Del. Jackie Addison

Maddy summaryHB 819 establishes a commission to examine Maryland's expungement laws, which allow individuals to clear criminal records from public records. The commission includes 12 members - such as two people with criminal records currently ineligible for expungement, state officials, public defenders, and experts in employment and reentry - to review current processes, compare them with other states, and develop a new system that would streamline eligibility and expand access. It must submit a report to the Maryland General Assembly by December 31, 2027, outlining findings and recommendations. The bill expires on June 30, 2028, requiring the commission to complete its work within two years.

Maddy summaryHB 824 would allow individuals convicted of distributing controlled substances (like drugs) to clear those felony convictions from their criminal records through expungement. Currently, such convictions are excluded from expungement eligibility, but this bill would add them to the list of eligible offenses under Maryland law. The change modifies specific sections of Maryland's Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure codes to explicitly include distribution convictions in the expungement process. This directly affects people with past felony drug distribution convictions who seek to remove these records from public access.

Maddy summaryHB 740 requires every public school in Maryland to hire a full-time, state-licensed therapist who provides mental health services during school hours. This directly affects all public schools and their students, mandating access to licensed mental health support as part of school-based services. The bill specifies therapists must be certified by the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists and replaces existing language in the education code. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 488 establishes the geographic boundaries for Maryland's eight congressional districts for the 2026 elections. It specifies exact county and election district portions, using census tract data to define district lines where precincts are split, based on boundaries as they existed on January 13, 2026. This bill directly affects voters in Maryland's congressional districts by determining which communities are grouped together for electing U.S. Representatives. It replaces previous election law sections (8-702 through 8-709) and clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative districts, not congressional ones.

Maddy summaryHB 722 removes the legal protection known as "charitable immunity" that previously shielded charitable organizations (like youth programs or non-profits) from lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. It allows victims to sue these organizations for abuse that occurred while they were minors, regardless of when the abuse happened, and applies retroactively to all past, pending, or dismissed cases. The bill also sets limits on attorney fees for such cases (20% of settlements or 25% of judgments) and takes effect on October 1, 2026. This change directly affects victims seeking compensation and charitable organizations previously protected from liability in these claims.

Maddy summaryHB 559 revises how Maryland distributes highway user revenue funds for capital grants to Baltimore City, counties, and municipalities. It changes the percentage allocations from the Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account across specific fiscal years: Baltimore City’s share increases to 12.2% for 2026-2027 (down to 9.5% after 2028), counties’ share rises to 4.8% for 2026-2027 (then 3.7%), and municipalities’ share grows to 3.0% for 2026-2027 (then 2.4%). These adjustments apply to funds calculated annually based on highway user revenues like fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. The bill directly affects local governments receiving these state-funded transportation grants.

Maddy summaryHB 438 establishes the Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee to create a school board system for correctional education in Maryland's prisons and juvenile facilities. The committee, composed of state officials, correctional education representatives, and experts (including formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofit advocates), must develop a funding and operational plan by June 2028, examining costs for staff, materials, and budget management. This procedural bill does not enact immediate policy changes but sets a timeline for recommendations to the Governor and legislature. It expires automatically on June 30, 2028, after its two-year study period.

Maddy summaryHB 699 amends Maryland's use of force statute to require police officers to intervene when another officer uses excessive force and to provide basic first aid to individuals injured during police actions. It creates two new misdemeanor offenses: intentionally failing to intervene (penalty: up to 10 years imprisonment) or failing to render first aid and request medical assistance (penalty: up to 5 years imprisonment). The bill directly affects all police officers and supervisors, mandating they sign a "sanctity of life pledge," undergo de-escalation training, document force incidents, and supervisors must review video evidence of use-of-force cases. These provisions aim to enforce accountability during police encounters by codifying specific duties to prevent harm and provide aid.

Maddy summaryHB 551 repeals specific sections of Maryland's Criminal Law that prohibited certain drug paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia. It removes prohibitions related to items like syringes, packaging materials, and cutting agents used with controlled substances (excluding cannabis). The bill directly affects individuals who might possess these items under current law, as the repeal eliminates criminal penalties for such possession. This change modifies Maryland's legal definitions and prohibitions regarding drug paraphernalia by deleting the referenced sections from the Annotated Code.

Maddy summaryHB 507 extends the funding period for a grant program supporting nonprofit organizations that provide automotive repair training and reentry services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The bill allows the Governor to appropriate $1 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2029 (previously ending in 2028) for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 people yearly, provide nationally recognized automotive repair certificates, and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. These organizations must report on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention. The extension ensures continued access to job training and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland.