Del. Caylin Young

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 1325 establishes a 5-year pilot program (2026-2030) to create regional pools of substitute child care providers for Maryland child care facilities. The program, administered by a state-selected nonprofit, will recruit and support qualified providers to fill temporary staffing gaps in licensed centers, family homes, or large family child care homes. Key mechanisms include organizing pools across rural, suburban, and urban regions; helping providers meet background checks, training, and credential requirements; and developing a digital matching platform to connect providers with facilities. The program requires annual $350,000 grants to the nonprofit and $375,000 in annual state budget appropriations, with final reporting due to the legislature in 2029.

Maddy summaryHB 1391 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to develop and update guidelines for safe, ethical AI use in K-12 classrooms by August 2026, emphasizing student and teacher-centered approaches. It mandates annual lists of approved AI tools (with privacy safeguards), requires each county school board to designate an AI facilitator, and establishes an AI needs assessment to identify support gaps for school systems. The bill also requires county boards to report annually on AI tool usage, student performance impacts, and compliance with data privacy laws. Additionally, it directs the Career and Technical Education Committee to integrate AI literacy into workforce preparation and funds professional development for teachers on AI tools and training. The legislation creates a Task Force on AI in K-12 Education to guide implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 493 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in Maryland public schools to commemorate Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white New Orleans elementary school. It requires each county board of education to create annual educational programs for this day, including symbolic walks, civil rights history lessons, and discussions on racial equality. The State Department of Education must also develop model educational resources, like lesson plans and discussion guides, to support schools in implementing these programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects all Maryland public schools and their students.

Maddy summaryHB 802 designates the Purple Pitcherplant (Sarracenia purpurea) as Maryland's official state carnivorous plant. The bill amends Maryland's state code by adding this designation to Section 7-302 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This is a ceremonial designation with no new regulations, funding, or direct impact on any individuals or groups. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 149 modifies Maryland's income tax law to allow residents to subtract certain court-ordered child support payments from their taxable income. It specifically permits taxpayers to deduct payments made "to another person on behalf of the individual’s child" that are required by a court order. This change directly affects Maryland residents who pay child support, reducing their state taxable income for the 2025 tax year and beyond. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 937 increases Maryland's sales and use tax rate to 12% for firearms, firearm accessories (like magazines, scopes, and stocks), and ammunition. This change directly affects anyone purchasing these items within Maryland, applying the new tax rate to the full price of the transaction. The bill redefines key terms in tax law to align with existing public safety definitions (e.g., "firearm" from §5-101 and "firearm accessory" from §5-133.1) and sets the 12% rate as a specific provision in tax code section 11-104(l). The policy change takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 198 establishes a permanent Crime Solvers Reward Fund within Maryland's Department of Public Safety to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and county reward programs for paying rewards to individuals who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction in murder or attempted murder cases involving a firearm. The fund, financed through state budget allocations, federal programs, private donations, and interest earnings (which are added back to the fund), must be used exclusively for these specific rewards. To qualify, individuals must not have participated in the crime, must have provided credible, cooperative information, and must have directly aided investigations. The Department of Public Safety must report annually to the legislature on the number of rewards issued and total funds distributed.

Maddy summaryHB 596 requires Maryland county superintendents to allow advance enrollment for dependent children of active-duty service members relocating due to military orders, using a remote registration process without fees or in-person requirements. It mandates school systems to coordinate with parents and the sending state to prevent delays in enrolling children with disabilities who receive special education services. The bill also requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to publish clear information about enrollment procedures and available support services. This applies to all public schools and specifically benefits military-connected families facing frequent relocations.

Maddy summaryHB 1460 prohibits Maryland state agencies from requiring bidders or contractors to certify they are not boycotting foreign countries as a condition of winning or renewing state contracts. The bill specifically bans procurement officers from including such certification requirements in bid requests or contract terms, except where federal law or this specific law already mandates them. This directly affects state procurement officers and contractors bidding on or holding state contracts. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not impact existing federal requirements.