Del. Dana Jones

Maddy summaryHB 76 amends Maryland law to expand death benefit eligibility for public safety officers. It specifically adds "9-1-1 specialists" to the list of covered personnel under Section 1(b)(1)(viii), meaning they now qualify for a $125,000 death benefit if killed while performing duties. The bill also modifies definitions of "performance of duties" for firefighters, hazardous material response teams, and other public safety roles. These changes apply to officers serving in Maryland's uniformed services, including those in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts. The bill does not alter benefit amounts but clarifies eligibility criteria for existing benefit programs.

Maddy summaryHB 830 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, as recommended by healthcare providers and aligned with medical guidelines. It also mandates coverage for follow-up cancer imaging (like mammograms or colonoscopies) if genetic testing indicates increased cancer risk, with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these specific services. The law applies to all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients with cancer risk factors and their insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 385 requires businesses in Maryland using digital point-of-sale systems that automatically prompt customers to leave a tip to: (1) clearly disclose who receives the tip (e.g., employees or the business), and (2) set the default tip amount to $0. This applies to restaurants, bars, and similar service businesses processing card payments. Violating these requirements would be considered an unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practice under Maryland law, subject to enforcement by the Division of Consumer Protection. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with the new requirements applying starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 596 requires Maryland county superintendents to allow advance enrollment for dependent children of active-duty service members relocating due to military orders, using a remote registration process without fees or in-person requirements. It mandates school systems to coordinate with parents and the sending state to prevent delays in enrolling children with disabilities who receive special education services. The bill also requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to publish clear information about enrollment procedures and available support services. This applies to all public schools and specifically benefits military-connected families facing frequent relocations.

Maddy summaryHB 1439 exempts health benefit plans issued through professional employer organizations (PEOs), coemployers, or employee leasing organizations from certain Maryland health insurance requirements that apply to other plans. This directly affects small employers (defined as those with an average of 50 or fewer employees) who use PEOs to provide health benefits to their workers. The bill modifies Maryland’s insurance code to create a specific exemption, removing the need for PEOs to comply with standard health plan rules under Section 15-1204.1(a)(2). This change simplifies access to health benefits for small businesses using PEO services without altering the core requirements for other health plan providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1129 proposes amending Maryland’s constitution to replace gendered pronouns (like "his" and "him") with gender-neutral language in sections describing constitutional officers. It specifically targets Articles II (Executive Department), V (Attorney General), VI (Treasury), and IX (Militia), updating phrases such as "his election" to "the Governor’s election" and "himself" to "themselves." The bill does not alter the roles, powers, or eligibility requirements for these offices - only the language used to describe them. This is a purely linguistic change aimed at modernizing constitutional text to be inclusive of all gender identities.

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Maryland public and private colleges and universities to adopt and enforce specific policies addressing racial, ethnic, and religious harassment, violence, and intimidation. Key provisions include mandating annual staff training on responding to hate incidents, creating anonymous complaint systems, publishing clear rules for campus expression, and holding yearly meetings with student organizations to discuss these policies. Institutions must also recognize the top five demographic groups most affected by hate crimes in Maryland based on annual state data. These requirements apply directly to all higher education institutions in Maryland, their students, faculty, and staff.

Maddy summaryHJ 5 is a non-binding resolution affirming Maryland's commitment to inclusive education. It directs public schools to ensure curricula reflect the histories and experiences of communities that have faced discrimination - including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. The resolution explicitly states that curricula should encompass "the breadth and diversity of Marylanders’ lived experiences" to support students' development as engaged citizens. It does not create new laws or funding requirements but serves as a policy statement for educational institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 1000 updates Maryland's criminal law to strengthen protections for human and pet remains in cemeteries. It expands the definition of "permanent cemetery" to include family- and religious organization-owned sites (previously limited to corporations, nonprofits, or state-owned cemeteries) and prohibits tampering with human remains in cemeteries, as well as damaging, trafficking, or transporting human or pet remains without authorization. Violations carry felony penalties: up to 15 years in prison and $30,000 fines for repeat offenses, with civil lawsuits allowed for family members to seek damages. The bill specifically prohibits handling pet remains in cemeteries, except under a defined exception, and increases penalties for offenses against cemetery structures or funerary objects.