Del. Aletheia McCaskill

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 55 allows individuals with completed misdemeanor or felony sentences to petition courts for expungement (clearing criminal records) at any time if they demonstrate "good cause." Courts must consider factors like the crime's nature, the person's rehabilitation, public safety risk, and how the conviction impacts employment, housing, and education. If denied, the decision cannot be appealed, and the person cannot reapply for five years for the same conviction. This bill directly affects people with past convictions seeking to improve their job prospects, housing options, and access to public assistance.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 735 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from Maryland's Certificate of Need (CON) requirements. This means psychiatric health care facilities and providers offering mental health services no longer need state approval to establish, operate, or expand these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the definition of "medical service" in Section 19-120(a)(6)(i) and removing it from the list of services requiring a CON under Section 19-120(j)(iii)(5). This directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health providers by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for their operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1014, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," makes significant changes to Maryland's tax code affecting residents, businesses, and estates. It adjusts estate tax calculations to maintain Maryland's tax rate despite potential federal changes, imposes a business transportation fee on corporations and pass-through entities, and expands eligibility for the earned income tax credit by lowering income thresholds for individuals without qualifying children. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments for tax credit phase-out amounts, limits net operating loss deductions, and modifies child tax credit eligibility. These changes directly impact Maryland taxpayers, businesses, and families relying on state tax credits.

Maddy summaryHB 958, the Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025, establishes new safety requirements for railroad operations in Maryland. It mandates a minimum two-person crew for freight trains (excluding hostler/utility service), prohibits blocking grade crossings for more than five minutes, and limits train length to 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. The bill also requires railroads to report hazardous material transportation data to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry (for emergency agencies only, not the public) and mandates installation of wayside detectors on tracks designated Class IV or higher by federal standards. Violations carry civil fines up to $25,000 per incident.

Maddy summaryHB 696 eliminates citizenship requirements for members of certain Maryland state boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups. It replaces these requirements with a mandate that appointees should reflect the "full diversity of the State to the extent practicable." The bill affects multiple state entities across health, environment, labor, and other sectors by changing appointment rules in over 20 specific code sections. This policy change directly impacts who can be appointed to these bodies, prioritizing diversity considerations over citizenship status.

Maddy summaryHB 627 clarifies that existing Maryland laws prohibiting disruptive or threatening behavior on school property do not apply to students committing offenses at their own school or at another school during sponsored events like sports. The bill amends Section 26-101 of the Education Code to explicitly exempt these two student groups from the prohibitions and penalties. It also requires county boards to report school disruption data by category (e.g., fighting, weapons) and disaggregate it by student demographics, disciplinary actions, and referrals. This focuses on clarifying legal application and improving data collection for school safety reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 524 adds a new member to Maryland's State Board of Education, requiring one of the 14 regular board positions to be filled by an early childhood development professional with extensive experience in child care operations and curriculum. This member must be appointed by the Governor (with Senate consent) from a list of three qualified candidates provided by the Office of Child Care Advisory Council. The bill directly affects the State Board of Education, which sets K-12 education policy, and early childhood professionals who meet the specified qualifications. It does not change voting rights but ensures the board includes expertise in early childhood development.

Maddy summaryHB 642, the "Ballot Petition Modernization Act," updates Maryland's election laws to allow electronic signatures on ballot petitions and strengthen voter data security. It requires the State Board of Elections to create rules for securely storing voter lists and verifying electronic signatures, replacing outdated paper-based requirements. The bill directly affects petition signers (who can now use digital signatures), circulators (who must verify signatures), and election officials (who must implement new security protocols). Key changes include adding electronic signature procedures, clarifying signature validation rules, and prohibiting commercial use of voter lists.