Del. Andrew Pruski

Maddy summaryHB 459, the "James 'Jimmy' Malone Act," requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations in Maryland to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles. It applies to all insurers offering coverage in the state and mandates that counties, municipalities, and state employee health programs comply with these screening coverage requirements. The bill specifies that screenings must follow guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects firefighters employed by state, county, or municipal entities and their health insurance providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Maryland's Section 18-601.1 of the Health-General Article, which previously prohibited individuals with HIV from knowingly transferring the virus to others and imposed criminal penalties (fines up to $2,500 or up to 3 years in jail). It directly affects individuals living with HIV who might have been subject to this specific criminal provision. The key mechanism is the removal of the legal prohibition and associated penalties from Maryland's code, effectively eliminating this criminal charge. This change focuses solely on repealing the existing law, not altering broader HIV transmission policies or public health approaches.

Maddy summaryHB 515 allows qualifying veterans' organizations in Anne Arundel County to convert their existing Class C beer, wine, and liquor licenses to Class C (veterans’ organization) licenses. It reduces the annual license fee from $480 to $300 and permits these organizations to sell alcohol on Sundays without needing a separate Sunday license. The bill also authorizes the county Board of License Commissioners to offer application and administrative fee discounts to eligible veterans' organizations. This directly affects veterans' clubs meeting specific criteria, including having at least 100 members with military service history and annual dues of $5 per member.

Maddy summaryHB 409 increases the annual salary for a part-time deputy chief inspector on Anne Arundel County's Board of License Commissioners from $9,000 to $18,000. It maintains the $7,000 annual salary for 18 part-time inspectors while adding a $300 monthly expense allowance for all inspectors. The bill amends Maryland's Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis code to adjust these compensation rates specifically for Anne Arundel County's licensing enforcement staff. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 850 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry to create and maintain a public data dashboard tracking information about contractors and apprentices working on state public work projects. Contractors must submit weekly data on employee wages, staffing levels, and apprentice details - including trade, certification, demographics, and registration dates - to the Commissioner. The dashboard must be updated monthly, posted prominently on the Labor Department website, and retain 24 months of historical data. This law directly affects all contractors awarded state public work contracts, aiming to increase transparency around wage practices and workforce composition.

Maddy summaryHB 971 establishes the Anne Arundel County Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park Advisory Committee to advise on planning the memorial park. The committee, composed of 15 members including county officials, state legislators, Bowie State University representatives, and community experts with specific expertise (like cultural history, recreation, and civil rights), will provide recommendations to county leaders. It must address the park’s cultural history, health/wellness needs, equitable access, natural preservation, and educational opportunities. The committee must submit annual reports and will expire automatically on September 30, 2030. This is a procedural bill focused on governance, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and implement training for transportation sector employees (including those at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Employers must certify employees have completed the training by January 1, 2026, and establish reporting procedures to local agencies and trafficking prevention policies. The bill also protects employees and employers from liability for good-faith reports or responses to suspected trafficking incidents. Additionally, it mandates bilingual safety announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 establishes a pilot program to test using treated wastewater for groundwater recharge in Maryland. The bill authorizes the Department of the Environment to review and permit demonstration facilities that treat reclaimed water to strict quality standards (including PFAS limits and pathogen reduction) for testing groundwater augmentation. It directly affects water treatment facilities and localities facing anticipated groundwater issues like saltwater intrusion or land subsidence within the next 25 years. The program requires facilities to prove they address specific groundwater problems, meet federal and state water quality standards, and undergo testing before permits are issued. This is strictly a testing phase for feasibility, not permanent implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 453 repeals restrictions on Anne Arundel County's authority to grant exemptions or credits for development impact fees, specifically allowing the County Council to provide these for qualifying not-for-profit organizations. The bill amends County law to permit exemptions/credits for not-for-profits operating for at least three years, requiring the Council to set specific eligibility rules, credit amounts, and application procedures through ordinance. This directly affects developers of not-for-profit projects (like community centers or affordable housing) seeking relief from fees used to fund public infrastructure. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, streamlining the County's process for offering such fee relief without altering the core fee structure.

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.