Del. Heather Bagnall Tudball

Maddy summaryHB 1488 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to replace gendered terms like "man," "his," and "him" with gender-neutral language such as "person" and "their." It specifically targets multiple articles and sections across the Constitution (including the Declaration of Rights, Executive Department, and Judiciary Department) to update outdated terminology. The bill does not change substantive rights or policies but modernizes the language to be inclusive. This is a procedural constitutional amendment focused solely on terminology, not on altering legal obligations or government functions.

Maddy summaryHB 444 prohibits Maryland state and local governments, including county sheriffs and agencies, from entering into new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It requires existing agreements to be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the law’s effective date (June 1, 2026). The bill specifically targets contracts, memorandums, or agreements that allow local entities to assist in federal immigration enforcement under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. This directly affects local law enforcement agencies and government bodies that previously collaborated with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to prevent state/local resources from being used for immigration enforcement under federal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 requires health occupations boards to grant at least 2 hours of continuing education credit for every hour of training on perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal evaluation and treatment. This directly affects healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, and specialists) who must complete continuing education to renew their licenses. The bill also adds a specialized representative with expertise in these conditions to the State Advisory Council on Health and Wellness. Additionally, it directs three state agencies - the Maryland Health Care Commission, Maryland Commission for Women, and Maryland Department of Health - to take specific actions related to these health conditions. The law focuses on improving provider knowledge and resources through mandatory education credits and advisory input.

Maddy summaryHB 1115 clarifies that Maryland public school teachers holding a National Board Certification (NBC) with a 10-year award period (awarded by December 31, 2021) are eligible for specific salary increases tied to the career ladder. The bill establishes a $10,000 salary increase for becoming an NBC teacher and an additional $7,000 for teaching at a low-performing school, applying retroactively to eligible teachers. It also sets a minimum teacher salary of $60,000 starting July 1, 2026, and specifies that teachers meeting multiple criteria receive all applicable increases. This bill directly affects certified public school teachers in Maryland who hold qualifying NBC credentials.

Maddy summaryHB 1575, the Community Trust Act, prohibits state and local correctional facilities and their employees from detaining individuals or sharing information with federal immigration authorities based on immigration status, except when required by a judicial warrant or for routine booking. It bans asking about citizenship, prolonging detention for immigration reasons, transferring individuals to immigration authorities without a warrant, or coercing people based on immigration status. Exceptions include when immigration status relates to legal protections under state/federal law or international treaties, allowing facilities to notify individuals or offer voluntary disclosure. Correctional facilities must adopt policies with penalties for violations, and affected individuals can seek damages or injunctions if harmed by a breach.

Maddy summaryHB 879 establishes a free Language Acquisition Tracking Program within Maryland’s State Department of Education to monitor language development for deaf and hard of hearing children under age 9. The program requires annual assessments using a standardized tool (approved by an advisory council) every six months, starting from diagnosis, to track progress toward developmental milestones in spoken or signed language. It directly affects eligible children with permanent hearing loss who have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), or Section 504 Plan. The State Coordinator oversees the program, provides professional training, and ensures assessment data informs each child’s educational plan. Parents may opt their child out of assessments with written notice.

Maddy summaryHB 1 limits how investor-owned electric, gas, and combined gas/electric utility companies in Maryland can pass certain costs to customers through their rates. It prohibits rate recovery for most employee bonuses (except for pre-2025 contracts or union-covered employees) and caps supervisor compensation above 110% of the Public Service Commission Chair’s annual salary. The bill also requires utility boards to adopt written policies limiting spending on entertainment, office renovations, transportation (including private jets), and performance incentives, with policies submitted to the Public Service Commission for review. These rules apply specifically to investor-owned utility companies and aim to prevent ratepayers from funding certain executive or operational costs.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill allows taxpayers to subtract up to $1,000 from their state income tax when donating food or cash specifically designated for food purchases to qualified charitable organizations. The law defines eligible recipients as food banks, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, religious groups, and other registered charities that provide free food to people in need. To claim this benefit, taxpayers must list the recipient organization's name and provide proof of the donation's value on their income tax return. The Comptroller will create regulations to establish registration criteria for these organizations, and the bill includes a requirement for a report by January 1, 2029, on whether donations have increased since the law took effect. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and automatically expires on June 30, 2029.

Maddy summaryHB 541 requires all Maryland public schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products (tampons or sanitary napkins) in women’s restrooms at no cost to students. Each county board of education must install dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms at middle/high schools by October 2022 (and all by August 2025) and in at least one restroom at elementary schools by October 2022. Schools must regularly restock these dispensers to ensure availability, with the state reimbursing counties for installation and product costs through a $500,000 fiscal year 2023 appropriation. The law applies directly to public school students and county education boards, taking effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 572 authorizes Maryland’s Attorney General to sue large fossil fuel companies (with over $1 billion in market capitalization involved in extracting or processing coal, oil, or gas) for unlawful conduct contributing to climate change, including fraud or deception. It creates the Climate Crimes Accountability Fund, financed by settlements or judgments from these lawsuits, to pay for programs addressing specific climate harms like flooding, extreme heat, drought, and waterborne pathogens. The fund is a special, non-lapsing account managed by the state, with interest earnings automatically added to it. All money must directly support climate harm prevention, mitigation, or repair efforts as defined in the bill.