Del. Mark Fisher

Maddy summaryHB 666 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and most health insurance plans to cover calcium score testing for individuals with specific heart disease risk factors. It directly affects people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of early heart disease - requiring coverage if they have at least three of these risk factors. The law mandates coverage starting January 1, 2026, for Medicaid and all health insurance policies issued or renewed after that date. This change applies to insurers, nonprofit health plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations operating in Maryland. The bill does not alter coverage for other medical services but specifically adds calcium scoring to required benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 668 designates November 7 as "Victims of Communism Memorial Day" in Maryland, requiring the Governor to annually proclaim this day. The bill directs the Department of Legislative Services to send a copy of the act to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. This ceremonial observance, effective October 1, 2025, does not impose new taxes or regulations but formally recognizes the historical impact of communist regimes. The legislation aligns with existing federal recognition of the day, as established by President Trump in 2017.

Maddy summaryHB 1399 prohibits licensed health care practitioners in Maryland from prescribing, dispensing, or administering cross-sex hormones (like estrogen or testosterone) or providing cross-sex hormone therapy to minors for the treatment of gender dysphoria. It defines "cross-sex hormone therapy" as treatment developing secondary sex characteristics for gender transition and explicitly targets therapy for gender-related mental health conditions in minors under 18. Violations are classified as a felony punishable by up to life imprisonment. The law, titled the "Protect the Kids Act," takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 982, the "Gun Theft Felony Act of 2025," reclassifies the theft of any firearm as a felony regardless of the firearm's value. Currently, firearm theft could be charged as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500, but this bill makes all firearm thefts automatically felonies. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Law to require that anyone convicted of stealing a firearm must restore the firearm to the owner or pay its value, with penalties including up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $25,000 based on the firearm’s value. This change directly affects individuals who steal firearms, increasing penalties for this specific offense.

Maddy summaryHB 653 mandates that Maryland correctional facilities must transfer undocumented immigrants serving sentences for specific offenses to U.S. Homeland Security. It directly affects undocumented immigrants incarcerated in Maryland who are convicted of terrorism/espionage threats, gang-related crimes (under federal definitions), aggravated felonies, or certain sexual offenses requiring registration. The bill requires transfer if an individual meets any of five specified conditions, including active gang participation or conviction for an aggravated felony. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and adds these requirements to Maryland's Correctional Services code.

Maddy summaryHB 1271 requires healthcare providers to perform a transabdominal ultrasound before most abortions, with a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the ultrasound (or 2 hours if the patient lives 100+ miles from the facility). The bill mandates specific ultrasound standards, including measuring fetal development, offering to show the image or fetal heartbeat, and documenting results. Crucially, it states patients cannot be forced to accept any offered services during the ultrasound, such as viewing the image or receiving a printout. This law directly affects women seeking abortions in Maryland and the healthcare providers performing them, adding procedural requirements to the existing abortion access framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1258, the Energy Equality Act of 2025, prohibits local or state governments from restricting the sale, purchase, or use of consumer goods (including vehicles and appliances) solely based on their energy source, such as electricity, gasoline, or natural gas. It repeals existing Maryland laws requiring the Department of the Environment to maintain a low emissions vehicle program and to establish sales requirements for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The bill also defines "consumer good" broadly to cover personal, household, and agricultural items powered by any authorized energy source. This legislation removes current restrictions on energy source choices for these goods, applying retroactively to existing regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1535 repeals a surcharge currently added to electric and gas bills in Maryland that funded energy efficiency programs and supported greenhouse gas reduction goals. The bill removes the requirement for utility companies to recover costs for past energy efficiency programs (including those from 2008) through this surcharge and eliminates the need for companies to disclose how the surcharge covers these historical costs. It also amends related provisions that allowed the surcharge to be used for rate relief for residential customers. As a result, the surcharge will no longer appear on customer utility bills.

Maddy summaryHB 1536 creates a 60-day tax- and fee-free period for Maryland residential and commercial customers of electric and gas utilities, suspending specific state taxes and fees during this time. The bill directly affects utility customers by eliminating payments for taxes and fees outlined in sections of the Tax-General and Public Utilities Articles. It requires the Comptroller to announce the period and mandates refunds for any state taxes or fees paid in error during this suspension, whether collected directly by the Comptroller or by public service companies. This policy change provides immediate financial relief for utility customers without altering existing tax structures beyond the specified 60-day period.

Maddy summaryHB 925 requires Maryland's General Assembly to appoint a 7-member delegation (called "commissioners") and an advisory committee if an Article V constitutional convention is called by other states. The bill sets strict qualifications for commissioners, including being a U.S. citizen and Maryland resident for at least 5 years, 25 years old, a registered voter, and having no recent federal lobbying or employment ties. It outlines procedures for appointing commissioners via joint resolution, administering an oath, and allowing recall by the General Assembly or advisory committee. This is a procedural bill preparing Maryland's framework for potential participation in a federal constitutional convention, not a substantive policy change.