Del. Cathi Forbes

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 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 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 summaryThis bill requires all Maryland public and private colleges and universities to adopt and enforce specific policies addressing racial, ethnic, and religious harassment, violence, and intimidation. Key provisions include mandating annual staff training on responding to hate incidents, creating anonymous complaint systems, publishing clear rules for campus expression, and holding yearly meetings with student organizations to discuss these policies. Institutions must also recognize the top five demographic groups most affected by hate crimes in Maryland based on annual state data. These requirements apply directly to all higher education institutions in Maryland, their students, faculty, and staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows terminally ill Maryland residents with decision-making capacity to request medication to end their lives through a structured process. It requires two physician consultations (including a consulting physician confirming the diagnosis), a mental health assessment, and written requests spaced at least 15 days apart. Pharmacists may dispense the medication only to qualifying patients, and the law clarifies that providers acting under these rules won’t violate assisted suicide laws. Death from self-administered medication will be recorded as natural causes for insurance and legal purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 1071 allows supervisory employees at Baltimore County Public Library to form unions, join collective bargaining organizations, and negotiate terms with the library board. It creates a dedicated bargaining unit for supervisory staff (separate from non-supervisory employees) and clarifies that such employees may only be classified as "management" if they exercise independent judgment beyond routine tasks. The bill amends Maryland law to redefine when supervisory roles qualify as management positions, ensuring staff with significant oversight duties but not policy-making authority can participate in bargaining. Existing bargaining units and agreements in place as of June 30, 2025, remain unaffected by this change.

Maddy summaryHB 923 adds two new positions to Maryland's State Board of Education: an Educational Support Member and an Administrator Member. The Educational Support Member must be a non-certified, non-supervisory school employee in a bargaining unit, elected by their peers; the Administrator Member must be a principal or similar school administrator, elected by administrators. Both members would serve alongside the existing 13 regular members and can attend executive sessions but cannot vote on appeals to the State Board under §6-202. This bill amends Maryland’s education code to formalize these election processes and qualifications for the new roles.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 establishes a 10-member workgroup to examine mail-in ballot accessibility, specifically focusing on the impact of requiring paper returns on voters with disabilities. The workgroup includes election officials, disability advocates (like Common Cause Maryland and the National Federation of the Blind), and experts in voting accessibility, security, and cybersecurity. It must assess current processes, research accessible alternatives from other jurisdictions, and evaluate options considering security, privacy, cost, and potential discrimination. The group must report findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 31, 2025, with the bill expiring June 30, 2026.