Del. Kathy Szeliga

Maddy summaryHB 632 removes psychiatry and all subcategories of psychiatric services from the definition of "medical service" requiring a Certificate of Need (CON) in Maryland. This exempts psychiatric health care facilities and providers of psychiatric or mental health services from needing state approval before establishing or operating these services. The bill amends Maryland law by deleting "psychiatry" from the list of medical services subject to CON requirements, which currently includes services like surgery, pediatrics, and rehabilitation. This change directly affects psychiatric hospitals, clinics, and mental health programs seeking to expand or open without prior state review. The policy shift simplifies regulatory requirements for mental health service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 725 requires Maryland correctional facilities to provide federal immigration authorities with at least 48 hours' notice before releasing an individual, if requested by those authorities, and to transfer the individual to federal custody. This applies specifically to individuals in state or local correctional facilities who are subject to federal immigration enforcement requests. The bill mandates that transfers occur without extending the individual’s custody beyond their scheduled release date. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 719 prohibits Maryland state and local government entities, including county sheriffs and agencies, from adopting "sanctuary policies" that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It repeals existing laws that previously limited police from asking about immigration status during routine stops or detaining individuals solely for immigration violations. The bill requires local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration detainers when legally required and removes barriers to federal agents accessing sensitive locations (like schools) with valid warrants. This directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and local government agencies in their daily interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 693 creates a legal pathway for minors or their parents to sue commercial websites that knowingly distribute obscene material online to minors. It requires these entities to use reasonable age verification methods (like government ID or commercial systems) to confirm users are 18+ before accessing such content and prohibits retaining any user identifying information after verification. The bill excludes news organizations and internet service providers from these requirements. If a commercial entity violates these rules, affected individuals can seek damages for minors accessing obscene material or for improper retention of personal data. This law directly impacts websites hosting adult content and aims to protect minors from exposure to obscene material online.

Maddy summaryHB 679 prohibits licensed healthcare providers in Maryland from prescribing, dispensing, or administering cross-sex hormone treatments (including estrogen, testosterone, or blockers) for the purpose of treating gender-related mental health conditions like gender dysphoria in minors. The bill directly affects minors under 18 seeking such treatment and healthcare practitioners who would provide it. Violating this law is classified as a felony, punishable by up to life imprisonment. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and defines "cross-sex hormone therapy" as treatment to develop secondary sex characteristics for gender transition.

Maddy summaryHB 675 requires county police departments operating correctional facilities in Maryland to enter into federal immigration enforcement agreements by January 1, 2027 (with a possible one-time waiver to July 1, 2027). Non-compliant agencies must detain individuals for up to 48 hours and transfer them to federal authorities if requested, beginning July 1, 2027. If such an agency releases an individual who is later detained by federal authorities within five years, the agency must cover associated housing and court costs. The bill directly affects county law enforcement agencies with jails, establishing specific deadlines and financial penalties for non-compliance with federal immigration cooperation requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 673 prohibits local or state governments from restricting the sale, purchase, or use of consumer goods (such as vehicles, appliances, or other products) solely based on their energy source - like gasoline, electricity, natural gas, or propane. It repeals existing Maryland laws requiring low-emission vehicle programs and sales rules for zero-emission medium/heavy-duty trucks, ending those specific regulatory requirements. The law applies retroactively to all current restrictions and directly affects consumers, dealers, and manufacturers of energy-source-dependent goods. It does not alter federal emissions standards but removes state-level barriers to using diverse energy sources for everyday products.

Maddy summaryHB 707 modifies Maryland's income tax rules to allow residents aged 65+ or disabled individuals (or their spouses) to subtract a larger portion of retirement income from taxable income. Starting in 2026, it increases the subtraction from 30% to 60% and eventually to 100% of retirement income from qualified plans (like 401(k)s or IRAs) for tax years beginning after 2025. It also clarifies that military or public safety retirement income already used for other tax subtractions cannot be double-counted. Special rules apply to retired forest/park/rangers, limiting the subtraction to $15,000 of their specific retirement income unless they or their spouse are disabled or over 65. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, for all applicable tax years.

Maddy summaryHB 729 removes two requirements for a sales tax exemption on precious metal bullion or coins. Currently, the exemption only applies if the sale price exceeds $1,000 and occurs at the Baltimore Convention Center. This bill repeals both conditions, making the exemption available for all qualifying sales regardless of price or location. It specifically defines "precious metal bullion or coins" to exclude jewelry and art, ensuring the exemption applies only to investment-grade metal products. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 708 requires all Maryland municipalities to mandate voter registration for local elections and prohibits non-U.S. citizens from registering to vote in municipal elections. It repeals existing provisions that allowed some municipalities to skip registration requirements and adds new Section 4-108.6 to state law, explicitly stating that municipalities must require registration and that only U.S. citizens may register. The bill directly affects all Maryland cities and towns (municipalities) and non-citizen residents seeking to vote in local elections. It applies solely to municipal elections, not state or federal elections.