Rep. William Wivell

Maddy summaryHB 775 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Correction to notify specific officials when an incarcerated person dies in a state correctional facility. The notification must include the cause of death but cannot share protected health information, and must be sent to state legislators representing the facility's district, the local county council or Baltimore City Council, and the county executive or Baltimore mayor. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services must adopt regulations compliant with federal privacy laws (HIPAA) to implement this requirement. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to all state correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1327 modifies funding rules for Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority, directly affecting local jurisdictions and organizations managing certified heritage areas. It increases grant coverage from 50% to 80% of project costs for management plans, development, and interpretive exhibits, while setting a $300,000 maximum per grant. The bill also reduces the allowable portion of Program Open Space funds for the Authority's operating expenses from 10% to 7%. These changes streamline grant access for heritage area projects while adjusting fiscal oversight of related funding.

Maddy summaryHB 892 requires Maryland's daily bag limit for Canada geese during the migratory hunting season to match the annual federal limit set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Department of the Interior). This applies specifically to the Atlantic population of Canada geese, including those hunted in both migratory and resident population zones within the state. The bill amends Maryland law to ensure state regulations conform to the federal rule adopted each year, rather than allowing separate state limits. It affects hunters of Canada geese in Maryland and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1558 restricts fundraising activities for Maryland state elected officials during legislative sessions. It prohibits the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and state legislators (or their staff acting on their behalf) from receiving contributions, hosting events, soliciting funds, or depositing money raised during the session - except for specific cases. Exceptions include activities solely for their own federal or local election campaigns, contributions made electronically before the session began, and gubernatorial campaign financing under the Public Financing Act. Violations result in civil penalties paid into the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 889 requires Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to expand its annual juvenile striped bass and rockfish survey by adding sampling sites in the central Chesapeake Bay region. Specifically, the bill mandates 12-20 new survey locations in seven designated waterways: Maggoty River, Severn River, Chester River, South River, West River, Eastern Bay, and Miles River. This change supplements existing surveys in northern and southern Bay regions to improve data on young fish populations. The bill directly affects the Department of Natural Resources, which must implement these new survey requirements starting June 1, 2025. The goal is to enhance scientific understanding of striped bass and rockfish stock health in Maryland waters.

Maddy summaryHB 1181 establishes a 17-member task force to study the feasibility of creating a Maryland state park dedicated to veterans' care in Washington County. The task force, including veterans' agency representatives, county officials, and a landowner, will analyze costs, recommend park services (like recreation and therapy), and propose funding models for both startup and ongoing operations. It must report findings to the Governor and relevant committees by December 1, 2026, and the bill expires June 30, 2027, without creating the park itself. This bill directly affects veterans seeking therapeutic services and Washington County residents involved in the proposed park location. The task force’s work is strictly advisory, with no immediate policy changes or funding allocated.

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 1188 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies, agents, and local detention facilities to run a national criminal database search when taking custody of an individual. If the search reveals someone not lawfully present in the U.S. has an outstanding criminal warrant, the agency must notify federal immigration authorities and may hold the person for up to 48 hours to facilitate transfer. The bill prohibits local governments or agencies from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities in these cases. It directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and jail facilities across Maryland, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1374 expands eligibility for publicly funded prekindergarten to include 3-year-olds in certain private providers. It modifies the definition of "Tier I child" to include 3-year-olds whose families meet income requirements (≤300% federal poverty level) or are homeless, live in counties where private providers have opted to enroll them, and choose full-day programs. Eligible private providers (licensed, charging tuition ≤ "cost of quality," meeting quality standards) must sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards to enroll these children. The bill directly affects qualifying 3-year-olds, eligible private prekindergarten providers, and local departments responsible for notifying families about enrollment options.

Maddy summaryHB 1185 allows Maryland public high schools to permit homeschool students enrolled in state-approved home instruction programs to join school sports teams under the same conditions as enrolled students. It specifically requires schools to follow COMAR guidelines for home instruction programs and gives priority to enrolled students if team spots are limited. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to clarify that homeschoolers in compliant programs may participate in athletic activities outside regular school hours without earning academic credit. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting homeschool families and public high school athletic departments.