Del. April Miller

Maddy summaryHB 1396 establishes a 18-member Commission to study and recommend improvements for Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan. The Commission includes diverse stakeholders like legislative leaders, education officials, county representatives, teachers, advocates, parents, and students. It will specifically examine school funding formulas (including rural/urban poverty differences), statutory staffing ratios, and educator career ladder impacts. The Commission’s findings will inform future policy decisions but will not change current law directly. This is a study commission focused on long-term fiscal sustainability and student achievement implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1146, the "Sacred Places Safety Act," prohibits committing any crime of violence (as defined in Maryland law) within medical facilities or places of worship. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts in these locations, which include hospitals, clinics, and nonresidential religious gathering spaces. The bill increases penalties by making such violations a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in addition to penalties for the underlying violent crime. This law takes effect June 1, 2026, and applies to all relevant locations statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 1077 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Career and Technical Education Committee to form a workgroup by July 2026 to study how high school students can earn portable, industry-recognized credentials that build toward college degrees. The workgroup will review models from South Carolina and Arkansas, examine student planning tools starting in 8th grade, and explore flexible credit systems allowing course substitutions for graduation requirements. It will also analyze credential portability across schools and propose a standardized "list of valuable credentials" for high-demand fields, with a final report due December 2026. This bill does not enact changes but studies potential reforms to align with Maryland's existing education framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1390 requires Maryland public schools to excuse student absences for observing Veterans' Day, directly affecting all public school students and their families. The bill amends Maryland's education code to explicitly add Veterans' Day to the list of excused absences, alongside existing holidays like Thanksgiving and Memorial Day. Schools must now excuse absences for Veterans' Day observance without requiring a specific reason or documentation. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies uniformly across all Maryland public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1437 creates a Maryland income tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums paid by residents aged 45 or older. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit equal to 100% of eligible premiums (capped at $250 per year per insured person), covering the taxpayer, spouse, or certain family members. The credit is restricted to policies purchased after December 31, 2026, and cannot be claimed for individuals already covered before January 1, 2027, or for multiple taxpayers claiming the same person. The bill also requires annual reports to the legislature on credit usage and its impact on state medical assistance savings.

Maddy summaryHB 1358 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to allocate funds from the Hospital Employees Retraining Fund to local workforce development boards when hospitals close, downsize, or merge. It also mandates that these local boards provide grants to employers through the Apprenticeship Career Training in Our Neighborhoods Program. Additionally, the bill requires the Department to fund local workforce boards for direct worker services under the State's quick response program when job losses occur due to business reductions. This bill directly affects local workforce development boards, hospitals facing operational changes, and workers impacted by layoffs or closures.

Maddy summaryHB 28 allows private career schools in Maryland to advertise programs and collect student contact information before receiving full state approval to operate. It requires schools to disclose that approval is pending and include specific details like opening dates and application processes in all ads. The Secretary of Higher Education will establish rules for approving these pre-approval advertisements. This affects schools training students for jobs like technicians or skilled workers (not universities), but does not change the standards for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 966 sets a 90-day maximum timeframe for appeals regarding county board decisions to remove a county superintendent or county board member. It directly affects county school boards, superintendents, and the State Board of Education by requiring their established appeals process to resolve such cases within 90 days. Exceptions allow extensions if due process demands it or if the State Board determines an extension is necessary for public health or safety. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to add this specific deadline to the State Board’s enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 973 amends Maryland's Open Meetings Act to apply enhanced transparency requirements to educational entities, including the Maryland State Department of Education, the Accountability and Implementation Board, and county school boards. The bill requires these entities to publish meeting agendas 48 hours in advance (or as soon as practicable for emergencies), provide minutes within 2 business days, and offer live video streaming of open sessions. It also mandates retaining meeting minutes for 15 years and complete video recordings for 1 year (or 5 years for Vision Zero meetings). These changes aim to increase public access to educational governance processes while specifying retention timelines for records.

Maddy summaryHB 961 requires Maryland public schools and youth sports programs (for participants under 19) to implement updated concussion protocols. It mandates the State Department of Education to develop awareness programs for athletic officials, coaches, school staff, and parents about concussion risks and removal/return-to-play criteria. The bill requires students and parents to sign acknowledgment forms after receiving concussion information, and prohibits restricting the authority of athletic officials, coaches, school staff, or parents to immediately remove a student from play if a concussion is suspected. Students must obtain written clearance from a concussion-trained health provider before returning to play.