Del. Lauren Arikan

Maddy summaryHB 1271 requires healthcare providers to perform a transabdominal ultrasound before most abortions, with a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the ultrasound (or 2 hours if the patient lives 100+ miles from the facility). The bill mandates specific ultrasound standards, including measuring fetal development, offering to show the image or fetal heartbeat, and documenting results. Crucially, it states patients cannot be forced to accept any offered services during the ultrasound, such as viewing the image or receiving a printout. This law directly affects women seeking abortions in Maryland and the healthcare providers performing them, adding procedural requirements to the existing abortion access framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1258, the Energy Equality Act of 2025, prohibits local or state governments from restricting the sale, purchase, or use of consumer goods (including vehicles and appliances) solely based on their energy source, such as electricity, gasoline, or natural gas. It repeals existing Maryland laws requiring the Department of the Environment to maintain a low emissions vehicle program and to establish sales requirements for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The bill also defines "consumer good" broadly to cover personal, household, and agricultural items powered by any authorized energy source. This legislation removes current restrictions on energy source choices for these goods, applying retroactively to existing regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1535 repeals a surcharge currently added to electric and gas bills in Maryland that funded energy efficiency programs and supported greenhouse gas reduction goals. The bill removes the requirement for utility companies to recover costs for past energy efficiency programs (including those from 2008) through this surcharge and eliminates the need for companies to disclose how the surcharge covers these historical costs. It also amends related provisions that allowed the surcharge to be used for rate relief for residential customers. As a result, the surcharge will no longer appear on customer utility bills.

Maddy summaryHB 1536 creates a 60-day tax- and fee-free period for Maryland residential and commercial customers of electric and gas utilities, suspending specific state taxes and fees during this time. The bill directly affects utility customers by eliminating payments for taxes and fees outlined in sections of the Tax-General and Public Utilities Articles. It requires the Comptroller to announce the period and mandates refunds for any state taxes or fees paid in error during this suspension, whether collected directly by the Comptroller or by public service companies. This policy change provides immediate financial relief for utility customers without altering existing tax structures beyond the specified 60-day period.

Maddy summaryHB 373 requires the Maryland Department of Health to share abortion-related data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when requested, unless sharing would violate federal or state law. This law directly affects the Maryland Department of Health, which must comply with CDC data requests unless legal conflicts exist. The key provision mandates routine data submission for public health tracking, with an exception only if state or federal law prohibits it. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter abortion access or medical procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1357 requires the Maryland Department of Health to annually collect and report detailed cost data for four key reproductive health services: birth (including complications and neonatal care), postpartum care (including mental health), pregnancy care (routine visits and testing), and abortion (procedures, complications, and medication). This data collection applies to hospitals, healthcare providers, and other entities offering these services, with strict privacy safeguards to protect patient information. The department must publish a public report each December starting in 2025, including regional cost comparisons, trend analysis, and recommendations for cost efficiency. The bill aims to improve transparency in healthcare spending and inform policy decisions without changing existing abortion access or services.

Maddy summaryHB 810 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy mandating the use of a lethality assessment protocol during investigations of domestic violence incidents. The protocol is a research-backed tool that uses specific questions to assess an individual’s risk of serious harm or death from an intimate partner, and it must include connecting victims to local support services. This bill directly affects police departments statewide, requiring them to standardize how they respond to domestic violence calls starting October 1, 2025. It focuses on proactive risk assessment during domestic violence investigations, not criminal penalties or new victim protections.

Maddy summaryHB 353, the "Maryland’s Constitutional Carry Act of 2025," repeals Maryland’s requirement for residents to obtain a permit to carry handguns in public. It directly affects all Maryland residents who wish to carry handguns without a permit, replacing permit mandates with a new standard allowing carrying "as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger" (subject to court review). Key provisions include removing all permit-related sections from Maryland law (Public Safety Article §5-301-5-314) and amending Criminal Law sections to eliminate age restrictions for carrying in vehicles on public roads (previously barred for under-21s). The bill maintains existing prohibitions, such as bans on carrying on school property, with intent to harm, or with a loaded handgun.

Maddy summaryHB 989 removes a $40,000 annual sales limit on food processed under on-farm home processing licenses. The bill prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from restricting revenue from food sold by farm owners using home kitchens on their property. It requires the Department to update regulations (COMAR 10.15.04.15) by October 1, 2025, to eliminate the revenue cap. This directly affects Maryland farm owners who process and sell food from their homes.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 requires Maryland's Department of Health (for Medicaid) and Department of Human Services (for SNAP) to share data with federal and state agencies to verify eligibility for public benefits. Key mechanisms include monthly death record checks, quarterly employment/income reviews using tax and unemployment data, and banning self-attestation for income or residency. It proposes a 6-month benefit lockout for Medicaid recipients aged 19-65 who fail to report eligibility changes (excluding disabled or pregnant individuals). The bill also mandates annual retail inspections for SNAP stores and quarterly public reports on fraud investigations and compliance findings.