Del. Steve Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Maryland hospitals and urgent care centers to adopt a standardized protocol for identifying and treating patients with sepsis by January 1, 2025. The protocol must follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines and include specific steps for screening, administering antibiotics, providing fluid support, and training staff on these procedures. Facilities must also collect data on their sepsis treatment outcomes to improve internal quality and share their protocols with the state health department upon request.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill modifies the Pediatric Cancer Fund to restrict its use exclusively to pediatric cancer research while also permitting the allocation of up to 5% of the fund for administrative expenses and promotional activities. To manage these changes, the legislation establishes a new Pediatric Cancer Research Commission tasked with overseeing the award of competitive grants to eligible physicians, hospitals, and research institutions. The commission is composed of a diverse group including adult survivors, caregivers, scientists from major universities, medical professionals, and representatives from national health organizations. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly detailing how the fund is administered and utilized.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the legal definition of the 2-1-1 Maryland system, describing it as a coordinated network for health and human services rather than just a telephone service, and identifies the specific nonprofit corporation that administers it. It removes the requirement for the Maryland Department of Health to evaluate call center performance and make recommendations on service quality or corrective actions, shifting that oversight role away from the state department. Additionally, the law expands the 2-1-1 Maryland board of directors to include two representatives nominated by the call centers themselves, ensuring greater stakeholder involvement in governance.

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 Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover custom devices known as orthoses, which are used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions. Starting in 2025, these plans must provide coverage for both the initial devices and their replacements, ensuring that replacement costs are not unfairly restricted if repairs would be too expensive or if the patient's condition changes. The legislation also mandates that insurers treat these devices as essential health benefits without imposing separate deductibles, higher copayments, or lifetime spending caps. Additionally, the bill prohibits discrimination in coverage decisions based on disability and sets clear standards for when a doctor can determine a device is medically necessary for daily living or physical activities.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law prohibits drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and logistics providers from discriminating against pharmacies that are authorized to receive discounted 340B drugs on behalf of covered entities. The bill makes it an unfair trade practice to deny or restrict the acquisition or delivery of these discounted medications, with the exception of cases where federal law explicitly forbids the transfer. Violations can result in fines up to $5,000 per package, license discipline by the State Board of Pharmacy, or investigation by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Additionally, the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board is tasked with studying the state's 340B program implementation, financials, and the impact of these new protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new funding programs within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support technology-based startups and university-led innovation projects. The first program offers $50,000 grants to startups located in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area, while the second pilot program provides incentives for technology businesses founded by students or faculty at local universities. To qualify for the university program, participating schools must contribute up to $50,000 annually, and projects must focus on creating new businesses, commercializing products, or fostering inclusive entrepreneurial development. The legislation also removes a previous requirement for funding a telework assistance grant program and sets aside $1.5 million for the university pilot program for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the licensing rules for certified nursing assistants and geriatric nursing assistants to align with federal regulations. It requires individuals applying for certification to complete a competency evaluation and allows training programs to request waivers for certain federal requirements. The law also clarifies the definition of "nursing support staff" and mandates that nursing homes include certified nursing assistants on their quality assurance committees. Additionally, the bill revises terminology to distinguish between different types of nursing assistants and ensures workplace safety committees consult with these staff members.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for Maryland law enforcement and prosecutors when a victim's death certificate is officially changed to list the cause or manner of death as undetermined or homicide. Specifically, it mandates that an assistant state's attorney must meet with the deceased's family or designated representative within 20 days to explain why a criminal investigation will not be pursued. Additionally, the law requires that such cases be reopened for reinvestigation and prohibits closing them for at least a specified period. These measures apply only when a medical examiner's initial determination is amended or corrected based on a formal request from a person in interest.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances in Maryland to study and make recommendations about the regulation of naturally derived psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline, while explicitly excluding peyote. The task force will be composed of state officials, healthcare experts, researchers, and community representatives appointed by various leaders to ensure diverse input. Its primary duties include analyzing current laws and data on the benefits and risks of these substances and proposing changes to create a state access program that covers permitting, education, and production rules. The group is tasked with developing specific requirements for a future permit system, such as training curricula and limits on how much individuals can possess or grow. Members of the task force will serve without pay but can be reimbursed for travel expenses, and the Maryland Department of Health Cannabis Administration will provide staff support.