Sen. Johnny Mautz

Maddy summarySB 915 requires individuals performing limited X-ray procedures (such as chest, spine, and limb imaging) in Maryland to register with the State Board of Physicians. It restricts these operations to non-invasive X-rays only (excluding CT scans, mammography, or fluoroscopy) and mandates 115 hours of specialized training plus 6 months of clinical experience. The bill also establishes disciplinary procedures for violations and allows physician assistants to perform X-ray duties under physician supervision, while updating rules for cardiovascular specialists and medical graduates. This directly affects medical staff, radiologic technicians, and physician assistants conducting basic X-ray services in clinical settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement that livestock operations must obtain a water pollution permit from Maryland's Department of the Environment before beginning construction on new facilities. It directly affects new concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Maryland by eliminating the pre-construction permit step. The change means CAFO operators can start building without first securing a permit, though permits remain required for operating the facilities after construction is complete. The bill does not alter existing permit requirements for operational discharges.

Maddy summarySB 443 changes the qualifications for legal counsel serving on Maryland's local election boards. It replaces a requirement that counsel must be a registered voter in their specific county with a statewide requirement that counsel must be a registered voter in Maryland. The bill also maintains the existing requirement that counsel must be licensed to practice law in Maryland. These changes apply directly to county election boards statewide, affecting who can serve as their legal counsel.

Maddy summarySB 910 requires Maryland health insurers to reimburse patients for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns in counseling, social work, and psychology, under specific conditions. This affects insured individuals who receive these services and insurers who must cover them. Key conditions include services being provided at outpatient facilities, interns being enrolled in accredited graduate programs, working under direct supervision of a licensed professional, and billed by the supervising provider. The bill amends existing insurance codes (Sections 15-704, 15-707, and 15-714) to add these reimbursement requirements for each profession’s interns.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Maryland's child abuse reporting requirements by explicitly including female genital mutilation in the legal definition of abuse, which directly affects healthcare providers, educators, and other mandated reporters. It mandates that these professionals report suspected cases of female genital mutilation to authorities and increases penalties for violations while allowing individuals subjected to the procedure to file civil lawsuits for relief. The legislation also requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and distribute educational materials about female genital mutilation in partnership with various public and private organizations. Additionally, the bill authorizes health licensing boards to revoke licenses of individuals who commit violations related to female genital mutilation under specific circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 610 modifies Maryland's commercial license for catching blue and flathead catfish in tidal waters. It specifically allows license holders to use a gill net with a mesh size of 7 inches or smaller for catching blue catfish, in addition to the existing finfish trotline option. This change directly affects commercial fishermen who sell blue catfish caught in Maryland's tidal waters. The bill updates the license requirements without changing the $15 annual fee, 1-year term, or restrictions on transferring the license.

Maddy summarySB 363 amends Maryland law to adjust the membership structure and extend the lifespan of the Maryland-Ireland Trade Commission. It reduces the number of Senate and House members from two each to one each, requires appointed members to have ties to Irish affairs, and specifies two private sector members. The bill extends the commission's termination date from 2026 to September 30, 2028, ensuring continued operation. The commission’s purpose remains studying and promoting trade between Maryland and Ireland, with members serving without pay but reimbursed for expenses. This is a procedural bill affecting the commission’s composition and duration, not new trade policies.

Maddy summarySB 7 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the June 30, 2030 cutoff that previously prevented new awards after that date. This change allows the scholarship to be awarded indefinitely to eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents who meet Maryland residency and educational requirements. The bill also removes restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before 2030. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition, fees, and room/board at Maryland public universities, requiring a 2.5 GPA and 5 years of full-time study. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 611 requires the Maryland Department of Health to study whether reimbursing hospice houses for room and board services under the state's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) would save money and improve care outcomes. The study must quantify Medicaid savings per death from hospice care and examine how reimbursement would affect hospice readmission rates, length of stay, hospital deaths, and emergency department visits. This study, mandated by the bill, directly impacts hospice providers and the state's Medicaid program. The Department must report findings to legislative committees by September 30, 2026, but the bill does not change current reimbursement policies.

Maddy summarySB 90 adds hypertension to Maryland's list of occupational diseases presumed to be work-related for specific emergency responders. It makes firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal personnel eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they have hypertension diagnosed by a provider, experience it for at least 90 consecutive days, have at least 2 years of cumulative service in those roles, and are currently employed in those positions. This creates a legal presumption that the hypertension is work-related, eliminating the need to prove direct causation, while clarifying that individuals cannot receive both workers' compensation and disability retirement benefits for the same hypertension condition. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.