Del. Cathi Forbes

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 936 requires health insurance carriers to provide written notice of cancellation or nonrenewal for small group health plans to affected small employers and employees at least 90 days in advance. Notices must be sent via certified mail (return receipt requested) and electronically, including information about alternative coverage options like COBRA or plans through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. The bill applies specifically to small group market plans and takes effect July 1, 2025. It mandates carriers to offer affected employers other available plans and prohibits discrimination based on health status.

Maddy summaryHB 1028 replaces the "Objective Criteria Committee" with a "Compensation and Staffing Committee" for the State Retirement and Pension System's Investment Division. The bill requires this new committee to recommend objective criteria for setting compensation and financial incentives for Investment Division employees, particularly the Chief Investment Officer. Key provisions include mandating performance benchmarks for raises, capping annual compensation increases at 10%, prohibiting raises during state employee furloughs, and requiring consideration of comparable public pension fund salaries. The bill directly affects the Board of Trustees and Investment Division staff by changing how compensation decisions are made and reviewed.

Maddy summaryHB 886 clarifies rules for state employees who left retirement systems before June 30, 2011, but earned enough service for a vested pension, and later return to similar positions. It applies to members of Maryland’s Employees’ Pension, State Police Retirement, Correctional Officers’ Retirement, and Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension systems. To return, individuals must not have withdrawn contributions, not become retirees, and return within 4 years (or within 1 year after qualifying military service). Upon return, they must follow the same contribution and benefit rules as members who remained continuously in the system since 2011. This ensures consistency for returning members without altering their existing pension eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1315 requires Maryland health insurers to cover all childhood and adolescent immunizations recommended by either the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or the American Academy of Pediatrics' schedule, without deductibles. It directly affects health insurers offering family coverage in Maryland, mandating these vaccines as part of the required "minimum package of child wellness services." The bill expands current coverage to include all recommended vaccines under these two authoritative sources, rather than a limited list. This policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, for all new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1072 repeals a requirement that state employers pay an administrative fee per retirement system participant. Instead, it directs the Board of Trustees to fund the State Retirement Agency's operating expenses using the main retirement accumulation fund, rather than charging employers directly. This changes how the system covers administrative costs without altering employer contribution rates. The bill updates Maryland's pension law to reflect this funding shift, affecting how state retirement system expenses are covered.

Maddy summaryHB 1034 adjusts reporting deadlines for Maryland's State Retirement and Pension System and clarifies eligibility for the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) for State Police members. It changes the Investment Committee's annual report deadline from September 1 to November 1 each year and moves the Board of Trustees' report deadline from December 1 to December 31. For DROP eligibility, it specifies that State Police members hired before July 1, 2011, must have 22-31 years of eligible service (under age 60), while those hired after must have 25-31 years. These changes directly affect State Police Retirement System members and the agencies managing retirement administration.

Maddy summaryHB 584 requires the State Retirement Agency to form a workgroup to study how state and local retirement systems handle transfers of member service credit between systems. The workgroup will review current rules, identify inconsistencies in state retirement laws, and recommend improvements to streamline the transfer process. It must submit findings and recommendations by December 1, 2025, and the bill expires on June 30, 2026. This procedural bill does not change retirement benefits but aims to simplify administrative processes for state and local government employees moving between retirement systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1029 clarifies membership rules for Maryland's Correctional Officers' Retirement System, specifically affecting correctional staff at Maryland Department of Health facilities. It ensures that certain employees - including correctional officers, security attendants at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, and related roles - automatically become members of the retirement system upon appointment, promotion, or transfer. The bill also standardizes how unused sick leave credit counts toward retirement benefits for employees who previously belonged to other retirement systems, using a specific formula to calculate service credit across systems. This eliminates ambiguity in retirement calculations for eligible staff transitioning between pension systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to create and implement training for transportation sector employees (including those at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Employers must certify employees have completed the training by January 1, 2026, and establish reporting procedures to local agencies and trafficking prevention policies. The bill also protects employees and employers from liability for good-faith reports or responses to suspected trafficking incidents. Additionally, it mandates bilingual safety announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs.