Del. Michele Guyton

Maddy summaryHB 694 requires Maryland county school boards to annually report (starting September 1, 2025) the number of public school main entrances not accessible for people with disabilities and not meeting federal ADA standards, publishing this data on their websites. It also mandates that local school systems send their updated emergency plans to the state Department of Education by September 1 each year (starting 2025), with the department analyzing these plans and reporting compliance status to the legislature by December 1 annually. The bill further ensures that students with disabilities have emergency evacuation plans included in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans. These provisions directly affect all Maryland public school systems and county boards of education.

Maddy summaryHB 1129 proposes amending Maryland’s constitution to replace gendered pronouns (like "his" and "him") with gender-neutral language in sections describing constitutional officers. It specifically targets Articles II (Executive Department), V (Attorney General), VI (Treasury), and IX (Militia), updating phrases such as "his election" to "the Governor’s election" and "himself" to "themselves." The bill does not alter the roles, powers, or eligibility requirements for these offices - only the language used to describe them. This is a purely linguistic change aimed at modernizing constitutional text to be inclusive of all gender identities.

Maddy summaryHB 912 requires Maryland colleges and universities to train instructors on federal disability laws (the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) and how to provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities. New instructors must complete this training before teaching, and current instructors must do so by October 1, 2026. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will develop a model training program for institutions to adopt. This law applies to all higher education institutions in Maryland, except those already offering training that meets the required standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1248 requires large online platforms (with 100,000+ U.S. monthly active users) to establish a clear process for individuals to report and request removal of non-consensual intimate images or videos. Platforms must disable or remove such content within 48 hours of a valid request, identify copies, and prevent new copies from being displayed. The law mandates data logging for legal purposes but excludes email services, broadband providers, and platforms primarily featuring non-user-generated content. It directly affects major social media and content-sharing platforms, not small sites or personal communications services. The bill focuses on creating a standardized removal mechanism for victims of non-consensual image sharing, without altering criminal penalties for the act itself.

Maddy summaryHB 639 requires sports venue owners (for professional events) and university governing bodies (for college events) to allow attendees to bring and use reusable beverage containers during sporting events. The bill defines a "reusable beverage container" as one made of aluminum or stainless steel, holding up to 24 ounces, and designed for multiple uses. Venue operators may require containers to be empty upon entry but cannot ban reusable containers entirely. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting attendees at Maryland sports venues and the operators of those venues.

Maddy summaryHB 81 requires that when the government takes farm or agricultural land for public projects (like infrastructure), the property owner receives compensation based on 350% of the highest appraisal value of the land, rather than standard fair market value. This directly affects Maryland farmers and landowners whose property is condemned for public use, including cases involving transmission lines. The bill changes how "fair market value" is calculated in condemnation proceedings for qualifying agricultural property, as defined by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The law applies retroactively to all condemnation cases involving farm land since its effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1398 (Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law) makes it a felony to distribute heroin, fentanyl, or their synthetic versions when that distribution causes death or serious bodily harm. It targets individuals selling or giving these drugs (excluding non-commercial sharing like exchanging for goods), with penalties including up to 20 years in prison and consecutive sentencing to other charges. The bill also provides immunity from prosecution for people who seek or provide medical assistance during an overdose emergency. This law directly affects drug distributors whose actions result in harm, not users or those aiding overdose victims.

Maddy summaryHB 940 requires Maryland courts to delay sentencing and place defendants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability on probation before judgment under specific conditions. This applies when a defendant pleads guilty or is convicted, has a diagnosis meeting Maryland’s legal definition (per DSM or §7-101 of Health - General), and the court finds their crime was a direct result of their disability. Courts must also determine probation serves both the defendant’s best interests and public safety. The bill directly affects eligible defendants in criminal cases, offering an alternative to immediate conviction.

Maddy summaryHB 837 establishes a 10-member task force to study forced infant separation from incarcerated parents in Maryland. The task force, including appointed members like formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofit advocates, will examine data on pregnant/postpartum inmates, prison facility planning, separation impacts, and best practices from other states. It must report findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 31, 2026, focusing on reducing separation and improving family bonds. The bill expires June 30, 2027, without requiring further legislative action. This is a procedural study bill, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 758 requires local automated speed enforcement programs (like camera systems) to cancel citations if the vehicle or its license plates were stolen at the time of the alleged speeding violation. It prohibits issuing citations until verifying the vehicle or plates weren’t reported stolen, and allows drivers to present stolen vehicle evidence as a defense in court. This directly affects drivers who unknowingly operated stolen vehicles and local governments running automated enforcement programs. The bill updates Maryland’s traffic code to prevent unjust fines for victims of vehicle theft.