Del. Jamila Woods

Maddy summaryHB 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.

Maddy summaryHB 608 requires Maryland county school boards to grant temporary school admission to students when parents or guardians cannot immediately provide proof of required immunizations. This temporary enrollment lasts up to 60 days, during which parents must schedule an appointment with a health provider or local health department to obtain immunizations, reconstruct lost records, or get evidence of age-appropriate immunity. Parents must then submit proof of the immunization on the next school day following the appointment. The bill directly affects public school students and their families in Maryland, balancing school safety with practical barriers to documentation.

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 523 requires every Maryland county board of education to investigate and report on the root causes of student absenteeism and expulsions. Specifically, boards must examine factors like a student's home situation, family vacations, health issues (mental, physical, or substance use), school environment, and whether the student provides care or translation for family members. Starting January 1, 2026, each county must submit quarterly reports for 10 years to state legislative committees and local representatives detailing these findings. The bill directly affects all county school boards and aims to identify systemic issues impacting student attendance and discipline.

Maddy summaryHB 495 requires Maryland schools with existing antidiscrimination policies to update those policies to include specific information, such as reporting options for sexual violence, school contact details, investigation processes, victim resources, and medical facility locations. It mandates that policies be written in plain, age-appropriate language, printed for readability, available in common languages spoken by students/staff (5%+ of population), and accessible via oral interpretation for less common languages. Schools must distribute policies annually through handbooks, email, campus postings, and websites, and provide mandatory training to students at the start of each school year and to employees within four weeks of hire. This applies to all public/private K-12 schools, preK programs receiving state funding, and colleges in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 711 requires Maryland's Office of Cemetery Oversight to study the environmental and public health impacts of deathcare practices, in collaboration with the Departments of Health, Labor, and Environment. The study will examine nine specific methods - including embalming, traditional burials, cremation, water cremation, and body composting - to assess their effects on land use, soil/water quality, air emissions, worker/community health, costs, and regulatory processes. It mandates site visits, data collection from other states, and input from industry groups, environmental organizations, and diverse communities. The Office must submit an interim report by December 2025 and a final report by July 2026, which will include findings and policy recommendations for sustainable deathcare options. This bill does not change current laws but sets the stage for future regulatory or policy decisions based on the study's results.

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 677 allows Maryland courts to admit certain out-of-court statements made by vulnerable adult victims or witnesses in criminal trials, specifically for cases involving assault, sexual offenses, financial crimes, or abuse against vulnerable adults. It directly affects vulnerable adults aged 68+ or those lacking physical/mental capacity to meet daily needs. The bill requires courts to hold an evaluation hearing to assess the statement’s trustworthiness, considering factors like the adult’s cognitive ability, whether the statement was spontaneous, and context of the statement. This applies only to statements not covered by other evidence rules and mandates that prosecutors notify defendants 20 days before trial if such statements will be used.