Del. Chao Wu

Maddy summaryHB 1204 (Ace's Law) requires public and nonpublic schools in Maryland to notify a student's parent or guardian within 24 hours if a student leaves school grounds without permission ("elopement"), except for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Behavior Intervention Plan addressing wandering/elopement. Schools must also submit annual reports starting in 2026 detailing elopement incidents by student demographics (disability, race, gender, etc.) and steps taken to prevent them, including staff training on identifying and addressing such behavior. The State Department of Education will collect these reports from school districts and nonpublic schools, verifying data accuracy for zero-incidence reports. This law directly affects schools, parents/guardians, and state education officials through mandatory notifications and data reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 782 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to study how public middle and high schools can better detect deadly weapons and rapidly report findings to law enforcement. The study mandates a comprehensive audit of all schools' current security systems - including physical measures, technology gaps, and potential improvements - and specifically evaluates unused detection methods, AI software integration, optimal camera placement, and expanded metal detector use. The Department must complete this study and submit findings to the House Speaker and Ways and Means Committee by December 1, 2025, with the bill automatically ending on June 30, 2026. This bill affects all Maryland public middle and high schools by directing a formal review of their security protocols, without implementing new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 establishes a temporary pilot program to help foster youth aged 16-22 access childcare subsidies. It directly affects youth who were in state foster care at age 18 or older, removing specific barriers like proof of employment, parental information, or parental authorization from the application process. The program, running from 2026-2028, requires the Department to track subsidy usage monthly and report annually to the legislature on progress. It aims to simplify access to childcare support during critical transitions to adulthood. The bill does not change subsidy amounts but streamlines eligibility for this specific group.

Maddy summaryHB 1475 (Mixed Delivery Model Viability Act) requires Maryland's Office of Child Care Advisory Council to study the state's publicly funded prekindergarten system, which serves children through a mix of public and private providers. The analysis will assess policy differences between public/private providers, reimbursement methods, administrative processes, language accessibility, quality rating procedures, and opportunities for resource-sharing among private providers. The Council must submit an interim report by June 1, 2026, and a final report by December 31, 2027, to the State Board of Education and General Assembly. This bill does not change current law but directs a review to identify potential improvements in program efficiency and equity for providers and families.

Maddy summaryHB 799 establishes the Maryland Innovation Initiative University Partnership Extension Program, which directly affects Bowie State University and Frostburg State University. The program requires these two universities to pay a $50,000 annual contribution to participate, while the state will appropriate $500,000 for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to fund projects supporting new technology-based businesses, advancing technology toward market readiness, and fostering industry partnerships in Maryland. Projects must focus on entrepreneurship, regional economic impact, or collaboration with industry partners providing matching funds. The program expires automatically on June 30, 2028.

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 502 establishes the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within Maryland's Department of Disabilities and creates the "Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative." The bill directly affects state government agencies and employees with disabilities by requiring them to improve hiring, retention, and career advancement opportunities for people with disabilities. Key provisions include collecting employment data from state agencies, providing training on disability-inclusive hiring practices, and reporting annual progress to the Governor and General Assembly starting December 1, 2026. The initiative aims to reduce barriers in state employment through outreach, assistive technology access, and evaluating agency policies. The Office will begin operations on July 1, 2026, with mandatory reporting on outcomes and recommendations for improvement.

Maddy summaryHB 505 renames Maryland's "renewable energy portfolio standard" to the "clean energy portfolio standard" and increases the required percentage of energy from clean sources (like wind, solar, and nuclear) for utilities over time. It revises definitions for offshore wind projects, modifies application requirements for these projects, and establishes a new process for the Public Service Commission to review proposed nuclear energy projects. The bill also requires nuclear project applicants to comply with minority business programs and mandates how energy sales proceeds from certain nuclear projects must be distributed. Additionally, it renames related funds and committees (like the "Maryland Offshore Wind Business Development Fund" to "Clean Energy Business Development Fund") and applies these changes retroactively.

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 summaryHB 1483 requires Maryland public schools to issue simultaneous bids for boys' and girls' high school sports officiating services (like referees for basketball or soccer) and prohibits pay disparities between genders for similar sports. Schools must reject any bid that would result in different pay rates for officials officiating comparable boys' and girls' sports events. The bill allows schools with existing contracts to extend them until July 2029 to align timelines for similar sports, but new contracts must follow these rules starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects school systems hiring officiating services for high school athletic competitions.