Rep. Steve Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 986 requires nursing license applicants (both new and those seeking endorsement) to provide evidence that their nursing education meets Maryland's standards, including official transcripts. It directly affects registered nurses and licensed practical nurses applying for or renewing licenses in Maryland. The bill adds a new provision (§ 8-316(a)(37)) allowing the State Board of Nursing to take disciplinary action - such as reprimands, probation, suspension, or revocation - against licensees who fail to complete required educational standards. This clarifies the Board’s authority to enforce education requirements, including investigating applicants' qualifications and taking disciplinary steps for non-compliance. The bill amends existing sections of Maryland’s Health Occupations law and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1004 prohibits the manufacture, sale, delivery, holding, or offering for sale in Maryland of food containing specific ingredients, including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red 3 dye. It also bans any food ingredient prohibited by federal law under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. The law applies directly to food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating in Maryland. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties of up to $10,000 or one year in jail for first offenses, with higher penalties for repeat violations. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 931 requires nursing homes in Maryland to designate physicians as medical directors who either hold a specific certification (CMD from PALTMED) or are actively working toward it. The bill directly affects nursing homes (which must comply with the certification requirement) and physicians serving in medical director roles (who must meet the certification standard). Key provisions include mandating the Maryland Department of Health to create a public online directory listing all nursing home medical directors with their credentials and certification status, and setting a deadline of September 30, 2028, for current medical directors to obtain certification. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1112 requires Maryland's Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission to study and recommend actions to stabilize individual and group health insurance markets. The Commission must examine specific areas including comparing Medicaid and commercial rates for potential premium savings, exploring regulatory changes for managed care organizations, merging insurance markets, and evaluating interstate purchasing pools. It also directs the Commission to assess prescription drug cost controls, support for health centers, reinsurance funds, and the potential reinstatement of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. This bill does not create new laws or directly affect residents - it mandates a study to inform future policy decisions. The findings will be reported to the General Assembly by December 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 628 establishes a program providing $1,000 monthly payments for three years to young adults who were in out-of-home care (like foster care) on their 18th birthday, with birthdays on or after October 1, 2026. Payments cannot be counted as income for Medicaid, the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, or state/federal financial aid for education. The Department of Human Services must report annually on participants' income, location, employment, and housing status starting October 2027. The program will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031, with automatic termination after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 310 limits the use of restrictive housing (locked cell confinement for 22+ hours daily) for incarcerated individuals in Maryland state facilities who have a developmental or intellectual disability. It requires a licensed clinical professional to assess new inmates for these disabilities during intake and to recommend against placing them in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days within any 30-day period. This 15-day limit does not apply if the individual commits a "prohibited act," such as causing serious injury, making threats, or possessing weapons. The bill directly affects incarcerated people with these disabilities and mandates correctional facilities to follow this assessment and limitation process.

Maddy summaryHB 410 requires food manufacturers, processors, and retailers in Maryland to use standardized date labels on packaged food starting July 1, 2027. It mandates replacing "Sell By" with "Best If Used By" for quality dates and "Use By" for safety dates, while prohibiting the sale of items labeled with "Sell By" after that date. The bill also requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and post educational materials about these labels online by July 2027. This affects all food businesses selling packaged products to consumers, excluding infant formula, beer, and malt beverages.

Maddy summaryHB 1263 establishes a workgroup to study the regulation of postoperative cosmetic care provided by non-physician practitioners (such as estheticians or massage therapists), focusing on patient safety, consumer protection, and access to qualified providers. The workgroup, composed of health officials, patient advocates, and care providers, will examine current rules, identify gaps in care access, review risks from unregulated services, and evaluate best practices from other states. It must submit interim and final reports by December 2026 and 2027, respectively, and cannot recommend new licensing without legislative approval. The workgroup expires on June 30, 2028, unless extended.

Maddy summaryHB 1068 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to provide a 60-day special enrollment period for individuals who become newly hired by small businesses that do not offer employer-sponsored health plans. This applies to people purchasing coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace (Individual Exchange) or outside it. The special enrollment period begins on the first day of employment and allows new hires to enroll in health insurance without waiting for the standard open enrollment period. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly benefiting newly employed workers at small businesses without health benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1418 prohibits public school systems and nonpublic schools in Maryland from hiring or retaining employees who have been charged with specific serious crimes, including child sexual abuse, violent crimes, drug distribution, school-targeting federal offenses, or certain felonies. It requires school contracts to bar contractors from assigning such employees to school premises with unsupervised access to children. Employees charged with these crimes must notify their school within two business days; failure to do so bars rehiring for five years after the charge is resolved. The bill directly affects schools, contractors, and employees by creating mandatory reporting and employment restrictions for individuals facing certain criminal charges.