Del. Tom Hutchinson

Maddy summaryHB 1544 establishes the Maryland Law Enforcement Public Service Medal, the state's highest honor for officers demonstrating extraordinary bravery, sacrifice, or impact on public safety during critical incidents. It requires a law enforcement agency to grant a one-grade promotion to medal recipients and creates a review committee to evaluate nominations from agencies, officials, or community groups. The bill also mandates an annual state ceremony honoring six specific workers who died in the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, listing them on a permanent honor roll at the State House. This affects current and future law enforcement officers eligible for the medal and directly memorializes the Key Bridge victims.

Maddy summaryHB 1314 prohibits health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations (collectively "carriers") from using artificial intelligence to automatically deny prior authorizations for medical treatments. It also bans healthcare providers from charging patients or facilities fees to obtain prior authorizations from these carriers. The bill directly affects patients seeking medical care, healthcare providers (like doctors and hospitals), and insurance companies. Key provisions take effect January 1, 2026, for all new or renewed health benefit plans in Maryland. The law aims to reduce administrative barriers to care by eliminating both AI-driven denials and out-of-pocket fees for authorization requests.

Maddy summaryHB 1555 requires funeral homes, crematories, and reduction facilities in Maryland to maintain adequate refrigerated storage for human remains. It mandates the Office of Cemetery Oversight to create online databases tracking violations, inspections, and complaints, and to conduct unannounced inspections after sanitation issues or mishandling of remains. The bill also establishes new reporting requirements for the Office to submit annual reports to state legislative committees detailing inspection results and complaint resolutions. These changes directly affect funeral and cremation businesses, state oversight agencies, and the public by increasing transparency and accountability in handling human remains.

Maddy summaryHB 662 expands Maryland state agencies' ability to use "master contracting" for procurement. It allows more state units (beyond the current three designated departments) to adopt this streamlined method for qualifying vendors for recurring services, supplies, or commodities. Key provisions require agencies to solicit task orders from multiple master contractors (at least six for purchases under $100,000) and use objective criteria to evaluate bids. This bill directly affects state agencies conducting procurement and potential vendors seeking contracts under master agreements. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 requires state procurement contracts for construction and services to include specific clauses enabling contract modifications when costs rise due to statutory changes increasing required compensation/benefits or collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects state agencies and contractors by mandating these clauses in all new construction and services contracts signed after October 1, 2025. The bill adds two key provisions: (1) automatic adjustment for site condition differences in construction contracts, and (2) standardized procedures for handling contract claims. It modifies Maryland’s existing procurement law (Section 13-218(b)) to enforce these cost-adjustment mechanisms without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1208 prohibits businesses in Maryland from manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding, or offering for sale food containing four specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red Dye No. 3. It also requires a conspicuous warning label on food products containing Red Dye No. 3 starting October 1, 2025. The full ban on all four ingredients takes effect October 1, 2028. This bill directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating within Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 304 updates Maryland's state procurement rules to increase transparency and streamline processes. It requires state agencies to provide written debriefings explaining contract award decisions to unsuccessful bidders upon request, directly affecting contractors and businesses competing for state contracts. Key changes include allowing individuals who helped draft bid specifications to later submit bids (a new exemption), mandating contracts include clauses for legal changes affecting costs, and shortening deadlines for handling protests and claims. The bill also adds requirements for contractors to provide payment-related information before receiving funds and clarifies appeal paths to the Maryland Appellate Court. These procedural adjustments aim to make procurement more accountable while reducing delays.

Maddy summaryHB 321 amends Maryland law to change the definition of "purchaser" for pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) regulations, specifically excluding certain nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from this definition. This removes restrictions that previously limited how certain insurance laws applied to PBMs working on behalf of carriers. The bill directly affects nonprofit HMOs that operate internal pharmacies and PBMs managing prescription drug coverage for them. These changes clarify regulatory scope without altering core PBM oversight requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1053 clarifies that parents, other family members, or legal guardians may provide self-directed services to individuals with developmental disabilities under the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration, directly affecting recipients who choose this option. The bill amends Maryland's Health General Code (Section 7-409(a)(4)) to require two conditions: the recipient or their decision-maker must select the family provider, and the recipient must hire a support broker. This change expands existing self-directed service options without altering eligibility or funding mechanisms. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all current and future recipients of self-directed services under the Administration.

Maddy summaryHB 889 requires Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to expand its annual juvenile striped bass and rockfish survey by adding sampling sites in the central Chesapeake Bay region. Specifically, the bill mandates 12-20 new survey locations in seven designated waterways: Maggoty River, Severn River, Chester River, South River, West River, Eastern Bay, and Miles River. This change supplements existing surveys in northern and southern Bay regions to improve data on young fish populations. The bill directly affects the Department of Natural Resources, which must implement these new survey requirements starting June 1, 2025. The goal is to enhance scientific understanding of striped bass and rockfish stock health in Maryland waters.