Del. Jeff Long

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 660 simplifies probate for estates when an original will is lost or destroyed by allowing interested people to file a petition directly with the Register of Wills (instead of the orphans' court). It authorizes the Register to accept a certified copy of the will for administrative probate if heirs and legatees sign a consent form, eliminating the need for a court order. This bill directly affects executors, heirs, and the Register of Wills office in Maryland, streamlining the process for estates where the original will is unavailable. The law applies only to estates of people who died on or after October 1, 2025, and amends Maryland Code sections 5-802 and 5-804.

Maddy summaryHB 401 requires Maryland state correctional facilities to pay for telephone services used by incarcerated individuals directly to providers, eliminating fees charged to inmates or their call recipients. The bill mandates a ratio of one phone for every ten inmates and prohibits facilities from using phone access to replace in-person visitation time. It also establishes a Costs of Telephone Communications Advisory Committee - including formerly incarcerated individuals, advocates, and correctional staff - to oversee implementation. This policy change directly affects all incarcerated people in Maryland state facilities by removing financial barriers to communication with family and support networks. The bill amends existing law to shift telephone service costs from inmates to state facilities, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires owners of private construction projects and contractors to include specific payment terms in contracts. It mandates that owners pay contractors within 60 days of receiving a valid invoice after work completion, and if payment is withheld, they must provide written notice explaining the reason within 60 days. Unpaid amounts accrue 9% annual interest starting on the 60th day. Subcontractors must also be paid within 60 days of invoice or 7 days after the contractor receives payment from the owner. This law directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and property owners involved in Maryland construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Task Force to study how Maryland can improve support for people returning to society after incarceration. The group includes government officials, legal representatives, and individuals with personal experience in the criminal justice system, such as former inmates and family members of those currently in prison. The Task Force will evaluate current reentry services, identify missing resources, and create a plan to form a new Division of Returning Citizens within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This proposed division would coordinate existing programs and expand access to housing, employment, socialization, and health services for individuals after their release.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Melanie Nicholle Diaz Fire Safety Act, establishes new fire safety requirements for residential rental high-rise buildings in Maryland to improve occupant protection. It mandates the installation of specific smoke detectors in public corridors of these buildings starting July 1, 2024, and requires owners to post notices if their buildings lack complete automatic sprinkler systems. The legislation also ensures that tenants who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing receive appropriate notification appliances without having to pay for them or provide documentation. Additionally, the bill creates a workgroup to develop best practices for pre-1974 high-rise apartments and allows local governments to offer property tax credits for buildings that make qualifying fire safety improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Gwynns Falls State Park as a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Baltimore City, creating a shared unit of the state park system focused on outdoor recreation and education. The park will include specific existing properties such as Leakin Park and the Gwynns Falls Trail, with a formal agreement defining the financial and operational roles of both the state and the city. To guide development, the law requires the state and city to conduct community surveys, hold focus group meetings, and create an advisory committee comprised of neighborhood, environmental, and historic preservation representatives. Additionally, the bill mandates a summer conservation jobs program for high school students and requires a detailed report to be submitted to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, outlining suitable properties and funding needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Qualified Resident Enrollment Program to help individuals in Maryland who currently lack health insurance access enroll in qualified plans. It defines "qualified residents" as people living in the state who are not incarcerated, regardless of their immigration status, and who do not qualify for existing federal or state assistance programs like Medicaid or Medicare. The program allows the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to manage enrollment, potentially with help from a third-party contractor, and requires a specific federal waiver approval before it can begin. Additionally, the legislation creates a dedicated fund to finance the program's operations and administration, ensuring it has the necessary resources to function.

Maddy summaryThis law, known as Gabriel's Law, requires Maryland law enforcement and emergency medical services to immediately respond to wellness check requests from healthcare providers or others with credible information about a life-threatening safety concern. When a life-threatening condition is reported, fire, rescue, or emergency medical teams must conduct the check at the same time as police officers. The bill applies to individuals within the agency's jurisdiction and mandates that requests be forwarded without delay to the appropriate agency if the person is located elsewhere. These provisions take effect on October 1, 2024, and aim to streamline the process for ensuring the well-being of individuals in crisis.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover custom devices known as orthoses, which are used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions. Starting in 2025, these plans must provide coverage for both the initial devices and their replacements, ensuring that replacement costs are not unfairly restricted if repairs would be too expensive or if the patient's condition changes. The legislation also mandates that insurers treat these devices as essential health benefits without imposing separate deductibles, higher copayments, or lifetime spending caps. Additionally, the bill prohibits discrimination in coverage decisions based on disability and sets clear standards for when a doctor can determine a device is medically necessary for daily living or physical activities.