Del. Harry Bhandari

Maddy summaryHB 509 establishes a Maryland Inventory of Cemeteries and Burial Sites Workgroup to study how to create a state-wide cemetery inventory system. The workgroup, composed of state officials, historical organizations, cemetery representatives, and local community members, will standardize definitions, review current county and nonprofit cemetery documentation practices, and study systems in other states. It will recommend a single data system design, identify the best managing entity, estimate costs, and propose funding sources for a state inventory system to begin in fiscal year 2027. The workgroup must report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2025, and the bill expires June 30, 2026, without requiring immediate action. This bill directly affects county governments, historical preservation groups, and cemetery operators through its study of their existing practices.

Maddy summaryHB 938 requires continuing care providers (like senior living facilities) with a governing body to appoint an alternate member if only one resident representative serves on that body. The alternate can attend all meetings and vote only when the regular representative is unavailable. The bill also mandates that providers consult with resident associations before appointing an alternate and ensures residents can access nonconfidential meeting details within a month of approval. This applies to all continuing care providers in Maryland operating under the current governance structure.

Maddy summaryHB 535 establishes the Abandoned and Neglected Cemeteries Fund to provide care, preservation, and restoration for cemeteries in Maryland that are abandoned (where the operating organization no longer exists and ownership is unclear) or neglected (with maintenance citations, deterioration, or vandalism). The bill creates a voluntary income tax checkoff option on state tax forms, allowing individuals to contribute directly to the fund, which will also receive state budget appropriations and interest earnings. The Maryland Department of Labor will administer the fund, with money used exclusively for cemetery maintenance and restoration - supplementing, not replacing, existing cemetery oversight funding. The fund is nonlapsing, meaning it carries over year to year, and must be reported to the legislature annually.

Maddy summaryHB 448, the Modernization of Military Laws Act, updates Maryland laws to better support veterans, active service members, and military families. It standardizes key definitions like "veteran" and "uniformed services" across all state laws, requires the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families to create transition support policies, and eases voting access by allowing military members to file candidacy certificates remotely with an affidavit. The bill also updates housing and employment discrimination protections for veterans and clarifies election rules for service members. These changes directly affect military personnel, veterans, and their families across Maryland’s state government and election systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1069 prohibits Maryland insurers from including clauses that grant them sole discretion to interpret policy terms in health insurance, life insurance, and annuity contracts. It applies to all insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) selling policies in Maryland. The law amends state insurance regulations to ban such clauses, requiring interpretations to align with Maryland law rather than insurer preferences. The prohibition applies to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 32 establishes a Forensic Review Board within the Maryland Department of Health to review eligibility for release for people found not criminally responsible (NCR) at state facilities. The bill requires each facility to create a board of licensed healthcare providers that must annually assess NCR individuals and recommend to courts whether they should be discharged or released conditionally. It also creates a Community Forensic Aftercare Program to monitor people on conditional release. These changes replace current procedures under Maryland’s Criminal Procedure and Health laws, adding specific annual review requirements and written record-keeping for release decisions. The bill directly affects NCR patients in state facilities and their release pathways.

Maddy summaryHB 300 changes how Maryland reimburses nonprofit organizations for indirect costs on state-funded grants and contracts. It requires nonprofits to receive reimbursement at the same rate they use for federal grants, or at a minimum of 10% of modified direct costs if no federal rate applies. This applies to nonprofits (tax-exempt under 501(c)(3), (4), or (6)) receiving state funds for services, whether the funds are solely from the state or combined with nonfederal sources. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 698 requires certain Maryland counties to report annually on development impact fees, surcharges, and excise taxes collected from new construction. Specifically, charter counties with such fees, code counties with local laws imposing them, and commission counties that have both authorization and enacted them must submit reports by July 1 each year to the Governor and General Assembly. The reports must detail total amounts collected, how funds are distributed to specific districts (like legislative or commissioner districts), and how much is used for capital projects such as transportation improvements, school construction, or other related infrastructure. Counties must make these reports publicly available on their websites or through other accessible means.

Maddy summaryHB 514 revises Maryland’s chiropractic licensing rules to update the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ structure and oversight. It changes board membership (requiring 5 licensed chiropractors and 2 consumer members), adds authority for unannounced office inspections when complaints allege violations of CDC infection control guidelines, and mandates health provider exams for licensees or applicants under specific circumstances. The bill directly affects chiropractors seeking licensure or renewal, chiropractic offices, and the Board itself. Key changes include streamlined board appointments, enhanced compliance inspections, and new requirements for health assessments to ensure public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 573 updates Maryland's requirements for expanded function dental assistants (EFDA). It requires the State Board of Dental Examiners to approve specific types of training programs (like accredited college courses or programs from the Dental Assisting National Board) for EFDA certification, and mandates that initial certification courses offer online options when appropriate. The bill also sets clear rules for reinstating expired EFDA certifications, requiring completion of continuing education (which must include online options), timely renewal applications, and payment of fees. These changes directly affect dental assistants seeking or renewing their EFDA certification in Maryland.