Del. Chris Tomlinson

Maddy summaryHB 662 expands Maryland state agencies' ability to use "master contracting" for procurement. It allows more state units (beyond the current three designated departments) to adopt this streamlined method for qualifying vendors for recurring services, supplies, or commodities. Key provisions require agencies to solicit task orders from multiple master contractors (at least six for purchases under $100,000) and use objective criteria to evaluate bids. This bill directly affects state agencies conducting procurement and potential vendors seeking contracts under master agreements. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1208 prohibits businesses in Maryland from manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding, or offering for sale food containing four specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red Dye No. 3. It also requires a conspicuous warning label on food products containing Red Dye No. 3 starting October 1, 2025. The full ban on all four ingredients takes effect October 1, 2028. This bill directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating within Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 110 changes Maryland law to require the Child Support Enforcement Administration to provide written notice and make reasonable attempts to contact parents with overdue child support payments *before* suspending their driver's license. The bill adds a process where parents can request an investigation into claims of inaccurate debt, employment impact, or disability before suspension, and allows for work-restricted licenses during this review. It specifically requires written notice of the proposed suspension, including the right to challenge it, and mandates the Administration to consider these requests before notifying the Motor Vehicle Administration. This bill directly affects parents who owe child support and have not paid for 60+ days (non-commercial licenses) or 120+ days (commercial licenses), altering the suspension process to include more safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 1188 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies, agents, and local detention facilities to run a national criminal database search when taking custody of an individual. If the search reveals someone not lawfully present in the U.S. has an outstanding criminal warrant, the agency must notify federal immigration authorities and may hold the person for up to 48 hours to facilitate transfer. The bill prohibits local governments or agencies from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities in these cases. It directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and jail facilities across Maryland, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1374 expands eligibility for publicly funded prekindergarten to include 3-year-olds in certain private providers. It modifies the definition of "Tier I child" to include 3-year-olds whose families meet income requirements (≤300% federal poverty level) or are homeless, live in counties where private providers have opted to enroll them, and choose full-day programs. Eligible private providers (licensed, charging tuition ≤ "cost of quality," meeting quality standards) must sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards to enroll these children. The bill directly affects qualifying 3-year-olds, eligible private prekindergarten providers, and local departments responsible for notifying families about enrollment options.

Maddy summaryHB 1403 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous 3-year average enrollment method with an average of daily enrollment counts on specific dates (September 30, December 31, March 31, and the last day of the prior school year). The bill also excludes the 2020-2021 school year from calculations if it appears in the 3-year average, addressing pandemic-era enrollment disruptions. This directly affects all Maryland school districts receiving state education aid, as it will determine their funding amounts starting in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 amends Maryland law to include historical horse races in the definition of "sporting event" for sports wagering purposes, allowing licensed sports betting facilities to accept wagers on past races. It specifically authorizes Class A-2 licensees - such as video lottery operators with 1,000 or fewer terminals and existing horse racing licensees - to offer these wagers under defined conditions. The bill expands the range of eligible events for sports betting without altering current licensing requirements or tax structures. This change affects the sports wagering industry by creating a new betting category for historical horse races, directly impacting licensed operators and consumers seeking this option.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maryland public high school students to earn one math credit toward graduation by completing a college-prep computer science or programming course instead of a traditional math class. Students must take the course after completing Algebra II, and county school boards must certify eligible courses to the state Department of Education. It modifies existing graduation requirements to expand math credit options for students pursuing computer science pathways. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 requires all Maryland public schools (including elementary/secondary schools, the Maryland School for the Blind, Maryland School for the Deaf, and juvenile justice education programs) to track and report injury incidents occurring on campus. Schools must document all physical or mental harm to students, teachers, or staff - regardless of workers’ compensation claims - and report incidents requiring room clearance for safety, including offering counseling and notifying parents. Schools submit reports monthly to county boards (or directly to the state/program for specialized schools), while the State Department of Education verifies reports claiming no incidents and annually submits disaggregated data to the legislature for review. The bill aims to standardize injury tracking and transparency without mandating specific interventions.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 requires law enforcement agencies to report student arrests for specific serious offenses (like violent crimes or gang-related violations occurring off school grounds) to the Maryland Center for School Safety, Juvenile Services Education Program, State Board of Education, and the State’s Attorney within 24 hours. The State’s Attorney must then notify these same agencies of court outcomes. This applies to students aged 5-22 in public or nonpublic schools across Maryland. The bill creates a formal reporting chain to ensure schools and safety programs receive timely information about student arrests and legal dispositions.