Del. Robin Grammer

Maddy summaryHB 1209 requires local social services departments or Maryland's Secretary of Human Services to disclose child abuse and neglect records within 30 days if a child in their care suffered a fatality or near-fatality. It mandates that the Secretary notify the State’s Attorney’s office of such disclosure requests, giving prosecutors 30 days to redact information that could hinder ongoing criminal cases. If redaction occurs, the State’s Attorney must notify the social services department within 10 days after the case concludes, after which the department must disclose the records within 30 days. This law directly affects child welfare agencies, prosecutors, and families involved in abuse cases with fatal outcomes, while balancing transparency with legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 857 allows licensed Maryland deer hunters who wound a deer during legal hunting hours to pursue and kill it after hours, provided they use only the same hunting method authorized for their season (e.g., archery or firearms). The bill amends Maryland’s natural resources law (Section 10-428 of the Annotated Code) to create this exception to standard hunting hour restrictions. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources must adopt regulations to implement the new rule, which takes effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed deer hunters who wound deer during legal hours but cannot complete the harvest before closing.

Maddy summaryHB 497 prohibits youth transportation companies from using physical restraints (like handcuffs or blindfolds) or visual impairments when moving children to residential child care programs, except in emergencies with no less restrictive alternatives. It also bans pickups between 9 PM and 6 AM. The law directly affects companies transporting children to facilities such as wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, or behavioral modification programs (excluding hospitals, foster homes, or secure facilities). Violations allow the Attorney General to seek injunctions or up to $1,000 in damages per offense.

Maddy summaryHB 437 amends Maryland's criminal code to clarify and expand protections against surreptitious visual surveillance with a sexual motive (prurient intent). It specifically defines "private place" to include residences, tanning rooms, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and restrooms, and defines "private area" as genitals, buttocks, or female breast below the areola. The bill makes it a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $2,500 fine) to conduct such surveillance without consent in these areas, and allows victims to sue for damages and attorney fees. It directly affects individuals who might engage in non-consensual surveillance in locations where people reasonably expect privacy.

Maddy summaryHB 179, the "Organized Retail Theft Act of 2025," defines and prohibits a series of retail thefts from multiple merchants over 90 days with a total value exceeding $1,500, intended to permanently deprive merchants, return for gain, or resell the merchandise. It classifies violations as felonies with penalties increasing based on total value: up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fine for $1,500-$25,000, up to 10 years or $15,000 for $25,000-$100,000, and up to 20 years or $25,000 for $100,000+. The bill requires courts to determine if a theft qualifies as "organized" for sentencing purposes and mandates restitution to victims. This directly affects retailers, repeat offenders, and courts handling theft cases.

Maddy summaryHB 293 allows courts in Maryland to order child victims of abuse to testify via closed-circuit TV outside the courtroom when their presence with the defendant would cause serious emotional distress that prevents them from communicating. This applies to cases under Maryland’s Family Law or Criminal Law regarding child abuse, but only if the defendant has legal representation. The bill specifies that defendants cannot be in the same room as the child during testimony, and limits who may be present (attorneys, therapists, or others supporting the child). It also prohibits two-way video that would let the child see or hear the defendant during testimony. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 775 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Correction to notify specific officials when an incarcerated person dies in a state correctional facility. The notification must include the cause of death but cannot share protected health information, and must be sent to state legislators representing the facility's district, the local county council or Baltimore City Council, and the county executive or Baltimore mayor. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services must adopt regulations compliant with federal privacy laws (HIPAA) to implement this requirement. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to all state correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 147 requires Maryland county school boards to create policies banning elementary and middle school students from using cell phones or personal devices (like tablets or laptops) during school hours, unless specific exceptions apply. The policy must allow device use for students with documented special education needs (IEP/504 plans), health monitoring, or when teachers direct it for educational purposes. It does not apply to counties already having such policies in place. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all public elementary and middle schools in Maryland not covered by existing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires boaters involved in accidents causing injury or death to stop near the scene, return to remain there until assisting others, and provide their name, address, and vessel ID to injured persons. It defines "serious bodily injury" (e.g., risk of death, permanent disfigurement) and sets penalties: up to 1 year/$3,000 for injury, 5 years/$5,000 for death, or 10 years/$10,000 if the operator knew injury/death was likely. Boaters must also report serious accidents (death, disappearance, injury requiring medical care beyond first aid) within 48 hours to Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. The law applies to all vessel operators in Maryland waters who cause accidents meeting these injury/death thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 1558 restricts fundraising activities for Maryland state elected officials during legislative sessions. It prohibits the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and state legislators (or their staff acting on their behalf) from receiving contributions, hosting events, soliciting funds, or depositing money raised during the session - except for specific cases. Exceptions include activities solely for their own federal or local election campaigns, contributions made electronically before the session began, and gubernatorial campaign financing under the Public Financing Act. Violations result in civil penalties paid into the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.