Del. Deni Taveras

Maddy summaryHB 613 requires Maryland courts to remove identifying information (like names, addresses, or phone numbers) from court documents in sexual assault cases, unless a judge finds "good cause" to disclose it. It specifically protects victims of sexual assault (defined as alleged victims of certain crimes under Maryland's Criminal Law Article) by mandating redaction of their personal details from all filings, including existing case documents, upon written request. The law also requires the Supreme Court of Maryland to establish rules for implementing this redaction process. This applies to both new court filings and existing cases in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings involving sexual assault. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 456 extends the time victims have to file civil lawsuits for nonsexual child abuse or neglect. It allows claims to be filed up to 20 years after the victim turns 18, or 3 years after the abuser is convicted of a related crime (like child neglect or physical injury). The bill also caps noneconomic damages at $1.5 million per claimant against a single defendant for cases that would have been barred before October 2025. This affects victims seeking compensation and defendants (including government entities) facing liability. The law specifically excludes sexual abuse cases from these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 522 authorizes Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services to provide up to one year of funding for rehabilitation services to designated rehabilitation institutions. This bill directly affects institutions operating under the Department's oversight, including state juvenile diagnostic, training, detention, and rehabilitation facilities. The key provision amends existing law to explicitly allow the Department to fund these services, focusing on supporting rehabilitation programs rather than creating new mandates or altering service delivery structures. The funding mechanism is limited to a one-year period per institution.

Maddy summaryHB 635 requires police officers to document the specific reason for every traffic stop (e.g., speeding, broken taillight) on the citation or police report. It limits enforcement of certain vehicle law violations (like expired registration) to "secondary" actions only - officers must first stop a driver for a primary violation (e.g., speeding) before citing a secondary issue. If an officer fails to document the reason or violates the secondary enforcement rule, evidence from the stop may be excluded in court, and the officer could face administrative discipline. This bill directly affects police procedures during traffic stops and the admissibility of evidence in legal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 552 requires all Maryland higher education institutions to provide free fentanyl test strips (defined as "drug detection products") to students. These products must be available at no cost in campus health centers, libraries, and bathrooms. Institutions must also annually report to the Commission on naloxone use incidents and the quantity of test strips distributed. The bill directly affects colleges and universities across Maryland, aiming to improve access to overdose prevention tools for students. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 382 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain insurers, health plans, and managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or "fail-first" protocols for specific mental health medications. It directly affects adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to serious mental illness. The law bans these coverage barriers starting July 1, 2025, ensuring immediate coverage for prescribed medications treating these conditions without extra approval steps. This applies to all covered plans under Maryland law, removing administrative hurdles for these essential treatments.

Maddy summaryHB 120 authorizes minors who are both the legal and custodial parent of a child to directly file for child support, removing a current barrier that prevented them from initiating such cases without a guardian. The bill amends Maryland’s Family Law to explicitly state that these minors have the legal capacity to file child support actions (either temporarily during proceedings or permanently). This change directly affects minor parents living with their children who need to seek financial support from the other parent. The law will take effect on October 1, 2025, and does not alter child support calculation methods or payment obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of "practice audiology" in Maryland to clarify the specific duties and procedures that fall under the scope of the profession. The changes allow audiologists to evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat auditory and vestibular conditions, as well as prescribe, order, sell, dispense, or fit hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants. However, the legislation explicitly excludes surgical procedures, such as those involving lasers or scalpels, and the preparation or performance of radiographic imaging from the definition of audiology practice. These updates aim to modernize the regulatory framework for audiologists without altering the existing requirements for their licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes fees on telephone and mobile service providers to fund Maryland's behavioral health crisis response system. It requires traditional phone companies to pay a fee per subscriber and prepaid wireless providers to pay a fee on each retail transaction, with all collected money going into a dedicated state trust fund. The fund is designated to cover the costs of maintaining the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline and supporting statewide crisis services such as call centers, mobile teams, and stabilization facilities. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the state Comptroller audit how these fees are collected and limits the amount of revenue that can be used for administrative expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new regulatory framework for limited licensed radiologic technologists in Maryland, creating a specific license category for individuals who perform basic X-ray duties without a full medical license. The legislation allows unlicensed individuals to take X-rays only in a physician's office under the direct supervision of a licensed professional and restricts these duties to specific procedures like chest, spine, and extremity imaging while explicitly excluding advanced services such as CT scans, mammograms, and radiation therapy. To qualify, applicants must complete a standardized educational program with at least 115 hours of training and 480 hours of clinical practice, pass a certification exam, and maintain their status through continuing education. Additionally, the bill updates the composition of the state advisory committee responsible for overseeing radiation therapy and radiography regulations.