Del. Susan McComas

Maddy summaryHB 653 mandates that Maryland correctional facilities must transfer undocumented immigrants serving sentences for specific offenses to U.S. Homeland Security. It directly affects undocumented immigrants incarcerated in Maryland who are convicted of terrorism/espionage threats, gang-related crimes (under federal definitions), aggravated felonies, or certain sexual offenses requiring registration. The bill requires transfer if an individual meets any of five specified conditions, including active gang participation or conviction for an aggravated felony. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and adds these requirements to Maryland's Correctional Services code.

Maddy summaryHB 1186 prohibits knowingly causing another person to ingest an abortion-inducing drug when the perpetrator knows or believes the person is pregnant and does so without consent, through fraud/coercion, or by force/threat of force. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts, criminalizing them as a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The law defines "abortion-inducing drug" as any substance designed to induce an abortion and creates new criminal penalties under Maryland's Criminal Law. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and focuses solely on preventing coercive acts related to abortion drugs.

Maddy summaryHB 1319 makes it a felony to knowingly steal redeemable digital reward points, such as credit card points, frequent flyer miles, or retail rewards. It specifically prohibits obtaining unauthorized control over these points with the intent to deprive the owner, directly affecting individuals who steal such points and the businesses or consumers who own them. The law imposes penalties of up to 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both, plus requiring the thief to pay the owner the points' value. This amendment to Maryland’s Criminal Law (Article 7, Section 7-111) clarifies that digital reward systems are protected under theft statutes. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1248 requires large online platforms (with 100,000+ U.S. monthly active users) to establish a clear process for individuals to report and request removal of non-consensual intimate images or videos. Platforms must disable or remove such content within 48 hours of a valid request, identify copies, and prevent new copies from being displayed. The law mandates data logging for legal purposes but excludes email services, broadband providers, and platforms primarily featuring non-user-generated content. It directly affects major social media and content-sharing platforms, not small sites or personal communications services. The bill focuses on creating a standardized removal mechanism for victims of non-consensual image sharing, without altering criminal penalties for the act itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1340 modifies Maryland's unpaid parental leave law by changing the definition of "employer" to exclude businesses already covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This means employers with 15-49 employees who comply with federal FMLA requirements will no longer need to provide additional state-mandated unpaid parental leave. The bill directly affects small-to-midsize Maryland businesses (15-49 employees) that are FMLA-covered, removing a separate state obligation. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not create new benefits but adjusts existing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1288 invalidates noncompete agreements for most healthcare employees earning $350,000 or less annually, including licensed professionals providing direct patient care (such as nurses, doctors, and veterinary technicians). For higher-earning healthcare workers ($350,000+), the bill limits noncompete restrictions to a maximum one-year period and a 10-mile geographic radius from their primary workplace. It also requires employers to notify patients if a former employee begins practicing nearby. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to employment contracts regardless of where they were signed.

Maddy summaryHB 734, the Real Time for Violent Crime Act, prohibits incarcerated individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder from earning sentence reduction credits (diminution credits) that shorten their prison time. It also limits sentence reductions for violent crimes to no more than 10% of the total sentence for those convicted of crimes of violence (as defined in Maryland law), and restricts judges from granting pretrial release to defendants charged with violent crimes if they have pending charges or recent convictions for specific violent offenses. The bill directly affects people serving sentences for murder or violent crimes in Maryland correctional facilities and changes how courts handle sentence reductions and pretrial releases for these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 847 establishes a public Domestic Violence Offender Registry in Maryland, requiring individuals convicted three or more times of a domestic violence-related crime (including crimes against current or former intimate partners) to register with their local sheriff upon release, probation, or when not imprisoned. Registrants must provide personal details like their address, photo, and crime descriptions, updating this information annually or within 10 days of moving. The registry, maintained by the state, will be publicly accessible online, by phone, and in person, with registration lasting 15 years from the latest conviction or release, plus 20 additional years for each new conviction. Individuals may seek court exemption if convictions are reversed, pardoned, or under specific court orders.

Maddy summaryHB 1337 (Maryland) amends property condemnation law to allow business or farm owners whose property is taken through eminent domain to claim compensation for lost profits under specific conditions. It directly affects business owners and farm operators on property acquired by government entities for public projects. The bill requires owners to prove the profit loss was directly caused by the taking, couldn't be prevented by relocation or reasonable steps, and isn't covered elsewhere. Damages must be calculated using standard accounting practices, preventing duplicate payments for the same loss. This change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 732 increases the required classroom teaching time for Maryland public school teachers on career ladder levels one, two, or three from 60% to 80% of their working time. This change directly affects teachers who are certified but not yet at the highest career levels (such as those pursuing a master’s degree or National Board Certification). The bill specifies that the remaining 20% of their time must be spent on activities like improving instruction, tutoring students, or participating in professional development. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.