Del. Lauren Arikan

Maddy summaryHB 356 changes prescription drug benefit eligibility for Maryland state retirees. It discontinues state prescription drug coverage for retirees (and their Medicare-eligible spouses/children) who began state service on or after July 1, 2011, effective January 1, 2019. The bill repeals three existing retiree drug assistance programs (the Prescription Drug Coverage, Catastrophic, and Life-Sustaining Assistance Programs) and removes requirements for related notices and reports. Retirees who started state service before July 1, 2011, retain access to state prescription drug benefits. The law focuses on updating eligibility rules rather than creating new benefit structures.

Maddy summaryHB 1307 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies, agents, and local detention facilities to notify federal immigration authorities when they hold individuals with outstanding criminal warrants and to retain custody for up to 48 hours to facilitate transfer. It mandates cooperation with federal authorities to determine if such individuals are priorities for removal under federal enforcement guidelines. The bill prohibits state, local, or county entities from adopting policies that limit this cooperation. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and detention facilities in Maryland, altering how they handle individuals with active criminal warrants in coordination with federal immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 727 allows drivers or applicants to voluntarily share with Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration that they or a minor under their care have been diagnosed with certain conditions like autism, ADHD, diabetes, or vision impairments. The Administration must add a brief, non-identifying description of this disclosure to the driver's record, without including the specific diagnosis or personal details. Drivers can later request to have this description removed from their record. The bill aims to help law enforcement better understand and assist individuals with disabilities during emergencies, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 885 requires that investigation records related to police misconduct complaints found "unfounded" (allegations not factually supported) or "exonerated" (officer followed law/policy) be removed from an officer’s personnel record three years after the finding by an administrative committee or trial board. This directly affects police officers whose complaints are dismissed, as it limits the duration those records remain in their official files. The bill amends Maryland law to mandate this removal, ensuring such records do not permanently impact an officer’s personnel history. It does not change how complaints are investigated or processed, only the retention period for dismissed cases. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 682 prohibits most state and local law enforcement agencies in Maryland from using persistent aerial surveillance - defined as recording video or images over time to track a person’s movements - to gather evidence in criminal investigations. The bill directly affects police departments, sheriffs’ offices, and other public safety units by restricting this surveillance method unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions include obtaining a valid search warrant, executing an arrest warrant, conducting active search/rescue operations, or responding to imminent threats like terrorist attacks with DHS authorization. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and amends Maryland’s Public Safety and Transportation codes to implement these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 638 requires juveniles (minors) found guilty in juvenile court for certain sexual offenses to register as juvenile sex offenders. It applies to those aged 14 or older at the time of the offense, mandating registration with the Department of Juvenile Services, quarterly updates, and digital photos. Juveniles remain on the separate juvenile registry until age 21 if court jurisdiction ends before then. The bill also expands school notification requirements by adding more sexual offenses to the list of "reportable offenses" that trigger law enforcement and school alerts when a child is arrested.

Maddy summaryHB 588 requires law enforcement to notify school superintendents, principals, or school security officers within 24 hours when a student (ages 5-22) is arrested for specific "reportable offenses" like violent crimes or certain drug violations committed off school grounds. The bill applies to all Maryland public and nonpublic schools, directly affecting school administrators who receive these notifications. It mandates confidentiality for the arrest information (not to be added to student records) and requires the State’s Attorney to share case dispositions with schools. Schools must also provide educational programming details when sharing student information with other schools due to prior arrests. The law aims to inform schools about student arrests while protecting privacy.

Maddy summaryHB 683 makes it a misdemeanor for parents, guardians, or custodians to intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently act (or fail to act) in a way that causes a child to commit a crime or break the law. If convicted, they face up to 30 days in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both, and must participate in court proceedings and treatment programs for the child. The law also requires courts to order parents/guardians to pay court costs and restitution related to the child’s offense, while prohibiting fines for parents under certain circumstances. This directly affects parents, guardians, and custodians of children who commit crimes, shifting accountability to adult caregivers for their role in the child’s actions.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 156, the "Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act," requires Maryland public and nonpublic high schools competing against public schools to designate interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity sports teams based solely on biological sex. It prohibits schools from allowing students assigned male at birth to participate on teams designated for students assigned female at birth. The bill also prevents government agencies or athletic organizations from penalizing schools for maintaining separate teams for females, and allows students or schools harmed by violations to file civil lawsuits seeking damages, attorney fees, or injunctions. This law directly affects high school athletic programs and takes effect July 1, 2025.