Del. Aletheia McCaskill

Maddy summaryHB 552 establishes an independent investigation into the historical House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, a former state detention facility in Prince George’s County that housed Black youth for over a century. The investigation will use ground-penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves, review historical records to identify deceased children, and determine causes of death and institutional conditions. It requires the appointed investigators - selected for expertise in civil rights, historical inquiry, and juvenile justice - to produce a public report with recommendations for a memorial, dignified reburial of remains, and policy changes for future deaths in state custody. This bill directly affects descendants of the children buried there and the public seeking accountability for this neglected chapter of Maryland’s history.

Maddy summaryHB 680 renames Maryland's "Children's Cabinet Fund" to the "Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund" and mandates specific annual funding increases for grants to local management boards. Starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor must appropriate $3 million above the 2027 level, with $2 million increases each subsequent year through 2031. These funds support local boards in implementing coordinated services for children and families, including youth development, prevention, crisis intervention, and reducing out-of-home placements. The bill directly affects local management boards that coordinate child welfare services, requiring them to align with state and local plans when applying for these grants.

Maddy summaryHB 1598 modifies Maryland's Racetrack Facility Renewal Account grants for horse racing facilities. It changes the requirement for racing licensees (like those operating Rosecroft Raceway and Ocean Downs Racetrack) to provide a matching fund for capital construction grants, making it optional instead of mandatory. Licensees receiving grants without a matching fund must now commit to conducting live racing in Maryland for at least 10 years after completing their capital improvements. The bill also adds provisions allowing the State Racing Commission to recapture grant funds if licensees fail to meet these requirements or live racing commitments. These changes apply specifically to licensees at the two racetracks covered under the existing grant program.

Maddy summaryHB 553 requires Maryland's Department of Labor to create a searchable online database of active elevator inspection certificates on its website. This affects building owners and operators who must display valid certificates in elevators, while allowing the public to search for current inspection status by street address, city, or county. The bill does not change inspection standards but makes existing certificate data publicly accessible through a user-friendly tool, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits placing children in unlicensed settings (such as hotels, motels, or nonresidential offices) under Maryland's out-of-home placement program for foster care, with limited exceptions for kinship caregivers or parental placements. It creates a new Child and Youth Placement Review Panel within the Governor’s Office to oversee placements and requires the Placement Manager to convene a Rapid Response Team for urgent cases. The bill also establishes an Advisory Council to improve Maryland’s system of care for children and families and modifies hospital overstay protocols for pediatric patients. These changes directly affect children in foster care, hospitals, and the agencies managing their care, aiming to ensure safer, licensed placements.

Maddy summaryHB 772 establishes a workgroup within Maryland's Health Care Commission to develop fairer reimbursement methods for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers. The workgroup will study current costs, staffing models, and federal requirements to create transparent, cost-based payment systems, comparing approaches used in other states. It must submit an interim report by December 2026 and a final report by October 2027 with specific recommendations, implementation options, and fiscal estimates. The bill does not require immediate rate changes or new funding, but rather sets a process for future policy decisions based on the workgroup's findings.

Maddy summaryHB 911 authorizes licensees at Laurel Park (and Pimlico Race Course) to conduct live Arabian breed horse racing under specific conditions. The bill requires that Arabian races occur in addition to existing thoroughbred races (not replacing them), with a maximum of one per day and three per race meet, and prohibits using thoroughbred purse funds for these races. All Arabian races must follow existing takeout rules, pay standard taxes/fees, and receive approval from the State Racing Commission. This directly affects racetrack operators seeking to add Arabian breed racing without altering current thoroughbred race schedules or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 624 (Safe Staffing Act of 2026) requires most Maryland hospitals to establish clinical staffing committees with equal management and employee representation, including specific frontline staff like nursing assistants and dietary aides. These committees must develop annual staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and evidence-based standards, then post the plans publicly and update them yearly. Hospitals must implement these plans starting in 2028, allow staff to file complaints about violations, and report annually to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The law directly affects licensed hospitals and frontline healthcare workers by mandating structured, transparent staffing processes to address patient care needs.

Maddy summaryHB 1389 updates Maryland law to explicitly include female genital mutilation (FGM) under the legal definition of "abuse" for child protection purposes. This requires healthcare workers, educators, and others to report suspected FGM cases - just like other forms of child abuse - and increases penalties for violations. The bill also allows victims to file civil lawsuits and mandates the Maryland Department of Health to create educational materials about FGM. These changes directly affect mandated reporters, medical professionals, and individuals at risk of FGM.

Maddy summaryHB 1433 defines "supervisory employee" for collective bargaining purposes in Maryland community colleges. It specifies that a supervisory employee must have authority to hire, discipline, direct over 50% of work hours, or resolve complaints, while excluding department heads and faculty below assistant dean level. This definition determines which staff (non-supervisory employees) can participate in union negotiations. The bill amends Maryland’s Education Code and takes effect July 1, 2026.