Del. Melissa Wells

Maddy summaryHB 1198, the Monica Cooper Prerelease Act, requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals in Baltimore City (on at least 3 acres) by 2027. The facility must serve women with low violence/escape risk and satisfactory behavior, offering evidence-based programs like education, vocational training, trauma-informed healthcare, and family reunification support. It mandates the Department of Public Safety to provide comprehensive rehabilitative services - including help with public health benefits applications - and report progress to lawmakers by 2026. This bill directly affects female inmates eligible for prerelease status, aiming to reduce recidivism through gender-responsive reentry planning.

Maddy summaryHB 1325 establishes a 5-year pilot program (2026-2030) to create regional pools of substitute child care providers for Maryland child care facilities. The program, administered by a state-selected nonprofit, will recruit and support qualified providers to fill temporary staffing gaps in licensed centers, family homes, or large family child care homes. Key mechanisms include organizing pools across rural, suburban, and urban regions; helping providers meet background checks, training, and credential requirements; and developing a digital matching platform to connect providers with facilities. The program requires annual $350,000 grants to the nonprofit and $375,000 in annual state budget appropriations, with final reporting due to the legislature in 2029.

Maddy summaryHB 610 expands expungement eligibility in Maryland by allowing certain criminal charges to be cleared from records when dismissed without a conviction. Specifically, it adds that charges may be expunged if the court issued a "no finding" or terminated the case without a finding - rather than resulting in a conviction. This applies to charges already listed as eligible under current law (such as specific misdemeanors and felonies), without changing the list of offenses. The bill does not alter existing eligibility criteria but broadens the circumstances under which expungement is possible for dismissed cases.

Maddy summaryHB 667 establishes November 1 as a permanent state legal holiday and employee holiday in Maryland, replacing the current requirement that the Governor annually proclaim the date. The bill repeals Section 7-420 (which mandated the Governor’s yearly proclamation for Maryland Emancipation Day) and updates two key sections of Maryland law to include November 1 as a fixed holiday for state employees and government operations. This means state offices will close and employees will receive the day off every year on November 1, without needing a new gubernatorial order each year. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 596 requires Maryland county superintendents to allow advance enrollment for dependent children of active-duty service members relocating due to military orders, using a remote registration process without fees or in-person requirements. It mandates school systems to coordinate with parents and the sending state to prevent delays in enrolling children with disabilities who receive special education services. The bill also requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to publish clear information about enrollment procedures and available support services. This applies to all public schools and specifically benefits military-connected families facing frequent relocations.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 requires Maryland’s Department of Health to establish three specialized clinics for sickle cell disease treatment in Montgomery County, Harford County, and an Eastern Shore county by 2027. These clinics must operate under a hub-and-spoke model, providing comprehensive care including pain management, mental health services, genetic counseling, and telehealth access to specialists, while addressing social barriers like transportation and housing. The bill also creates a scholarship program for medical residents specializing in hematology with a sickle cell focus, requiring them to practice in Maryland after training. Funding of $6 million for fiscal year 2027 must cover clinic operations, staffing, social support services, and prioritizes hiring specialists and addressing health disparities. The Department must annually report on clinic outcomes, patient access, and efforts to reduce health disparities.

Maddy summaryHB 609 modifies Maryland's legislative scholarship programs to exempt students planning to complete the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria program from standard exam requirements. It specifically allows senatorial and delegate scholarships to cover costs for the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal Program (administered by the Appraisal Foundation). This change directly affects students pursuing real estate appraisal licensure who would otherwise need to meet typical scholarship exam rules. The bill amends Sections 18-402(4) and 18-405(b)(3) of the Maryland Annotated Code to include this program under eligible scholarship uses.

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 1513 prohibits school resource officers and school security employees in Maryland public schools from engaging in federal immigration investigation or enforcement activities. It directly affects school security personnel, including law enforcement officers assigned to schools under memorandums of understanding and non-officer security staff. The bill adds Section 7-1508.1 to Maryland’s education code, explicitly banning the use of school security staff for federal immigration enforcement functions under Section 287(g) of federal law. The prohibition takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1508 authorizes Baltimore City to impose a local sales tax of up to 2% on retail sales and taxable services within the city, subject to specific rules. The bill modifies Maryland tax law to explicitly grant Baltimore City Council the authority to set this tax rate and requires the city to notify the state Comptroller at least six months before any rate changes. It also establishes that Baltimore would receive a share of state sales tax revenue distributed under new Section 2-1302.5 of the tax code. This directly affects Baltimore residents and businesses by enabling the city to generate local revenue through this sales tax, while ensuring the tax rate remains capped at 2% and aligns with state tax administration procedures.