Del. Jamila Woods

Maddy summaryHB 1246 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to include certain patient discounts, financial assistance, product vouchers, or out-of-pocket expenses paid for prescription drugs when calculating cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). This applies to covered drugs without a preferred generic equivalent or where prior authorization was needed, but excludes high-deductible health plans. The bill also mandates that providers notifying insureds about the maximum value and expiration date of these discounts. It takes effect January 1, 2026, for all health plans issued or renewed in Maryland after that date. The law directly affects Maryland residents using prescription drug coverage under these health plans.

Maddy summaryHB 1057 requires Maryland's Department of Human Services to reallocate a portion of its annual budget starting in fiscal year 2026 to provide child care stipends to private treatment foster care homes. These homes, which care for children with special physical, emotional, or behavioral needs, will receive funding similar to public treatment foster care homes to cover child care expenses. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Human Services include this funding request in annual budget proposals and adopt procedures ensuring private homes meet the same equity standards and anti-discrimination requirements (prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender, disability, etc.) as public homes. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2025, aiming to create funding parity for private providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 creates a new 3-year limited license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Maryland, effective October 1, 2027. It directly affects foreign-trained doctors who meet strict criteria, including holding a WHO-recognized medical degree, completing 2+ years of equivalent postgraduate training, practicing for 5+ years in their home country, passing U.S. medical exams (USMLE Steps 1-3), and residing in Maryland for at least one year. The license cannot be renewed but may lead to full licensure through conditions set by the State Board of Physicians. This provision does not change existing full licensure pathways but adds a temporary option for eligible international physicians.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed hospitals in Maryland to create clinical staffing committees with equal representation from management and employees, including frontline staff such as nurses, patient care technicians, and dietary workers. These committees must develop staffing plans that specify the number of healthcare workers needed on each unit during each shift based on patient volume and acuity levels, with guidelines ideally based on national evidence-based standards. Hospitals must review and update their staffing plans annually by July 1, implement them by January 1, 2026, and publicly post both the plan and daily staffing numbers on patient units and their websites. The bill also establishes a complaint process allowing nurses and other frontline staff to report when staffing assignments do not meet the plan, with committees required to resolve these complaints through a majority vote. State hospitals are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 911 allows landlords to charge a security deposit of up to two months' rent if a tenant operates a family child care home (caring for up to eight children) on the property. It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes in single- or multifamily rentals (excluding owner-occupied small units or condo/co-op rules), requires tenants to notify landlords 30 days in advance, and mandates providing insurance certificates naming the landlord as an additional insured. Landlords are also shielded from civil liability for issues related to the tenant’s child care operations. The bill applies to residential leases starting October 1, 2025, and does not override local zoning laws.

Maddy summaryHB 429 allows counties in Maryland to request the Department of Health to delegate authority for inspecting nursing homes (including site visits and full surveys) to county staff. If a county makes such a request, the Department and the county must equally share the costs of these inspections. This bill directly affects nursing homes (which may be inspected by county staff instead of state staff) and counties that choose to assume this responsibility. It does not change existing inspection frequency requirements but adds a new option for conducting inspections.

Maddy summaryHB 525 prohibits using AI-generated deepfakes (synthetic media) to influence voters in Maryland elections. The bill defines "fraud" to include deepfakes - AI-created videos, audio, or images that falsely depict candidates or alter their appearance/speech - to prevent deceptive influence. It bans anyone from intentionally using such deepfakes to sway voting decisions, whether through force, threats, or other means. Violations are misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects individuals or groups distributing deepfakes during elections in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 503, the Housing Development Act, requires Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development and Department of Planning to calculate regional housing infrastructure gaps (such as water, sewer, and road capacity shortfalls) and assign these gaps to specific counties and cities. Local governments must then take steps to reduce these gaps and are required to expedite approvals for certain housing projects - particularly those addressing the gaps - without denying them without specific justifications. The bill directly affects all counties and incorporated municipalities in Maryland, especially those identified as having significant housing infrastructure deficits. It creates a new framework for streamlining housing development by shifting approval responsibilities to local jurisdictions based on regional needs.

Maddy summaryHB 338 prohibits the disposal of yard waste collected on state buildings or highways in single-use plastic containers. Instead, it requires that such waste be collected in reusable containers or compostable paper bags. The bill mandates all yard waste from these locations must be disposed of at an organics recycling facility, a natural wood waste recycling facility, or a state facility producing mulch or soil amendments. This applies to state employees and contractors handling yard waste collection on state property.

Maddy summaryHB 1539 removes a requirement that parents or legal guardians must cosign or be present when minors aged 15 or older apply for a state-issued identification card. The bill directly affects minors in this age group by allowing them to apply for an ID card independently, without parental involvement. It amends Maryland's transportation code to prohibit the Motor Vehicle Administration from mandating parental presence or signatures for these applicants. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, streamlining the process for eligible minors to obtain state ID.