Del. Edith Patterson

Maddy summaryHB 1070 requires the Maryland Department of Health to study the feasibility of installing and maintaining landline telephone systems in assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, and nursing homes. The study must examine current phone access, costs (equipment, installation, maintenance), benefits for residents (social interaction, emergency access), potential barriers (infrastructure, regulations), and funding options. It also mandates consulting facility staff, advocacy groups, and residents/families. The Department must submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by September 30, 2026. This bill does not mandate phone installation but directs a comprehensive assessment of the issue.

Maddy summaryHB 647 prohibits the involuntary placement of pregnant incarcerated individuals in restrictive housing in Maryland correctional facilities, except in limited emergency situations involving immediate risks of serious harm or flight that cannot be managed otherwise. The bill requires facilities to document why less restrictive options weren’t used, conduct medical assessments every 8 hours if placement occurs, and review decisions every 24 hours with written confirmation. It also mandates that pregnant individuals in restrictive housing receive a tailored health treatment plan, access to regular recreation and visits, and housing in the least restrictive setting possible. This bill directly affects pregnant people in Maryland’s state correctional system, with specific requirements for facility staff and oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1422 establishes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study and recommend benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by historical inequitable government policies (such as housing segregation and redlining during the Jim Crow era). The Commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, historians, community representatives, and public members, will examine U.S. reparations models and potential benefits like monetary compensation, tax rebates, or housing assistance. It must submit a preliminary report by January 2027 and a final report by November 2027 to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on research and recommendations, not on implementing specific reparations.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 expands juvenile court jurisdiction in Maryland by removing previous restrictions that excluded certain serious cases from juvenile court. It directly affects children aged 10 or older accused of specific violent or dangerous offenses (like murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, or firearm-related crimes) that would be treated as adult crimes if committed by an adult. The bill repeals provisions that previously barred juvenile court from handling these cases for children 10+ (for certain crimes) or 16+ (for crimes like murder, kidnapping, or firearm offenses), meaning more serious cases will now be processed in juvenile court unless transferred to criminal court. This change shifts jurisdictional authority without altering the underlying criminal laws or penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 868, nicknamed "Granny's Law," allows personal representatives (executors) to petition courts to interpret wills regarding health-related legacies based on the decedent’s intent to address health equity. It applies when a will leaves money to health providers or charities but doesn’t explicitly require it for health equity, even if the decedent lived with health equity interests. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that such legacies must address health equity unless proven otherwise, and requires beneficiaries to show how the legacy was used for that purpose within three years. It also lets courts defer to personal representatives who include specific language in wills authorizing them to act without court approval for health equity efforts. The law applies retroactively to wills probated after a certain date.

Maddy summaryHB 811 requires Maryland counties to annually identify areas where students might walk to school (based on distance eligibility) and report on safe walking routes like sidewalks, crosswalks, or paths. County governing bodies must then build necessary infrastructure to create these safe routes for students, using the reports from school boards. If a required route crosses a non-county road, counties must collaborate with the controlling entity to develop and implement a plan. The bill applies to all counties and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 981 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to evaluate how public schools use artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The bill mandates a survey sent to all school districts by August 2025, asking about AI policies for students (including age, disability, and language needs), current AI tools used for learning, infrastructure readiness, and support needs. The Department of Information Technology must assist by reviewing available AI systems for educational use, analyzing their cost-benefit and pedagogical value, and assessing potential statewide implementation. The evaluation will result in an interim report by January 2026 and a final report by December 2026, directly affecting all Maryland public school systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 requires child care centers, youth-serving organizations, schools, and contracting agencies to collect specific information from applicants for roles involving direct contact with minors. Applicants must provide contact details for recent employers (especially those involving minors), sign consent forms for releasing records about boundary-violating behavior, and disclose any past investigations into such behavior - excluding cases where findings deemed allegations unfounded. The bill also mandates annual reporting of this information to the State Department of Education, which will compile and submit it to the General Assembly. This applies to all entities hiring staff who regularly interact with children, focusing on transparency in hiring practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1177 requires Maryland's Attorney General to establish a toll-free hotline for tenants to report repair and maintenance issues in residential properties (including those owned by federal, state, or local governments), with anonymous reporting allowed. The Attorney General's office can refer tenants to legal aid, report violations to local authorities, or take legal action against landlords for violations. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees starting in 2026, tracking complaint volumes, geographic/demographic breakdowns, resolution times, and patterns like repeated complaints against specific landlords. It directly affects renters facing housing maintenance problems across Maryland, aiming to streamline complaint resolution. The hotline will launch October 1, 2025.