Del. Karen Simpson

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.

Maddy summaryHB 1123 removes the requirement for the governor to approve medical parole decisions by the Maryland Parole Commission for inmates serving life sentences. It directly affects incarcerated individuals with severe medical conditions who qualify for medical parole. The bill mandates the Department of Public Safety to submit specific inmate names to the Commission, requires risk assessments for certain cases, and sets deadlines for parole hearings. It also authorizes the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board to recommend funding for the Commission to support these parole processes. These changes streamline the medical parole process while maintaining safety considerations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Maryland's tax code to exempt properties owned by public housing authorities (including Baltimore Housing Authority, Howard County Housing Commission, and Montgomery County Housing Authority) and certain nonprofit housing corporations from state and local taxes when used for housing eligible low-income residents. It requires these entities to make "payments in lieu of taxes" to local governments through negotiated agreements. The exemption applies to properties directly owned or held through subsidiary entities of these housing authorities. The changes update existing tax law under Maryland's Housing and Community Development code (Section 12-104).

Maddy summaryHB 786 authorizes Maryland's Appellate Court to hold sessions at any secondary (e.g., high schools) or postsecondary (e.g., colleges) educational institution in the state, not just the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus and University of Baltimore as previously allowed. This change requires the Chief Judge to coordinate with school administrators to designate specific institutions for sessions. The bill modifies existing law to expand where the court can operate while maintaining the requirement that sessions must be held for at least ten months annually in Annapolis unless designated otherwise. It does not alter court procedures or affect the public directly, only changing the court's scheduling flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 442 allows statements made by children under 13 to qualified forensic interviewers to be used as evidence in court for specific cases involving child abuse, sexual offenses, or neglect. It applies when the child is a victim or witness in cases under Maryland law (e.g., abuse under §3-601, sexual offenses under §3-303, or neglect under §3-602.1). For admissibility, the statement must be made to a trained forensic interviewer (not law enforcement, working at a child advocacy center), and the court must provide notice to the defendant and follow specific procedures, including requiring corroborating evidence if the child does not testify. This bill directly affects child victims/witnesses in criminal or juvenile court cases and changes how their out-of-court statements can be presented in court.

Maddy summaryHB 437 amends Maryland's criminal code to clarify and expand protections against surreptitious visual surveillance with a sexual motive (prurient intent). It specifically defines "private place" to include residences, tanning rooms, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and restrooms, and defines "private area" as genitals, buttocks, or female breast below the areola. The bill makes it a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $2,500 fine) to conduct such surveillance without consent in these areas, and allows victims to sue for damages and attorney fees. It directly affects individuals who might engage in non-consensual surveillance in locations where people reasonably expect privacy.

Maddy summaryHB 438 (Buddy's Law) increases the maximum compensatory damages for pet owners when someone negligently causes injury or death to their domesticated pet. It raises the cap from $10,000 to $25,000, covering costs like veterinary care and the pet’s fair market value before death. The law specifically applies to domesticated pets (excluding livestock) and affects owners in Maryland whose pets are harmed by negligence. The bill amends Maryland’s tort law and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 241 clarifies that "spouse" includes a former spouse for confidentiality purposes in Maryland law. It allows a spouse who is the alleged victim in a criminal case (where one spouse is charged with a crime against the other) to legally share confidential communications that occurred during the marriage. However, the bill also states that a spouse cannot be forced to testify about such communications under this provision. The law affects individuals in marital relationships (current or former) involved in criminal cases involving spousal crimes, specifically changing how confidential communications may be handled in court. The bill amends Maryland's Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code, Section 9-105.

Maddy summaryHB 293 allows courts in Maryland to order child victims of abuse to testify via closed-circuit TV outside the courtroom when their presence with the defendant would cause serious emotional distress that prevents them from communicating. This applies to cases under Maryland’s Family Law or Criminal Law regarding child abuse, but only if the defendant has legal representation. The bill specifies that defendants cannot be in the same room as the child during testimony, and limits who may be present (attorneys, therapists, or others supporting the child). It also prohibits two-way video that would let the child see or hear the defendant during testimony. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 492 authorizes Frederick County's Human Resources Director to request state and national criminal history checks for both current and prospective county employees and volunteers. The bill requires submitting two sets of approved fingerprints, paying Maryland and FBI fees, and mandates that the Central Repository forwards results only to the applicant and HR. It strictly prohibits redisseminating the confidential results and limits their use solely to personnel decisions for county employment. This bill directly affects all Frederick County employees and volunteers who undergo background checks under this new procedure.