Del. Steve Arentz

Maddy summaryHB 1437 repeals Maryland's existing law that granted healthcare providers immunity from civil or criminal liability when acting in good faith during a declared catastrophic health emergency. This bill directly affects healthcare providers who previously had legal protection under Section 14-3A-06 of the Maryland Annotated Code. The key provision removes this immunity, meaning providers could face legal consequences for their actions during emergencies starting October 1, 2025. The bill does not create new protections or alter emergency response procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1374 expands eligibility for publicly funded prekindergarten to include 3-year-olds in certain private providers. It modifies the definition of "Tier I child" to include 3-year-olds whose families meet income requirements (≤300% federal poverty level) or are homeless, live in counties where private providers have opted to enroll them, and choose full-day programs. Eligible private providers (licensed, charging tuition ≤ "cost of quality," meeting quality standards) must sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards to enroll these children. The bill directly affects qualifying 3-year-olds, eligible private prekindergarten providers, and local departments responsible for notifying families about enrollment options.

Maddy summaryHB 1455 revises how Maryland calculates average weekly wages for workers injured on the job when they held multiple concurrent jobs. It requires combining wages from all employers at the time of injury to determine compensation, directly affecting covered employees with multiple jobs who suffer work-related injuries. The bill includes specific rules for certain workers, such as Baltimore County auxiliary police officers, volunteer firefighters, and natural resources fire fighters, ensuring their wages are calculated using alternative methods when needed. It also mandates that the Subsequent Injury Fund or Uninsured Employers’ Fund reimburse employers for compensation paid under these revised calculations. The changes apply to temporary disability claims under Sections 9-615 and 9-621 of the Maryland Labor and Employment Code.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 975 increases the number of resident judges for Queen Anne's County's Circuit Court from one to two. It amends Maryland's judicial code (Section 1-503) to reflect this change, specifically updating the county's listed judgeship count. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting the staffing and capacity of Queen Anne's County's circuit court. This is a procedural adjustment to judicial staffing levels with no new substantive legal provisions.

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 1271 requires healthcare providers to perform a transabdominal ultrasound before most abortions, with a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the ultrasound (or 2 hours if the patient lives 100+ miles from the facility). The bill mandates specific ultrasound standards, including measuring fetal development, offering to show the image or fetal heartbeat, and documenting results. Crucially, it states patients cannot be forced to accept any offered services during the ultrasound, such as viewing the image or receiving a printout. This law directly affects women seeking abortions in Maryland and the healthcare providers performing them, adding procedural requirements to the existing abortion access framework.

Maddy summaryHB 760 allows counties and municipalities to approve certain projects previously denied by the Maryland Historical Trust, directly affecting local governments and project applicants (e.g., developers). It applies specifically when projects were denied due to cemetery protections under §14-121.1 of the Real Property Article or for historic preservation/underwater archaeological permits under State Finance law. The bill requires local planning commissions to hold a public hearing within 60 days of an applicant’s request, publish notice in a local newspaper and online, and recommend approval or denial to the governing body. This creates a new pathway for projects blocked by the Historical Trust, streamlining local decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 1215 extends the deadline for homeowners associations, condominiums, and cooperative housing corporations to reach recommended reserve funding levels after an initial reserve study. Currently, these groups must meet the funding target within 3 fiscal years of completing the study, but the bill would extend this period to 5 fiscal years. The change applies only to the initial reserve study requirement, not to ongoing annual reviews or funding levels. This affects all Maryland community associations that have completed an initial reserve study and must adjust their funding plans accordingly.