Sen. Clarence Lam

Maddy summarySB 988 prohibits law enforcement from stopping, detaining, or arresting individuals for civil offenses (such as traffic tickets or unpaid fines) within judicial facilities (like courthouses) or within one mile of them while traveling to attend a court proceeding. Police must notify the judge beforehand and avoid disrupting court activities to stop someone for a civil matter in these areas. Evidence obtained from violating this law is inadmissible in court, and affected individuals can sue for damages or seek court orders. The Attorney General may also file lawsuits to stop ongoing violations of the law.

Maddy summaryMaryland's Senate Joint Resolution 4 is a symbolic resolution urging action on nuclear policy. It asks Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and urges the U.S. President and Senate to endorse that treaty. The resolution does not create new laws but formally joins other states and localities in advocating for reduced nuclear risks and alignment with international nuclear disarmament efforts.

Maddy summarySB 793 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for employers who provide paid leave for employees donating organs. Qualified employers (those with a written policy paying 100% of wages during organ donation leave) can claim a credit equal to 100% of wages paid during the first 12 weeks of leave. Unused credit can be carried forward for up to three years. This directly affects employers offering this specific benefit and eligible employees who donate organs with physician verification.

Maddy summarySB 889 prohibits businesses from using consumer data (like browsing habits) to set dynamic prices for goods or services, and bans food retailers with over 15,000 square feet from using electronic shelf labels for pricing. Instead, these retailers must display prices using physical methods like stickers, tags, or signs. The bill also bans employers from using employee data to set wages and makes violations of these rules enforceable under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act. It directly affects large food retailers, businesses using data-driven pricing, and workers whose wages might be influenced by surveillance-based systems.

Maddy summarySB 798 requires Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) to cover individual and group counseling for tobacco cessation, starting October 1, 2026, subject to state budget and federal law. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees seeking to quit tobacco use by eliminating prior authorization requirements for cessation counseling and related products. The bill amends program rules to mandate this coverage under Section 15-103(a)(2)(xxix) and prohibits managed care organizations from blocking access to these services via prior approval. This policy change aims to remove administrative barriers to evidence-based tobacco cessation support for low-income Maryland residents.

Maddy summarySB 797 prohibits insurers, nonprofit health service plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations from downcoding healthcare claims (reducing reimbursement without proper justification) in specific situations. The bill requires these entities to provide healthcare providers with a 30-day notice before downcoding, including the specific reason, original and revised codes, and an opportunity to submit additional documentation. It bans practices like using algorithms without clinical review, downcoding based solely on diagnosis codes, or targeting providers treating complex conditions. This directly affects healthcare providers and insurers by establishing clear rules for claim reimbursement and appeal processes.

Maddy summarySB 837 prohibits Maryland insurance companies, health plans, and managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or coverage restrictions for prescription drugs reviewed by the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). It specifically blocks these requirements if the PDAB has not determined the drug causes an affordability challenge, has made a policy recommendation about it, or has set an upper payment limit. The bill directly affects patients needing covered medications and insurers that must comply with these new coverage rules. It aims to streamline access to PDAB-reviewed drugs by removing common insurance barriers without altering the drugs' clinical use.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their total nursing and residential care revenue on direct care staff wages and benefits (including nurses, dietary, therapy, and social workers). Nursing homes must annually submit detailed cost reports by September 1 starting in 2027, including proof of wage payments and other data determined by the Maryland Department of Health. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including suspension from the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting all nursing homes operating in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 795 establishes new regulations for vision insurance benefits in Maryland. It requires insurers and vision benefit managers to publicly disclose specific information on their websites, including their legal details, regulatory oversight, and contact information. The bill sets standards for contracts between these companies and eye care providers (like optometrists and ophthalmologists), including rules for reimbursement rates, provider inclusion procedures, and prohibitions on certain restrictive contract terms. These changes directly affect vision benefit plan providers, eye care professionals, and enrollees who use vision insurance coverage. The law creates a new regulatory framework under Maryland’s Insurance Article to standardize vision benefit offerings and transparency.

Maddy summarySB 887 establishes collective bargaining rights for greenhouse workers in Maryland, requiring employers in controlled-environment agricultural operations (like greenhouses) to allow employees to form or join unions. The bill creates new procedures for union elections, certification of representatives, and good-faith bargaining, overseen by the Secretary of Labor. It also mandates employer-provided rest breaks during extreme heat conditions to prevent heat-related illness, aligning with existing heat safety standards. This law directly affects greenhouse workers and their employers, adding specific protections not previously covered under Maryland labor law.