Del. Susan McComas

Maddy summaryHB 1451 requires Maryland's Department of Health to create a standardized system for collecting and reporting annual data on the costs of specific women's health services. It mandates hospitals, licensed health providers, and other entities to submit aggregated, anonymized data on prenatal care, birth, postpartum care, pregnancy care, abortion services (excluding procedure-level details), and menopausal care. The bill explicitly prohibits collecting patient-identifiable information or violating privacy laws, focusing only on budgetary and expenditure data. This data will be used to analyze costs, evaluate funding effectiveness, and identify gaps in women's health care services, without specifying policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1350 changes how child abuse and neglect reports are handled in Maryland. It requires mandatory reporters (like teachers, healthcare workers, and social service staff) to submit reports directly to the State Department of Human Services (DHS) instead of local social services or police. The bill creates a centralized DHS intake system to record, assess report validity, and assign cases to local departments for investigation. It specifically updates reporting procedures for substance-exposed newborns and cases involving individuals registered for child-related offenses. This reform aims to streamline reporting while maintaining direct oversight by local agencies for investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 1023 prohibits the sale, distribution, manufacturing, or offering for sale of lab-grown meat (defined as meat cultured from animal cells outside the animal) for human consumption within Maryland. It directly affects businesses producing or selling lab-grown meat products in the state. The bill imposes civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation and authorizes the Secretary to seize or condemn prohibited products. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 allows residential property owners within 300 feet of where overhead transmission lines are constructed to sue for diminished property value caused by the project. It modifies Maryland law to let these owners recover damages and seek reasonable attorney fees if they win their case. The bill also requires courts to award defendant attorney fees and costs to the property owner if the final court decision finds the property's assessed value exceeded the appraised value in transmission line condemnation cases. This applies specifically to cases involving overhead transmission lines under Maryland's Public Utilities Article. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1265 requires Maryland candidates for elected office to submit one of two oaths with their certificate of candidacy. The primary oath asks candidates to swear they will provide factually truthful information about their employment history, criminal/legal background, and organizational affiliations while campaigning, with violations risking perjury charges, disqualification, or removal from office. A second option allows candidates to decline the truthfulness pledge while still making their candidacy documents public. The bill explicitly exempts candidates from being barred from editorializing opinions or personal information during campaigns. This applies to all candidates filing for state offices in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1055 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to add Gaucher disease to the state’s mandatory newborn screening program, effective October 1, 2026. This bill directly affects all newborns in Maryland by expanding the list of conditions screened during routine newborn testing, unless parents or guardians object. The key mechanism is amending Maryland’s Health Code (Section 13-111) to explicitly mandate screening for Gaucher disease, which is currently not included in the standard panel. The bill does not alter existing screening protocols or costs but ensures Gaucher disease is screened for alongside other core conditions listed in federal recommendations.

Maddy summaryHB 964, the Secure the Vote Act of 2026, repeals existing requirements for ballot drop boxes (including those at Baltimore City's centralized booking facility) and modifies election rules. It adds new requirements: voters must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register (per Section 3-201.1), obtain photo ID for in-person voting (Section 2-111), and restricts absentee voting to those unable to vote in person due to specific circumstances. The bill also mandates signature verification for absentee ballots, establishes new audit procedures for voter registration lists, and prohibits non-citizens from registering to vote in municipal elections. These changes apply to all Maryland voters and election officials statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 937 establishes a workgroup to study emergency preparedness for youth camps and RV parks in Maryland. The workgroup, composed of state agency representatives, legislators, and industry stakeholders (including camp and park owners), will create a county-by-county inventory of these facilities, review emergency policies from other states, and make recommendations for potential new laws. It will report findings to the legislature by December 31, 2027. This bill does not create new regulations but initiates a study to inform future policy. The workgroup expires automatically on September 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 454, the "SAVE Our Elections Act of 2026," requires Maryland to join the federal SAVE Program (Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement) to verify U.S. citizenship for voter registration applicants. It directly affects individuals applying to register to vote in Maryland, mandating that the State Board of Elections use the federal SAVE system to confirm citizenship during the registration process. Key provisions include requiring the State Administrator to enroll in SAVE, establishing a verification process for applicants, and creating an appeal mechanism for voters who dispute citizenship determinations. The bill replaces current self-declaration requirements with federal verification, amending election law sections governing voter registration eligibility and processing.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland election laws to require voters presenting their names at the polls to prove their identity before receiving a regular ballot. To do this, voters must show a valid government-issued photo ID or, if they lack one, provide a non-government photo ID along with a document like a utility bill or bank statement that shows their name and address. If a voter cannot provide the required identification, the election judge must refer them to vote using a provisional ballot instead. The legislation also clarifies rules for assistance, allowing voters to bring written materials into the polling place and specifying who may help those with disabilities or language barriers.