Del. Susan McComas

Maddy summaryHB 1403 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous 3-year average enrollment method with an average of daily enrollment counts on specific dates (September 30, December 31, March 31, and the last day of the prior school year). The bill also excludes the 2020-2021 school year from calculations if it appears in the 3-year average, addressing pandemic-era enrollment disruptions. This directly affects all Maryland school districts receiving state education aid, as it will determine their funding amounts starting in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1163 establishes a 14-member task force to study fencing requirements for bodies of water and playgrounds, primarily focusing on preventing injuries and drownings involving individuals with autism. The task force includes state officials (like Housing Secretary, State Superintendent), autism advocates, recreation representatives, and industry/homeowner association members, chaired by the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy. It will review best practices, assess injury data, and recommend potential fencing interventions by July 1, 2026, but does not mandate any fencing or funding. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2027, after the task force submits its report.

Maddy summaryHB 1409 allows residents of Maryland medical care facilities (like nursing homes or Alzheimer’s units) or their legal representatives to use electronic monitoring devices (such as cameras) in the resident’s private room under specific conditions. It requires facilities to permit such monitoring only when the resident or representative has roommates’ consent, posts a visible notice on the door, and limits monitoring to the resident’s room. The bill also makes recordings from these devices admissible as evidence in Maryland courts. It directly affects residents’ privacy rights, facility policies, and legal proceedings involving facility monitoring. The law amends existing Maryland codes to create this exception to wiretap prohibitions and update facility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to establish three specialized clinics for sickle cell disease treatment in Montgomery County, Harford County, and an Eastern Shore county by 2027. These clinics must operate under a hub-and-spoke model, providing comprehensive care including pain management, mental health services, genetic counseling, and telehealth access to specialists, while addressing social barriers like transportation and housing. The bill also creates a scholarship program for medical residents specializing in hematology with a sickle cell focus, requiring them to practice in Maryland after training. Funding of $6 million for fiscal year 2027 must cover clinic operations, staffing, social support services, and prioritizes hiring specialists and addressing health disparities. The Department must annually report on clinic outcomes, patient access, and efforts to reduce health disparities.

Maddy summaryHB 1185 allows Maryland public high schools to permit homeschool students enrolled in state-approved home instruction programs to join school sports teams under the same conditions as enrolled students. It specifically requires schools to follow COMAR guidelines for home instruction programs and gives priority to enrolled students if team spots are limited. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to clarify that homeschoolers in compliant programs may participate in athletic activities outside regular school hours without earning academic credit. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting homeschool families and public high school athletic departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maryland public high school students to earn one math credit toward graduation by completing a college-prep computer science or programming course instead of a traditional math class. Students must take the course after completing Algebra II, and county school boards must certify eligible courses to the state Department of Education. It modifies existing graduation requirements to expand math credit options for students pursuing computer science pathways. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 requires law enforcement agencies to report student arrests for specific serious offenses (like violent crimes or gang-related violations occurring off school grounds) to the Maryland Center for School Safety, Juvenile Services Education Program, State Board of Education, and the State’s Attorney within 24 hours. The State’s Attorney must then notify these same agencies of court outcomes. This applies to students aged 5-22 in public or nonpublic schools across Maryland. The bill creates a formal reporting chain to ensure schools and safety programs receive timely information about student arrests and legal dispositions.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 authorizes Licensed Certified Social Workers-Clinical (LCSW-Cs) to register as rehabilitation practitioners under Maryland's workers' compensation system without needing administrative supervision. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly include LCSW-Cs in the definition of "rehabilitation practitioner" (Section 9-6A-01(d)(iii)) and exempts them from supervision requirements that apply to other practitioners (Section 9-6A-09(d)(1)). This directly affects LCSW-Cs providing vocational rehabilitation services in workers' compensation cases, allowing them to work independently without oversight from other certified professionals. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 403 requires Maryland correctional facilities to transfer undocumented immigrants serving sentences for certain crimes to U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) under specific circumstances. It directly affects undocumented immigrants incarcerated in Maryland facilities who have been convicted of or suspected of: terrorism/espionage, gang-related offenses under federal law, gang participation as a minor, or aggravated felonies. The bill mandates transfer if the individual meets any of these four criteria, creating a legal mechanism for state-federal coordination. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 982, the "Gun Theft Felony Act of 2025," reclassifies the theft of any firearm as a felony regardless of the firearm's value. Currently, firearm theft could be charged as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500, but this bill makes all firearm thefts automatically felonies. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Law to require that anyone convicted of stealing a firearm must restore the firearm to the owner or pay its value, with penalties including up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $25,000 based on the firearm’s value. This change directly affects individuals who steal firearms, increasing penalties for this specific offense.