Rep. Ken Kerr

Maddy summaryHB 1091 requires health insurers and dental plan organizations to directly reimburse dentists not in their network (nonpreferred dentists) when a patient assigns their insurance benefits to the dentist, and prohibits them from blocking such assignments. It also mandates that nonpreferred dentists inform patients about their non-network status, potential out-of-pocket costs, and payment terms before providing care, and submit a disclosure form to the insurer for the assignment. Insurers may still refuse direct payment only in specific cases, such as if the assignment was received too late, an error occurred, the patient withdrew the assignment, or the patient paid the dentist at the time of service. The bill directly affects non-network dentists, their patients, and insurance companies covering dental services.

Maddy summaryHB 894, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, automatically designates qualifying transit-oriented developments (near rail stations with at least hourly service Monday-Friday 8am-6pm) as enterprise zones, granting tax incentives without separate approval. The bill requires the Maryland Development Corporation to prioritize redevelopment projects near transit in its loan programs and delays certain development fees for residential housing projects. It also changes local land use regulations near transit stations by altering municipal authority to restrict development in these areas.

Maddy summaryHB 430 requires family child care providers who are members of the National Guard or military reserves to designate a substitute provider when they are away for required training or active duty. This applies specifically to providers operating registered family child care homes, which care for up to eight children in a home setting. The law limits substitute care to no more than 45 working days per year. The bill amends Maryland's child care licensing laws (adding Section 9.5-305.1) to establish this requirement, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 439 is a renaming bill that updates the official names of two Maryland state entities. It changes "Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to "Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing" and similarly renames the "Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing" to include "Deafblind" in its title. The bill makes technical updates to multiple sections of Maryland law to reflect these new names across state government references. This change directly affects how these offices and councils are formally identified in state documents and communications, with no new policies or services being created.

Maddy summaryHB 552 establishes an independent investigation into the historical House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, a former state detention facility in Prince George’s County that housed Black youth for over a century. The investigation will use ground-penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves, review historical records to identify deceased children, and determine causes of death and institutional conditions. It requires the appointed investigators - selected for expertise in civil rights, historical inquiry, and juvenile justice - to produce a public report with recommendations for a memorial, dignified reburial of remains, and policy changes for future deaths in state custody. This bill directly affects descendants of the children buried there and the public seeking accountability for this neglected chapter of Maryland’s history.

Maddy summaryHB 6 requires Maryland's public colleges and universities to collect and report data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, guardians, or caregivers of children. Public institutions must adopt a plan by October 2026 that provides referrals to government assistance programs (like WIC, child care scholarships, and Medicaid), campus accommodations, and health services for pregnant and parenting students. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will collect this data annually starting in 2027 and submit reports to legislative committees. This bill directly affects all students enrolled at Maryland's public higher education institutions (including University System schools, Morgan State, and St. Mary’s College) who are pregnant or parenting.

Maddy summaryHB 193 updates Maryland's state procurement rules to increase transparency and clarify procedures. It requires state agencies to provide debriefings to unsuccessful bidders upon request, explaining contract award decisions. The bill adds exemptions allowing vendors to assist in drafting bids without conflict of interest concerns (e.g., sharing technical specs or commenting on drafts). It also mandates that contracts include clauses requiring fair adjustments for cost/time increases caused by new laws, and streamlines how disputes over procurement claims are reviewed. These changes directly affect state agencies, contractors, and businesses bidding on government contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 461 establishes the Rural Readiness Program, administered by the Rural Maryland Council, to help rural communities improve their capacity for economic development. It also creates a permanent Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to provide grants for planning and capacity-building initiatives. The program assists eligible applicants - including local governments, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and regional planning agencies - with grant applications and project development. Successful participants receive a completion certificate that grants them priority for three specific state grant programs focused on rural economic growth.

Maddy summaryHB 329 prohibits school resource officers (SROs) in Maryland from engaging in sexual activity, contact, or intercourse with students enrolled in schools where they are assigned. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Law (Section 3-314) to explicitly add students at an SRO's assigned school as a protected group under this prohibition, with penalties including up to 3 years in jail or a $3,000 fine for violations. It defines "school resource officer" in Education Law (Section 7-1501) to clarify the scope of the restriction. The law applies directly to law enforcement officers serving in school settings and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1109 creates the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, a statewide volunteer network for emergencies like disease outbreaks or disasters, managed by the Maryland Department of Health. It requires the Department to notify county health officers about procurement opportunities for electronic health records systems, allowing counties to join without state approval if fully funded locally. The bill establishes a Public Health Workforce Development Fund (using interest earnings and transfers from another fund) and mandates the Department of Legislative Services to assess health equity impacts of new legislation. These changes directly affect county health departments, the Department of Health, and public health workforce planning.