Del. Melissa Wells

Maddy summaryHB 1222 (Maryland Values Act) requires Maryland correctional facilities to detain and transfer individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and have been convicted of a violent crime to federal immigration authorities within 48 hours when requested. It prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining people or prolonging arrests based on immigration status during routine stops or investigations, and bans transferring individuals to federal immigration authorities except for the defined "covered individuals" (those with violent crime convictions and unlawful presence). The bill also terminates existing immigration enforcement agreements between Maryland entities and federal authorities by a specified deadline. This directly affects state/local correctional facilities, law enforcement officers, and individuals with certain immigration statuses and violent crime convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 requires Maryland's Department of Health, working with the Commission on Health Equity, to create a public data dashboard showing health disparities. The dashboard must display age-adjusted health data broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender, covering specific areas like health insurance access, cardiovascular disease, mental health, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The Department must update the dashboard at least every 30 days and post the latest version prominently on its website. This law directly affects Maryland residents by making health equity data more accessible to the public, researchers, and health officials.

Maddy summaryHB 666 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and most health insurance plans to cover calcium score testing for individuals with specific heart disease risk factors. It directly affects people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of early heart disease - requiring coverage if they have at least three of these risk factors. The law mandates coverage starting January 1, 2026, for Medicaid and all health insurance policies issued or renewed after that date. This change applies to insurers, nonprofit health plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations operating in Maryland. The bill does not alter coverage for other medical services but specifically adds calcium scoring to required benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1251 (Doula and Birth Policy Transparency Act) requires hospitals and freestanding birth centers in Maryland to adopt and submit to the Department of Health a specific policy on obstetric care by January 1, 2026. The policy must guarantee birthing parents can have a certified doula present during birth, prioritize newborn bonding, prohibit significant medical interventions (like C-sections or forceps) without informed consent, and detail medical information transfers between providers. Medical liability insurers must also provide the Department of Health with coverage details for obstetric services, including vaginal birth after C-section, upon request. This bill directly affects health care facilities providing obstetric services and insurers, aiming to increase transparency and patient choice in birth settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1502 renames Baltimore City's "AIDS Prevention Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Pilot Program" to the "HIV Prevention Syringe Services Program" and updates its operational structure. The bill revises key provisions to clarify that the program distributes syringes, exchanges used ones, and provides referrals for substance use treatment, HIV prevention education, and hepatitis risk reduction. It also updates the oversight committee composition (adding specific public health and community representation) and strengthens immunity protections for program staff and participants. The changes apply directly to Baltimore City residents who use injection drugs, the Baltimore City Health Department, and the program's oversight committee.

Maddy summaryHB 913 increases the maximum number of speed monitoring systems allowed on Interstate 83 in Baltimore City from two to four, making this authorization permanent. The bill amends Maryland’s transportation code (Section 21-809) to remove the previous 2026 expiration date and update the limit. It directly affects Baltimore City’s transportation authority, which would manage the placement of these systems on I-83. The key change is a straightforward increase in the permitted number of systems, with no additional requirements beyond existing local jurisdiction approval processes.

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.

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 197 requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan by July 1, 2026, for establishing Restorative Practices Schools. This plan must be created after consulting with schools already using restorative approaches, which focus on repairing harm through relationship-building rather than punitive discipline. County school boards would need to adopt this plan if they choose to implement restorative practices in their schools. The bill also prohibits corporal punishment in public schools and mandates annual, disaggregated data reports on discipline practices by race, disability, socioeconomic status, and other factors.

Maddy summaryHB 538 transfers administration of Maryland's Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) from the Secretary of Aging to the Family Investment Administration within the Department of Human Services. The bill updates state law to designate the Family Investment Administration as the central agency managing CSFP using federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (under 7 C.F.R. 247). It repeals the existing requirement that the Secretary of Aging administer the program, streamlining oversight under the Department of Human Services. This change directly affects how CSFP services - providing food packages to low-income pregnant women, infants, and children - are coordinated within the state government. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.