Rep. April Rose

Maddy summaryHB 980 (Kanaiyah's Law) creates the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman within the Attorney General's office to handle complaints about Maryland's child welfare system. It requires juvenile courts to include specific information-sharing requirements in guardianship orders and expands criminal background checks to cover all adults living in a child's guardian's home. The bill also prohibits unlicensed placements for certain children, protects complainants from retaliation, and exempts certain complaint records from public disclosure. These changes directly affect child welfare agencies, guardians, and families navigating the system, aiming to improve transparency and accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 1025 removes the requirement for eyelash extension technicians to pass a practical and written exam to obtain a limited license in Maryland. Instead, applicants will only need to complete 100 hours of approved training in eyelash extension services, eliminating the current option to take an exam administered by the State Board of Cosmetologists. This change directly affects individuals seeking to work as eyelash extension technicians in Maryland, streamlining their path to licensure. The bill repeals the exam option specifically for eyelash extensions (Section 5-305(c)(3)), while maintaining other training requirements for related cosmetology services like esthetics or nail care. The new rule takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 698 transfers regulatory authority for crematories and "reduction facilities" (natural organic reduction of human remains) from the Office of Cemetery Oversight to the State Board of Morticians, Funeral Directors, and Crematories. The bill renames the board to explicitly include crematories, alters procedures for removing board members, and changes quorum requirements to allow action with a simple majority vote. This transfer affects cremation and reduction facility operators by shifting their oversight to the new board, while also updating related code sections in Maryland’s Business Regulation and Health Occupations articles. The bill makes organizational and procedural changes without introducing new operational requirements for these facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 957 requires all Maryland local school systems to designate a cybersecurity point of contact, comply with state minimum cybersecurity standards set by the Department of Information Technology (DOIT), and conduct a cybersecurity maturity assessment every two years starting in 2027. It repeals a prior requirement that county boards prioritize purchasing digital devices with certain funds, shifting focus toward cybersecurity compliance. Schools must annually certify compliance with DOIT’s standards by June 30 and report cybersecurity spending details by August 15 each year. The bill also mandates DOIT to annually review and update the state cybersecurity standards. This directly affects all local school systems and their technology budgeting and reporting practices.

Maddy summaryHB 720 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the current cutoff of June 30, 2030, for awarding new scholarships and eliminating restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before that date. This change directly affects eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents (spouses, children) who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts and meet Maryland residency and enrollment requirements at participating institutions. The bill maintains all existing provisions, including the 50% tuition coverage limit, 2.5 GPA requirement, and 5-year full-time renewal period. It ensures the scholarship program continues indefinitely without time-based restrictions on new awards or renewals.

Maddy summaryHB 450 protects victims of sexual assault or stalking by requiring courts and parties in criminal or juvenile cases to redact identifying information (like names or addresses) from public court records and filings. It directly affects victims, courts, and legal parties by prohibiting disclosure of such information to nonparties unless the court finds "clear and convincing evidence" of good cause to allow it. The bill mandates redaction of victim identifiers in all filings - including charging documents - and requires courts to redact existing records upon written request from the victim. Exceptions only apply when a court specifically authorizes disclosure after reviewing evidence of necessity. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to expel Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat from the Maryland House of Delegates due to his failure to attend committee meetings or vote on legislation since February 2026. The resolution cites his absence from required legislative duties and his stated priority of personal business over public service as grounds for removal under state constitutional rules. If passed, the measure would trigger a vacancy in District 5, allowing the Governor to appoint a replacement to represent Carroll and Frederick Counties.

Maddy summaryHB 1439 amends Maryland law governing property partition actions to clarify lien notification and adjust purchase prices for cotenants (co-owners). It requires parties to notify courts of outstanding liens (like mortgages or tax liens) if they don’t obtain a title report, and mandates courts to adjust purchase prices based on actual costs (e.g., property taxes, maintenance) or income (e.g., rent) incurred by a cotenant without equitable distribution. These adjustments must be supported by documentation and allow all cotenants to review the proposed price or request a hearing. The bill applies only to partition cases filed after October 1, 2026, and directly affects co-owners resolving property division disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 883 prohibits AI developers from making or causing AI to make claims that the AI is a behavioral health provider or can deliver behavioral health care services. It requires AI sold to Maryland consumers to include clear notices stating users are interacting with AI (not a human) and to detect suicidal thoughts or self-harm, automatically referring users to crisis services. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1 million per offense, with funds directed to Maryland’s Behavioral Health Workgroup Investment Fund. The law directly affects AI developers and sellers operating in Maryland, focusing on preventing misleading AI interactions in mental health contexts.

Maddy summaryHB 844 exempts unemployable disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities from Maryland's vehicle registration fees for one personally used vehicle. The bill amends Maryland's vehicle registration code to add a new exemption category (Section 13-903(a)(11)) specifically for veterans deemed unemployable due to a service-connected disability. This change directly affects qualifying veterans who own or lease a vehicle for personal use, removing a recurring cost. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to additional vehicles. The bill replaces the previous exemption for veterans with specific physical disabilities under Section 13-903(a)(8).