Del. Natalie Ziegler

Maddy summaryHB 1254 establishes a state program to provide funding to Maryland public and nonpublic schools participating in the federal child nutrition program's community eligibility provision. The program covers the difference between federal paid and free meal reimbursement rates, helping schools avoid financial shortfalls when serving more students at no cost. The State Department of Education will distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity in school districts. The state will appropriate $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support this program.

Maddy summaryHB 1511 establishes Maryland's Wildlife Damage Prevention and Reimbursement Fund to reimburse agricultural producers for crop damage caused by deer, geese, and other wildlife. The fund, financed by $5 conservation deer stamps, state appropriations (minimum $50,000 annually), and grants, reimburses eligible farmers up to $5,000 per year for verified damage after they follow department-recommended prevention measures. It also funds prevention projects - like reducing wildlife food sources in communities - that require local support, cost-effectiveness, and community planning. The bill excludes damage from domestic animals or black bears and requires verification by University of Maryland Extension agents.

Maddy summaryHB 780 allows Maryland's State Highway Administration to lower speed limits by 5 mph on designated urban highways without conducting an engineering and traffic study. It directly affects drivers and pedestrians on urban highways meeting specific criteria (e.g., located in municipal boundaries, near public facilities with high pedestrian traffic, or with curbs/gutters). The bill modifies existing law to exempt these speed reductions from the standard engineering review requirement. This change takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to urban highways under the State Highway Administration's jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows terminally ill Maryland residents with decision-making capacity to request medication to end their lives through a structured process. It requires two physician consultations (including a consulting physician confirming the diagnosis), a mental health assessment, and written requests spaced at least 15 days apart. Pharmacists may dispense the medication only to qualifying patients, and the law clarifies that providers acting under these rules won’t violate assisted suicide laws. Death from self-administered medication will be recorded as natural causes for insurance and legal purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 661 grants collective bargaining rights to specific faculty at Maryland's public higher education institutions, including full-time, part-time, and adjunct employees with academic responsibilities (such as teachers, researchers, and department heads) at the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. It establishes separate bargaining units for faculty at each institution but allows these units to voluntarily combine into a single bargaining unit. The bill excludes officers, supervisors, confidential employees, and student employees from coverage. This legislation amends Maryland’s labor laws to formally define "faculty" and create a framework for collective bargaining negotiations over wages, hours, and working conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 529 requires health insurers, HMOs, and nonprofit health plans in Maryland to post their prescription drug coverage lists (formularies) clearly on their websites without requiring login or account access. Insurers must display drug tiering, coverage restrictions, and update changes within 30 days of implementation. The bill also mandates that these insurers cover certain generic drugs and biosimilars with specific cost-sharing terms (e.g., copays or coinsurance). This directly affects all health plan providers operating in Maryland and makes drug coverage information more transparent for enrollees.

Maddy summaryHB 113 would repeal Maryland's current dollar limits on noneconomic damages in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Specifically, it removes the $350,000 cap for personal injury cases (effective since 1986) and the $500,000 cap for newer cases (with annual $15,000 increases), allowing juries to award higher amounts for non-monetary harms like pain, suffering, or loss of companionship. This change directly affects plaintiffs in these cases and defendants (such as insurance companies) who previously benefited from the caps. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to cases arising after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 162 clarifies definitions for Maryland's horse industry licensing system. It explicitly defines a "breeding stable" as an establishment selling horses for breeding or as breeding products and adds breeding stables to the definition of "horse establishment" requiring Board licensing. This change directly affects breeding operations that sell horses, bringing them under the same licensing, inspection, and regulatory requirements as boarding, lesson, and rescue stables. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland law (2-701, 2-710, 2-713, 2-714, 2-715) to ensure consistent oversight. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 811 requires Maryland counties to annually identify areas where students might walk to school (based on distance eligibility) and report on safe walking routes like sidewalks, crosswalks, or paths. County governing bodies must then build necessary infrastructure to create these safe routes for students, using the reports from school boards. If a required route crosses a non-county road, counties must collaborate with the controlling entity to develop and implement a plan. The bill applies to all counties and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1256 establishes Maryland’s first regulatory framework for fully autonomous vehicles (level 4-5 systems) operating without human drivers on state highways. It requires manufacturers to provide safety certification labels, owners to submit law enforcement interaction plans detailing emergency procedures, and vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" during system failures. The bill defines the automated driving system as the legal "operator" for traffic law compliance and mandates adherence to federal safety standards. This affects vehicle manufacturers, owners, and transportation companies seeking to deploy autonomous fleets in Maryland.