Del. Tom Hutchinson

Maddy summaryHB 893 changes Maryland's oyster fishing regulations by replacing license revocation with license suspension for certain violations. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to suspend (not revoke) oyster licenses for up to 2 years for first offenses or up to 10 years for repeat offenses involving violations like harvesting near closed areas, using prohibited gear, or harvesting outside time restrictions. The bill also creates a reinstatement process: individuals whose licenses were revoked before July 1, 2025, can regain their license after 2 years for a first violation or 10 years for a repeat violation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies directly to oyster harvesters in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 962 addresses pediatric hospital overstay cases where children under 22 remain hospitalized after being medically cleared for discharge. It requires hospitals to place these patients in the least restrictive setting possible, allowing concurrent exploration of both in-state and out-of-state placement options. The bill establishes a Pediatric Hospital Overstay Coordinator within the Governor’s Office for Children to oversee this process and mandates a state study on residential treatment center and respite facility rates. This law directly affects hospitals, pediatric patients, and state agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryHB 428 prohibits medical providers from placing liens on owner-occupied homes for unpaid medical debt. It requires courts to specify if a money judgment involves medical debt and mandates including the defendant’s primary residence address in such complaints. The bill adds a new provision (§ 14-203.1) stating that liens on homes where owners live cannot be created for medical debt, and courts must remove such illegal liens while potentially awarding damages. This applies prospectively from October 1, 2025, directly affecting Maryland homeowners and medical providers seeking debt collection.

Maddy summaryHB 436 repeals the 2-year expiration requirement for medical exemptions allowing tinted windows with less than 35% light transmittance in Maryland. It directly affects residents with medical conditions requiring enhanced window tinting (e.g., photosensitivity), who previously needed to renew certifications every two years. The bill removes the time limit from Section 22-406(i)(4)(ii) of the Maryland Annotated Code, allowing exemptions to remain valid as long as the medical need persists. This change simplifies the process for affected drivers by eliminating the need for periodic renewal. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 580 updates outdated terminology in Maryland law by replacing "Maryland State Firemen’s Association" with "Maryland State Firefighters Association" across multiple statutes. It specifically amends references in sections covering courts, education, health, labor, public safety, tax, and transportation laws. The bill does not change any policies or programs but ensures legal documents consistently use the modernized name for the association. This affects how the association is referenced in state law but does not alter its responsibilities or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 857 allows licensed Maryland deer hunters who wound a deer during legal hunting hours to pursue and kill it after hours, provided they use only the same hunting method authorized for their season (e.g., archery or firearms). The bill amends Maryland’s natural resources law (Section 10-428 of the Annotated Code) to create this exception to standard hunting hour restrictions. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources must adopt regulations to implement the new rule, which takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed deer hunters who wound deer during legal hours but cannot complete the harvest before closing.

Maddy summaryHB 466, the "Health Equality for Service Members Act," expands eligibility for Maryland's health, housing, and occupation programs to include members of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as "veterans" under state law. The bill revises definitions to clarify that "uniformed services" encompasses all such branches - not just the armed forces - and requires health, housing, and licensing laws to apply uniformly to all covered service members. This directly affects Public Health Service and NOAA personnel who previously lacked access to state programs designed for veterans. The law modifies specific sections of Maryland’s health, housing, and occupation codes to ensure consistent coverage across all uniformed services.

Maddy summaryHB 565 requires the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy to send renewal notices for licenses, permits, and registrations to pharmacy professionals (including pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy technicians) via email by default, rather than first-class mail. Licensees, permit holders, or registrants may request paper mail if they prefer. The bill updates existing law to specify that electronic notices must include the expiration date, renewal deadline, and fee amount, with paper mail sent if an electronic notice bounces or if the recipient requests it. This change applies to all pharmacy-related renewals under Maryland's Health Occupations code.

Maddy summaryHB 1007, the Genetic Testing Protection Act, prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies in Maryland from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or limiting benefits based on an applicant’s or policyholder’s genetic test results or requests for genetic testing. It directly affects individuals seeking or holding these insurance policies who undergo genetic testing. The bill blocks insurers from using genetic information (defined as test results not for diagnosis or therapy) to make coverage decisions, while allowing them to review standard medical records or diagnoses. It explicitly excludes routine blood tests, drug screenings, and family medical history (unless tied to genetic testing) from the prohibition. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 265 modifies eligibility for Maryland's Dent-Care Program, which provides loan assistance to dentists and dental hygienists. It requires applicants to work part-time or full-time (previously only full-time), treat at least 30% Maryland Medical Assistance Program patients annually, and establishes prorated grant amounts for part-time participants. The bill also directs the Maryland Insurance Administration to study dental insurance carriers' use of online credentialing systems and report findings by December 1, 2025. These changes directly affect dentists and dental hygienists seeking program participation.