Del. Heather Bagnall Tudball

Maddy summaryHB 912 requires Maryland colleges and universities to train instructors on federal disability laws (the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) and how to provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities. New instructors must complete this training before teaching, and current instructors must do so by October 1, 2026. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will develop a model training program for institutions to adopt. This law applies to all higher education institutions in Maryland, except those already offering training that meets the required standards.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally exonerates individuals convicted or executed for witchcraft in colonial Maryland before the American Revolution (pre-1776), acknowledging their innocence. It clears the names of those convicted or executed, restores reputations for those accused but not convicted (including those who fled or were banished), and offers an official apology to their descendants. The resolution addresses historical injustices rooted in superstition, community panic, and gender bias that led to wrongful prosecutions under outdated legal standards. It is a symbolic gesture with no legal effect on current cases, applying solely to pre-Revolution Maryland witchcraft trials.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows terminally ill Maryland residents with decision-making capacity to request medication to end their lives through a structured process. It requires two physician consultations (including a consulting physician confirming the diagnosis), a mental health assessment, and written requests spaced at least 15 days apart. Pharmacists may dispense the medication only to qualifying patients, and the law clarifies that providers acting under these rules won’t violate assisted suicide laws. Death from self-administered medication will be recorded as natural causes for insurance and legal purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 927 requires that fiscal notes for bills reducing health and community support services funded by the Maryland Department of Health must include three specific elements: an estimate of the number of people who will lose services (by location), an assessment of how the loss affects health and well-being, and an evaluation of the financial impact on state health and social services costs. This applies to any bill that cuts funding for such services, ensuring these impacts are documented in the state's financial analysis. The bill amends existing law to add these requirements to the fiscal note process, which is used by the General Assembly to evaluate budget proposals. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 713 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create safety literature covering firearm safety, training, suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and conflict resolution. This literature must be distributed by county health departments to all firearm and ammunition retailers within their jurisdiction. Retailers are then required to display the materials visibly at checkout and provide them to every customer purchasing firearms or ammunition. Violations of these requirements may result in civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense or $1,000 for subsequent offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 727 allows drivers or applicants to voluntarily share with Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration that they or a minor under their care have been diagnosed with certain conditions like autism, ADHD, diabetes, or vision impairments. The Administration must add a brief, non-identifying description of this disclosure to the driver's record, without including the specific diagnosis or personal details. Drivers can later request to have this description removed from their record. The bill aims to help law enforcement better understand and assist individuals with disabilities during emergencies, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 329 requires all sign language interpreters providing services in Maryland to obtain a state license starting July 1, 2026. It directly affects interpreters who work in the state, including those who use titles like "sign language interpreter" or advertise their services publicly. The bill changes the effective date from 2025 to 2026 and mandates that interpreters meet licensing requirements before offering services or making public representations about their qualifications. Current members of the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters may use existing certifications until the new date instead of obtaining a full license immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 845 creates a framework for Maryland to establish six community-based overdose and infectious disease prevention programs, approved by the Maryland Department of Health and located in areas with high drug use incidence (two urban, two suburban, two rural). These programs provide supervised consumption sites with health professionals, sterile drug supplies, overdose response (including naloxone), referrals to treatment and testing for HIV/hepatitis, and education on safe drug use and disposal. The bill allows programs to bill insurance for covered services, accept donations/grants, and prohibits arrests or penalties for individuals using these services. It also requires programs to coordinate with existing health services and maintain security while operating within specified locations.

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.