportunities for people with disabilities. Key provisions include collecting employment data from state agencies, providing training on disability-inclusive hiring practices, and reporting annual progress to the Governor and General Assembly starting December 1, 2026. The initiative aims to reduce barriers in state employment through outreach, assistive technology access, and evaluating agency policies. The Office will begin operations on July 1, 2026, with mandatory reporting on outcomes and recommendations for improvement.

Maddy summaryHB 601 amends Maryland's Small Business Guaranty Fund program (Section 5-540 of the Economic Development Article) to expand how loan guarantees can be supported. It now allows guarantees to be backed by the State’s full faith and credit *or* by alternative financial instruments like irrevocable letters of credit, treasurer’s checks, escrow accounts, or other instruments promising reimbursement for lender losses. The bill also adds a requirement that the Authority must determine a loan will have "substantial economic impact" before approving a guarantee, considering factors like job creation and loan terms. This directly affects small businesses seeking loans (applicants) and financial institutions providing those loans by making guarantee options more flexible and adding a new review step. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1507 updates Maryland's Tort Claims Act to extend legal immunity to employees of county and Baltimore City sheriff's offices, placing them on the same footing as sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. The bill amends two specific law sections: it revises the definition of "State personnel" under the State Government Article to explicitly include sheriff's office employees, and updates the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article to clarify their immunity from tort lawsuits for official duties. This means these employees can no longer be sued for negligence or misconduct occurring within their job responsibilities, provided it wasn't done with malice or gross negligence. The change directly affects all non-sheriff staff working in sheriff's offices across Maryland.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires boaters involved in accidents causing injury or death to stop near the scene, return to remain there until assisting others, and provide their name, address, and vessel ID to injured persons. It defines "serious bodily injury" (e.g., risk of death, permanent disfigurement) and sets penalties: up to 1 year/$3,000 for injury, 5 years/$5,000 for death, or 10 years/$10,000 if the operator knew injury/death was likely. Boaters must also report serious accidents (death, disappearance, injury requiring medical care beyond first aid) within 48 hours to Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. The law applies to all vessel operators in Maryland waters who cause accidents meeting these injury/death thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 requires all Maryland county school districts to develop age-appropriate water safety and swimming instructional content for public school students, integrating it into health and physical education by July 2026. It also mandates each county board to create a plan by December 2025 outlining strategies to increase student access to swimming pools and facilities through community partnerships, cost-effective transportation, and resource coordination. The plan must identify public/private partners and recommend policy changes if needed. Implementation of the curriculum begins in the 2026-2027 school year, while the access plan requirement expires June 30, 2026. This bill directly affects all public school students in Maryland counties and their local school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1151 allows sellers of residential property to request a second appraisal if an initial appraisal values the property below its current market value. The bill requires lenders to provide a written copy of this additional appraisal to the seller at no cost. It directly affects residential property sellers who disagree with an initial appraisal, giving them a formal process to seek a revised valuation. The key provision ensures sellers receive a free, written copy of the second appraisal, addressing concerns about appraisal discrepancies during sales transactions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1352 prohibits Maryland institutions of higher education from denying students access to facilities or services due to sickle cell disease diagnosis and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations. The bill mandates the Maryland Department of Health to develop an education campaign for campuses about sickle cell disease challenges, create uniform procedures with the Maryland Higher Education Commission for supporting affected students, and compile training materials for faculty and staff. Institutions must also establish clear reporting procedures for violations and publicly share accommodation policies. These requirements take effect October 1, 2025, directly impacting all Maryland colleges and universities and students with sickle cell disease.

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.