Del. April Rose

Maddy summaryHB 81 requires that when the government takes farm or agricultural land for public projects (like infrastructure), the property owner receives compensation based on 350% of the highest appraisal value of the land, rather than standard fair market value. This directly affects Maryland farmers and landowners whose property is condemned for public use, including cases involving transmission lines. The bill changes how "fair market value" is calculated in condemnation proceedings for qualifying agricultural property, as defined by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The law applies retroactively to all condemnation cases involving farm land since its effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1398 (Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law) makes it a felony to distribute heroin, fentanyl, or their synthetic versions when that distribution causes death or serious bodily harm. It targets individuals selling or giving these drugs (excluding non-commercial sharing like exchanging for goods), with penalties including up to 20 years in prison and consecutive sentencing to other charges. The bill also provides immunity from prosecution for people who seek or provide medical assistance during an overdose emergency. This law directly affects drug distributors whose actions result in harm, not users or those aiding overdose victims.

Maddy summaryHB 734, the Real Time for Violent Crime Act, prohibits incarcerated individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder from earning sentence reduction credits (diminution credits) that shorten their prison time. It also limits sentence reductions for violent crimes to no more than 10% of the total sentence for those convicted of crimes of violence (as defined in Maryland law), and restricts judges from granting pretrial release to defendants charged with violent crimes if they have pending charges or recent convictions for specific violent offenses. The bill directly affects people serving sentences for murder or violent crimes in Maryland correctional facilities and changes how courts handle sentence reductions and pretrial releases for these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1337 (Maryland) amends property condemnation law to allow business or farm owners whose property is taken through eminent domain to claim compensation for lost profits under specific conditions. It directly affects business owners and farm operators on property acquired by government entities for public projects. The bill requires owners to prove the profit loss was directly caused by the taking, couldn't be prevented by relocation or reasonable steps, and isn't covered elsewhere. Damages must be calculated using standard accounting practices, preventing duplicate payments for the same loss. This change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 725 expands eligibility for two Maryland higher education grant programs by amending the definition of "dually enrolled student" to include students from nonpublic secondary schools and home schools. This change allows these students to apply for the Part-Time Grant Program (under §18-1401) and the Early College Access Grant (under §18-14A-01), which provide financial aid for college courses taken while still in high school. The bill modifies existing sections of Maryland’s education code (specifically §§15-127, 18-1401, 18-14A-01, 18-14A-02, and 18-14A-03) to reflect this expanded definition. The policy change directly affects home-schooled and nonpublic school students seeking college credit through dual enrollment, without altering grant amounts or application requirements. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 732 increases the required classroom teaching time for Maryland public school teachers on career ladder levels one, two, or three from 60% to 80% of their working time. This change directly affects teachers who are certified but not yet at the highest career levels (such as those pursuing a master’s degree or National Board Certification). The bill specifies that the remaining 20% of their time must be spent on activities like improving instruction, tutoring students, or participating in professional development. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 156, the "Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act," requires Maryland public and nonpublic high schools competing against public schools to designate interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity sports teams based solely on biological sex. It prohibits schools from allowing students assigned male at birth to participate on teams designated for students assigned female at birth. The bill also prevents government agencies or athletic organizations from penalizing schools for maintaining separate teams for females, and allows students or schools harmed by violations to file civil lawsuits seeking damages, attorney fees, or injunctions. This law directly affects high school athletic programs and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 622 (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025) requires law enforcement officers to consult with an attorney before questioning a child in custody. Specifically, officers must ensure the child has spoken with an attorney (either retained by parents or provided by the Public Defender) and make reasonable efforts to notify the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian before interrogation. Exceptions exist only for immediate public safety threats (with limited questions) or if the parent/guardian consents to skip the attorney consultation. Violating these rules creates a rebuttable presumption that any statement made by the child is inadmissible in court, though the state can overcome this with clear evidence the statement was voluntary. The bill directly affects children under 18 during police questioning and all Maryland law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 652 prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, directly affecting individuals seeking or holding jobs in juvenile services. The bill bans hiring for 14 offenses including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, child abuse, sexual offenses against minors, and certain violent assaults. An exception allows hiring if the conviction was reversed or vacated. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1385 requires Maryland county school boards to create and implement policies promoting parental involvement in students' education. The bill mandates that these policies include specific provisions: parents must have access to curricula and instructional materials (via website or written copy), the right to withdraw students from certain activities or instruction, consent for gender pronoun usage differing from biological sex, and access to all student records. It also establishes a formal complaint process where parents can report violations to the county superintendent, who must investigate and respond within 14 days, followed by an appeal to the county board. The policy directly affects parents, students, and school personnel across Maryland’s public school system.