Del. Andrew Pruski

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a Maryland property tax credit for disabled veterans to include those with a nonpermanent, 100% service-connected disability rating, in addition to existing eligibility for permanent disabilities of at least 50%. It also adjusts the credit amounts, offering 50% relief for veterans with ratings of 75% or higher and 25% relief for those with ratings between 50% and 74%, provided their income does not exceed $100,000. Local governments retain the authority to set their own rules for the program, including the option to limit eligibility to only the permanent disability category or to extend the credit to the surviving spouses of veterans.

Maddy summaryThe Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act expands Maryland's apprenticeship program to include a broader range of public safety agencies, such as correctional facilities, in addition to traditional law enforcement departments. This bill increases the maximum grant amount for agencies participating in the program from $2,000 to $5,000 per apprentice and adjusts eligibility requirements to ensure apprentices live in areas with at least 10% poverty. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission develop mental health wellness policies for law enforcement and correctional facilities while establishing a workgroup to study ways to increase employment in these sectors.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated. It requires peace officers to transport people needing emergency evaluation to a nearby facility rather than strictly the nearest one, and it allows psychiatric nurse practitioners to conduct these evaluations alongside physicians. The legislation also mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to follow a treatment plan if they refuse voluntary care. Additionally, the bill ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these proceedings and permits electronic submission of necessary petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention within the Maryland Department of Health to address gun violence and misuse through a public health approach. The center will be led by an executive director who coordinates efforts with federal, state, and local agencies while actively seeking input from communities disproportionately affected by firearm violence and public health experts. Key responsibilities include developing state plans for violence reduction, issuing guidance on evidence-based strategies, facilitating data sharing, and conducting public awareness campaigns. Funding for the center will be included in the state budget starting in fiscal year 2026, and the law takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Jaycee Webster Victims' Rights Act, requires Maryland commitment units to inform victims, their representatives, and witnesses when a defendant or child respondent is released from confinement. When sending these notifications, the facility must include the name and phone number of a specific victim services employee from the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center to assist those affected. The law also mandates that commitment units notify these individuals about other significant events, such as escapes, transfers, or the death of the person in custody. Additionally, the legislation protects the privacy of witnesses and victims by prohibiting commitment units from sharing their contact information with the defendants.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets the annual salary for the Sheriff of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, at $133,000 for the years 2015 through 2024. Starting in 2025, the Sheriff's pay will be tied to the salary of a Captain at step 20 within the Anne Arundel County Police Department's pay scale. The law specifies that these salary changes will take effect at the beginning of the next term of office for the Sheriff, with the act itself becoming effective on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for Class 4 limited winery licenses in Maryland to allow producers to make wine and brandy using a wider variety of state-grown agricultural products instead of requiring them to use only grapes. It changes the ownership requirement so that license holders must either own at least 20 acres of Maryland-grown crops or ensure that over half of their wine ingredients come from the state. The legislation also removes the ability to blend purchased finished wine with their own production, while permitting the purchase of up to 75% of finished wine made entirely from Maryland-grown ingredients. Additionally, it expands the list of specific foods that winery license holders can prepare and sell on-site, such as ice cream, jam, and pizza, and clarifies that these activities can occur seven days a week between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special, nonlapsing fund within the Maryland Department of Labor to cover the costs of regulating household goods movers. It requires the department to calculate annual operational expenses and set registration fees based on those calculations, while limiting any annual fee increase to a maximum of 12.5%. Any investment earnings generated by the fund must be transferred to the state's General Fund rather than being retained by the department. Additionally, the bill keeps existing fees in place until the new fee structure is officially adopted and takes effect.

Maddy summaryHB 432 updates Maryland state laws to replace the outdated term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" across various court and criminal procedure statutes. This change directly affects legal definitions used in juvenile proceedings, competency evaluations, and the handling of defendants who may be unable to stand trial. The bill ensures that references to intellectual disabilities are consistent throughout the legal code, including sections governing the commitment of children and the assessment of defendants' fitness for trial. By modernizing this terminology, the legislation aligns state laws with current medical and social standards without altering the underlying legal processes.