Del. Kris Valderrama

Maddy summaryHB 1323 requires Maryland public schools to implement a standardized unit on Asian American history starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to develop curriculum standards covering key events, Maryland/Mid-Atlantic regional history, and Asian American contributions to civil rights, government, arts, science, and community development. Each county school board must ensure this content is taught at least once in elementary, middle, and high school history courses. County superintendents are responsible for verifying compliance, with schools allowed to use online courses or approved materials to meet the requirement. The law directly affects all Maryland public school students and local education authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 697 requires Maryland health insurance carriers to submit quarterly reports to the Maryland Insurance Commissioner about their use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems. Specifically, carriers must report details on AI system deployment (including training data sources, purpose, and bias testing), as well as expanded demographic data on grievances and adverse decisions (broken down by zip code, race, ethnicity, gender, and age). The bill also updates existing reporting rules to include the monetary value of grievance decisions and timeframes for handling cases. These reports will enable the Commissioner to compile annual oversight summaries and identify potential disparities in insurance practices.

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 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Maryland law to improve the process for certifying victims of qualifying crimes who apply for U Nonimmigrant Status (a federal visa for crime victims). It creates a rebuttable presumption that victims or their representatives (like parents, guardians, or next friends) are helpful to law enforcement if they haven’t refused to provide information, shortens the certification timeline to 30 days (7 days if the victim faces immigration removal), and requires certifying entities to develop language access protocols for non-English speakers. The bill directly affects victims of certain crimes and their families seeking this visa, ensuring certifications are more timely and accessible. These changes aim to streamline the state’s role in supporting federal visa applications without altering the visa program itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1338 requires developers to obtain a certificate from Maryland’s Public Service Commission before starting construction on energy storage devices that meet specific criteria. The bill directly affects companies or entities planning to build large-scale energy storage systems with a minimum capacity of 2 megawatts, installed in front of the meter on the electric distribution system. Key provisions define "energy storage device" to include systems capable of absorbing, storing, and delivering electricity, while excluding smaller or residential-scale installations. This requirement applies to new construction projects only, not existing systems or smaller devices.

Maddy summaryHB 958, the Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025, establishes new safety requirements for railroad operations in Maryland. It mandates a minimum two-person crew for freight trains (excluding hostler/utility service), prohibits blocking grade crossings for more than five minutes, and limits train length to 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. The bill also requires railroads to report hazardous material transportation data to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry (for emergency agencies only, not the public) and mandates installation of wayside detectors on tracks designated Class IV or higher by federal standards. Violations carry civil fines up to $25,000 per incident.

Maddy summaryHB 882 authorizes Sunday deer hunting during the bow hunting season in Prince George’s County, which previously did not permit this activity. The bill amends Maryland hunting law to add Prince George’s County to the list of counties where Sunday deer hunting is allowed under specific seasonal rules. It directly affects hunters in Prince George’s County by expanding their permitted hunting days during the bow season. The law change is procedural, modifying existing regulations without altering safety zone distances or other hunting restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 705 prohibits counties or municipalities from banning short-term rentals solely because the operator (e.g., a tenant or subtenant) is leasing the property. It directly affects lessees and sublessees who rent residential properties for stays under 31 days, preventing local governments from targeting them specifically. The bill clarifies that property owners may still restrict such rentals in their lease agreements. It excludes hotels, motels, student housing, and similar accommodations from this rule. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.