Sen. Dawn Gile

Maddy summarySB 385 increases penalties for drivers who cause serious injury or death to specific vulnerable road users - such as pedestrians (including workers and emergency personnel), cyclists, motorcyclists, wheelchair users, and others on sidewalks or highways - when the driver was violating traffic laws. Convicted drivers face up to 2 months in jail, a $2,000 fine, or both, plus mandatory participation in a safety course and 150 hours of community service. The bill also requires drivers to appear in court (no prepayment of fines) and mandates a driver’s license suspension of 7 days to 6 months. It directly affects drivers convicted of such offenses, not the vulnerable individuals themselves. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 395 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to develop multimodal transportation programs (like improved transit, biking, and pedestrian options) alongside major highway expansion projects costing over $5 million. It mandates that the Department assess each project's impact on greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and fund offsetting activities to ensure the net VMT increase from the project is zero or negative. The bill specifically directs funding toward overburdened and underserved communities affected by highway projects, prioritizing investments in transit, bike lanes, and land use changes in those areas. This applies to highway capacity expansions that add lanes or extend existing highways, aiming to align transportation planning with climate goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies theft of firearms as a felony in Maryland, making it punishable under existing felony theft penalties regardless of the firearm's value. It directly affects individuals who steal firearms by subjecting them to felony charges instead of potential misdemeanor charges under current law. The key mechanism is amending Maryland's theft statute (Section 7-104) to explicitly include firearms in the felony classification, removing a prior exemption that allowed firearm theft to be treated as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the legal definition of practicing audiology to clarify what actions audiologists are authorized to perform. It explicitly includes the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of hearing and balance conditions, as well as the fitting and management of hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants. The legislation also specifies that audiology practice covers certain ear examinations and non-surgical procedures like removing earwax or ordering medical tests. Conversely, the bill clearly states that audiology does not include performing surgery or operating X-ray equipment. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and aim to provide clearer guidelines for the licensure and regulation of audiologists in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland's county mental health advisory committees by adding a specific category for individuals with experience in military or veteran mental health care. It requires that at least one voting member on these committees be selected from a pool that includes people who have received mental health services, parents of individuals with mental disorders, and now, those with military mental health experience. The legislation also clarifies the composition of these committees to ensure representation from various community groups, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services agencies. These changes aim to broaden the perspective of the committees to better address the unique mental health needs of veterans and service members within their counties.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law prohibits healthcare providers from charging fees when attorneys request copies of patient medical records for specific legal purposes. The change directly affects patients who hire lawyers to help them file claims or appeal denials of Social Security disability income or benefits. Previously, only patients, their personal representatives, and representatives from nonprofit legal services organizations were exempt from these fees. Now, attorneys representing patients are added to the list of individuals who can obtain these records without paying a charge, provided the records are used for Social Security-related claims. The new rule takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law allows researchers from colleges and universities to review confidential court records related to extreme risk protective orders for academic or policy studies. To access these records, the institution must sign an agreement with the state judiciary that ensures the data remains secure, is used only for the specific research project, and is never shared with unauthorized individuals. The legislation also permits researchers to publish statistical summaries of the data as long as no individual's identity is revealed. Violations of the confidentiality agreement could result in legal penalties or court injunctions to stop unauthorized disclosures.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover orthoses and prostheses starting in 2025. It defines orthoses as custom or prefabricated devices used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions and mandates that these devices be considered essential health benefits. The bill also sets specific rules for replacing devices, ensuring they are not subject to higher copayments or separate annual limits, and prohibits denial of coverage based on a patient's disability status. Additionally, it establishes that coverage decisions must align with federal Medicare standards and allows for replacements if repairs would cost more than 60% of a new device.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated, specifically affecting peace officers, emergency facilities, and people with severe mental illness. It allows peace officers to transport individuals to nearby emergency facilities rather than strictly the nearest one and expands the ability to evaluate patients for involuntary admission to include psychiatric nurse practitioners. Additionally, the legislation mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to attend treatment to prevent homelessness and repeated hospitalizations. The law also ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these assisted outpatient proceedings and permits electronic submission of evaluation petitions.

Maddy summarySB 1041 updates Maryland laws to allow breweries, wineries, and distilleries to directly ship alcoholic beverages to consumers within the state. The bill creates new permits for out-of-state producers to deliver beer and liquor, while also setting annual production limits that include any affiliated companies. To qualify for these permits, applicants must meet specific requirements and post security for state taxes, and recipients of direct shipments are capped on the total amount they can receive each year. Additionally, the legislation repeals previous restrictions on how much alcohol a consumer could buy in person at certain manufacturers. Overall, the law aims to regulate the direct sale and transport of alcohol while maintaining oversight over production volumes and tax compliance.