Del. Edith Patterson

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 establishes Maryland's Adapted Vehicle Access Pilot Program to provide modified vehicles to eligible individuals who require a wheelchair for mobility, are licensed drivers, and qualify to operate adapted vehicles. The Department of Disabilities will administer the program, prioritizing participants in areas with limited public transportation access, and solicit donations of vehicles, modification services, and funds to support it. The bill requires the department to study the program's impacts on participants' independence, mobility, job opportunities, and reliance on public subsidies, with a final report due by December 1, 2028. The pilot program is set to run for five years, ending automatically on September 30, 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 600, the "Educational Equality for Service Members Act," updates Maryland's education laws to ensure eligibility for educator certification applies equally to all uniformed services (including National Guard, reserves, and other service branches), not just the traditional armed forces. It revises definitions throughout education statutes to replace "military" with "uniformed services" and clarifies that "veteran" includes those discharged within one year for certification purposes. The bill maintains the existing requirement for active service members, eligible veterans, and their spouses to hold a valid out-of-state license and meet basic qualifications to qualify for expedited certification. This change directly affects service members and veterans seeking teaching careers in Maryland by aligning certification pathways with current service definitions.

Maddy summaryHB 691, the Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act, redefines "uniformed services" to include the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extending veteran benefits to their members who meet federal veteran criteria. The bill amends Maryland's tax, pension, and personnel laws to apply the same rules to all uniformed services - not just the armed forces - ensuring equal access to state benefits like tax relief and retirement programs. It specifically updates definitions in the Maryland Code to include these service members in state programs previously limited to military veterans. This directly affects service members in non-military uniformed services and state agencies administering veteran benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 325 allows adults seeking a high school diploma through the GED exam to take all test components in either English or Spanish, directly affecting adult learners, particularly English language learners with interrupted education. The bill requires Maryland's Department of Labor to study offering the exam in additional languages and submit a report to legislative committees by December 2026. It amends existing law to expand language options for the exam while maintaining other eligibility requirements, such as not having previously earned a diploma. The policy change focuses on improving access to the diploma pathway through language flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 618 repeals a ban on internet-based lottery sales, specifically authorizing Maryland's State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to allow electronic purchases of subscription plans through devices like smartphones or computers. The bill directly affects the Lottery Agency, which gains the authority to establish such systems, and Maryland residents who buy subscription lottery plans online. Key provisions remove the existing prohibition (Section 9-111(e)(1)) and add an exception permitting internet subscription sales (Section 9-111(e)(2)). The change takes effect July 1, 2025, enabling new electronic purchasing options for recurring lottery subscriptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 (Ace's Law) requires public and nonpublic schools in Maryland to notify a student's parent or guardian within 24 hours if a student leaves school grounds without permission ("elopement"), except for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Behavior Intervention Plan addressing wandering/elopement. Schools must also submit annual reports starting in 2026 detailing elopement incidents by student demographics (disability, race, gender, etc.) and steps taken to prevent them, including staff training on identifying and addressing such behavior. The State Department of Education will collect these reports from school districts and nonpublic schools, verifying data accuracy for zero-incidence reports. This law directly affects schools, parents/guardians, and state education officials through mandatory notifications and data reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 782 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to study how public middle and high schools can better detect deadly weapons and rapidly report findings to law enforcement. The study mandates a comprehensive audit of all schools' current security systems - including physical measures, technology gaps, and potential improvements - and specifically evaluates unused detection methods, AI software integration, optimal camera placement, and expanded metal detector use. The Department must complete this study and submit findings to the House Speaker and Ways and Means Committee by December 1, 2025, with the bill automatically ending on June 30, 2026. This bill affects all Maryland public middle and high schools by directing a formal review of their security protocols, without implementing new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 452 requires the Maryland Green Building Council to update outdoor lighting guidelines by October 2026, focusing on reducing light pollution and setting a color temperature limit of 3,000K or lower for new fixtures. It prohibits state funds from being used for outdoor lighting on state buildings, parks, or trails unless fixtures meet specific efficiency standards, including using 3,000K or cooler light, minimizing upward light spill, and providing only necessary illumination. Exemptions include Department of Transportation projects, correctional facilities, and sports field lighting. The bill also creates a waiver process for special lighting needs and mandates a Department of Transportation review of highway lighting practices by September 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 establishes a temporary pilot program to help foster youth aged 16-22 access childcare subsidies. It directly affects youth who were in state foster care at age 18 or older, removing specific barriers like proof of employment, parental information, or parental authorization from the application process. The program, running from 2026-2028, requires the Department to track subsidy usage monthly and report annually to the legislature on progress. It aims to simplify access to childcare support during critical transitions to adulthood. The bill does not change subsidy amounts but streamlines eligibility for this specific group.