Del. Cathi Forbes

Maddy summaryHB 261 changes Maryland's estate payment rules to prioritize unpaid child support owed by a deceased person. It moves "unpaid child support due by the decedent" to position (6) in the order of payment, placing it ahead of taxes, medical expenses, and other claims when an estate lacks enough assets to pay all debts. This directly affects estates with insufficient funds where the decedent owed child support, ensuring those payments are made before claims like unpaid taxes or medical bills from the decedent's final illness. The bill amends Maryland's Estates and Trusts law (Section 8-105) to implement this change, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 323 updates Maryland's requirements for registering domestic partnerships and obtaining marriage licenses. It requires applicants to provide each partner's Social Security number (if they have one) when filing a domestic partnership declaration or marriage license application. The bill also explicitly prohibits public disclosure of Social Security numbers in these records, protecting applicant privacy while clarifying the information needed for processing. This affects anyone applying for a domestic partnership or marriage license in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 1424, the "Protect Our Federal Workers Act," expands state financial assistance to Maryland residents affected by federal government disruptions beyond just shutdowns. It renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and broadens eligibility to include current federal employees not paid during shutdowns *and* Maryland residents recently terminated due to federal office closures, relocations, or mass layoffs. The bill allows funds from the state’s Catastrophic Event Account to cover costs for these individuals, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This changes existing law to provide loans for both ongoing shutdowns and post-layoff financial hardship from federal facility changes.

Maddy summaryHB 862 establishes a temporary Child Care Affordability Commission to study and recommend solutions for improving child care affordability in Maryland. The Commission, composed of 17 members including state officials, child care providers, parents, labor representatives, and business leaders (e.g., large, medium, and small employers), will examine barriers to accessible, high-quality child care, funding gaps, and economic thresholds for families. It must submit an interim report by January 2026 and a final report by December 2026 to the General Assembly, with the bill expiring June 30, 2027. The Commission does not enact policy but will inform future legislative action on child care affordability.

Maddy summaryHB 1468 transfers Maryland's Cyber Maryland Program from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to the Maryland Department of Labor, restructuring its governance and operations. The bill requires the Program to award competitive grants for IT/OT workforces starting in fiscal year 2026, alters how the Cyber Maryland Fund can be used (including rolling over unused balances), and updates the Program's purpose to focus on creating a cybersecurity talent pipeline to reduce workforce vacancies by July 2026. It also mandates the Program to coordinate with cybersecurity industry groups, develop a statewide workforce plan, and ensure diversity in outcomes. These changes directly affect Maryland employers seeking cybersecurity talent and state workforce development programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1483 requires Maryland public schools to issue simultaneous bids for boys' and girls' high school sports officiating services (like referees for basketball or soccer) and prohibits pay disparities between genders for similar sports. Schools must reject any bid that would result in different pay rates for officials officiating comparable boys' and girls' sports events. The bill allows schools with existing contracts to extend them until July 2029 to align timelines for similar sports, but new contracts must follow these rules starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects school systems hiring officiating services for high school athletic competitions.

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 644 expands the statewide application of speed monitoring systems in residential districts, requiring all such systems to comply with existing rules previously limited to specific counties. It mandates that speed limit signs in residential areas include specific signage indicating the presence of speed monitoring systems and requires local jurisdictions to provide public notice through websites and newspapers before activation. The bill also specifies that real-time speed displays must be visible at certain locations, including highways in residential zones with 35 mph limits, to inform drivers of speed monitoring activity. These changes standardize requirements across Maryland while maintaining the existing definition of "residential district" and procedural safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 830 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer, as recommended by healthcare providers and aligned with medical guidelines. It also mandates coverage for follow-up cancer imaging (like mammograms or colonoscopies) if genetic testing indicates increased cancer risk, with no copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these specific services. The law applies to all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients with cancer risk factors and their insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 368 designates May as "Maryland Native Plant Month" by requiring the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the environmental benefits of native plants. The bill directs the Governor to urge educational organizations, environmental groups, and businesses to host events and activities during this month. It does not create new programs or funding but formally establishes this annual observance through a simple legislative change to Maryland state law. This commemorative measure affects the Governor’s annual actions and encourages voluntary participation from relevant organizations.