Del. Edith Patterson

Maddy summaryHB 1306 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to establish three specialized clinics for sickle cell disease treatment in Montgomery County, Harford County, and an Eastern Shore county by 2027. These clinics must operate under a hub-and-spoke model, providing comprehensive care including pain management, mental health services, genetic counseling, and telehealth access to specialists, while addressing social barriers like transportation and housing. The bill also creates a scholarship program for medical residents specializing in hematology with a sickle cell focus, requiring them to practice in Maryland after training. Funding of $6 million for fiscal year 2027 must cover clinic operations, staffing, social support services, and prioritizes hiring specialists and addressing health disparities. The Department must annually report on clinic outcomes, patient access, and efforts to reduce health disparities.

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 1242 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Department of Health to form a workgroup studying vision support for K-12 students. The workgroup will analyze how many students fail vision screenings, whether they receive follow-up care (like glasses), and barriers like insurance access. It will also evaluate current programs across school districts, identify successful models from other states, and recommend improvements for tracking vision needs and connecting students to services. The bill does not create new programs but mandates a study to inform future policy, directly affecting all primary and secondary students in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 912 requires Maryland colleges and universities to train instructors on federal disability laws (the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) and how to provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities. New instructors must complete this training before teaching, and current instructors must do so by October 1, 2026. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will develop a model training program for institutions to adopt. This law applies to all higher education institutions in Maryland, except those already offering training that meets the required standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1513 prohibits school resource officers and school security employees in Maryland public schools from engaging in federal immigration investigation or enforcement activities. It directly affects school security personnel, including law enforcement officers assigned to schools under memorandums of understanding and non-officer security staff. The bill adds Section 7-1508.1 to Maryland’s education code, explicitly banning the use of school security staff for federal immigration enforcement functions under Section 287(g) of federal law. The prohibition takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1287 prohibits manufacturing, selling, purchasing, receiving, or transferring "convertible pistols" in Maryland. A convertible pistol is defined as any semiautomatic pistol that can be converted into a machine gun solely by attaching a switch or auto-sear. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Law to specifically target these firearms, directly affecting anyone handling such weapons or their conversion components. It does not ban all semiautomatic pistols, only those that meet this specific conversion definition. The law aims to prevent the use of devices that enable rapid-fire capabilities through simple attachment.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations that cover chemotherapy for cancer treatment to also cover scalp cooling systems. These systems help preserve hair during chemotherapy, directly benefiting cancer patients receiving chemo who face hair loss as a side effect. The bill mandates this coverage for all policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2026. It applies specifically to insurers providing hospital, medical, or surgical benefits related to cancer treatment.

Maddy summaryHB 578 requires Board of Public Works approval for Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority contracts related to roads, bridges, or highways valued at $500,000 or more. It exempts contracts below this threshold from Board review and mandates 40 days' written notice to local governments before land acquisition for transportation projects. The bill also specifies that the Board retains authority over procurement for itself and must ensure consistent procedures across agencies. This change standardizes oversight for major transportation contracts while maintaining exemptions for smaller projects.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill (HB 1165) allows a parent to request an emergency court hearing if the other parent violates a court-ordered visitation schedule without valid reason. If approved, the court must hold a hearing within 10 days and can order the noncompliant parent to pay for missed visitation time, attend parenting classes, cover legal costs, or schedule additional time that aligns with the child’s best interests. It directly affects parents in custody disputes and courts enforcing visitation agreements under Maryland’s Family Law. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and focuses on enforcing existing schedules rather than changing custody arrangements.

Maddy summaryHB 923 adds two new positions to Maryland's State Board of Education: an Educational Support Member and an Administrator Member. The Educational Support Member must be a non-certified, non-supervisory school employee in a bargaining unit, elected by their peers; the Administrator Member must be a principal or similar school administrator, elected by administrators. Both members would serve alongside the existing 13 regular members and can attend executive sessions but cannot vote on appeals to the State Board under §6-202. This bill amends Maryland’s education code to formalize these election processes and qualifications for the new roles.