Del. Ken Kerr

Maddy summaryHB 728 redefines the allowable uses of Maryland's Opioid Restitution Fund to explicitly permit funding for the operating expenses and personnel costs of the Opioids Enforcement Unit within the Office of the Attorney General. This unit conducts investigations and enforcement actions related to recovering funds from opioid-related judgments and settlements. The bill specifically amends Section 7-331(f)(5) of the Maryland Annotated Code to add this provision, while maintaining the Fund's existing uses for prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs. It directly affects the Attorney General's Office and ensures enforcement activities can be supported using restitution funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 establishes the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiver Advisory Council to advise the Developmental Disabilities Administration on Medicaid waiver programs. The council provides recommendations on system design, service delivery, and quality improvements, prioritizing input from individuals with lived experience in these programs. It requires 18 voting members with direct experience in waiver programs (including self-directed and traditional models), plus representatives from providers, advocacy groups, and state agencies like Health, Disabilities, and Human Services. The council must operate using person-centered, equitable, and data-driven approaches to enhance services for Medicaid waiver participants.

Maddy summaryHB 507 amends Maryland's state contracting law to prohibit specific clauses that could harm the State's financial interests. It explicitly bans contract terms preventing the State from recovering extra costs when replacing a non-performing contractor - ensuring the State can seek reimbursement if the combined cost of the original and replacement contractor exceeds the original contract price. This applies to all state contracts except those for racing facilities, affecting state agencies and contractors who enter into such agreements. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and voids any prohibited clause, treating contracts as if those terms were never included.

Maddy summaryHB 1143 allows dental hygienists to provide preventive dental services in Maryland schools and school-based health centers under general dentist supervision (without requiring a dentist to be physically present on-site). It creates a Maryland Collaborative composed of health, education, and community representatives to study and recommend improvements to school-based dental programs. The bill directly affects all Maryland school children, particularly those in underserved communities where 21% have untreated dental decay and pandemic-era access to preventive care dropped to 56.5% for Medicaid-covered children. The Collaborative will develop strategies to address these gaps, building on existing school dental initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 1380 requires Maryland hospitals providing obstetrical services and freestanding birthing centers to meet minimum perinatal care standards as a condition of licensure. The bill mandates the Maryland Department of Health to adopt regulations establishing these standards, which must meet or exceed existing Maryland Perinatal System Standards. Hospitals and birthing centers must comply with these standards to maintain their operating licenses. The law amends specific sections of Maryland's Health Code (19-319 and 19-3B-03) to implement this requirement, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 996, the Phenibut Consumer Protection Act, regulates the sale of phenibut products (containing beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCL) by requiring retailers to disclose factual claims on product labels and prohibiting sales of unsafe or mislabeled products. It bans selling phenibut to anyone under 21, prohibits advertising therapeutic benefits or marketing to minors (including restrictions on cartoons, superheroes, or youth-targeted imagery), and bans products adulterated with dangerous substances. Retailers violating these rules face civil penalties up to $1,000 for labeling issues or criminal fines up to $5,000 for safety or age violations. The bill also mandates the Maryland Department of Health to report on adverse health events linked to phenibut use by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 268 requires Maryland hospitals to provide free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and reduced-cost care to patients with income between 201% and 500% FPL who experience financial hardship (defined as medical debt exceeding 25% of family income over 12 months). Specifically, for patients earning 201% to 250% FPL, hospitals must reduce out-of-pocket expenses by at least 75%. The bill also updates notice requirements for hospitals' financial assistance policies and prohibits hospitals from filing civil actions to collect debts below a specified threshold. These changes directly affect hospitals and patients facing medical debt, aiming to improve access to care for low- and middle-income residents.

Maddy summaryHB 367 prevents Maryland health boards from requiring additional English proficiency proof for nursing license applicants who already hold a valid, unrestricted license from another state that requires English proficiency for licensure. It requires boards to maintain an online list of states with comparable English requirements and updates acceptable proof methods (like graduation from English-speaking schools, passing U.S. HHS-approved exams, or holding a multistate nursing license). The bill specifically applies to nurses seeking licensure in Maryland through endorsement, eliminating redundant testing for those qualified in other states. It amends Maryland’s Health Occupations laws to streamline the process for out-of-state nursing license applicants.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 (Maryland Values Act) requires Maryland correctional facilities to detain and transfer individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and have been convicted of a violent crime to federal immigration authorities within 48 hours when requested. It prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining people or prolonging arrests based on immigration status during routine stops or investigations, and bans transferring individuals to federal immigration authorities except for the defined "covered individuals" (those with violent crime convictions and unlawful presence). The bill also terminates existing immigration enforcement agreements between Maryland entities and federal authorities by a specified deadline. This directly affects state/local correctional facilities, law enforcement officers, and individuals with certain immigration statuses and violent crime convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and maintain an online directory of home health care providers. The directory must let people search for providers by criteria like language skills, certifications, or special training, and include details such as provider names, licenses, training, and abuse reports. It directly affects individuals seeking home health care services (like nursing or therapy in their homes) and the home health care providers themselves. The bill does not change licensing rules but aims to make it easier for people to find qualified providers and supports provider recruitment through features like job listings and training connections.