Rep. Edith Patterson

Maddy summaryHB 442 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives in Maryland to disclose their professional liability insurance status to residents and potential residents. Specifically, these providers must provide written notice (including electronic communication) if they lack coverage or if coverage has lapsed and not been renewed, with timing requirements: at the first visit for potential residents or at application for admission, and within 30 days of a lapse for current residents. The bill also mandates that facilities without coverage post a conspicuous notice for residents and guests. This law does not change insurance requirements but ensures transparency about coverage gaps. It directly affects residents and potential residents of these care facilities by providing clear, timely disclosure of insurance status.

Maddy summaryHB 637 ("The Vax Act") requires Maryland's Secretary of Health to issue science-based recommendations for immunizations, screenings, and preventive services using guidance from major medical organizations like the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics. It expands pharmacists' authority to administer flu, COVID-19, and emergency vaccines to patients aged 3 and older (previously limited to 18+ for some vaccines) after completing specific training. The bill also mandates that health insurance plans cover these recommended services without cost-sharing for patients. This directly affects pharmacists, health insurers, and Maryland residents seeking preventive care, particularly children and adults needing routine vaccinations.

Maddy summaryHB 720 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the current cutoff of June 30, 2030, for awarding new scholarships and eliminating restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before that date. This change directly affects eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents (spouses, children) who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts and meet Maryland residency and enrollment requirements at participating institutions. The bill maintains all existing provisions, including the 50% tuition coverage limit, 2.5 GPA requirement, and 5-year full-time renewal period. It ensures the scholarship program continues indefinitely without time-based restrictions on new awards or renewals.

Maddy summaryHB 1341 prohibits public school security personnel - including school resource officers, security employees, and certain law enforcement officers - from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee records for immigration purposes. The bill requires security staff to immediately contact school officials if presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order for immigration-related information. It amends Maryland's Education Code to clarify that school security cannot be used for immigration investigations under federal §287(G) and must comply with state privacy laws. This directly affects school security staff and protects students, employees, and their families from immigration enforcement activities within public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 139 establishes an annual tax-free day on November 11 (Veterans Day) starting in 2026, allowing veterans to purchase items under $2,000 without paying Maryland's sales tax. To qualify, veterans must show a driver's license or ID card noting veteran status at the point of sale. The Comptroller can suspend the tax-free day at their discretion. This law directly affects veterans shopping for qualifying items on Veterans Day, creating a temporary sales tax exemption with specific verification requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 518 requires Maryland's State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to create a voluntary exclusion list for individuals seeking to limit their gambling access, with consent-based sharing of contact information with the Maryland Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling. It prohibits fantasy sports betting for those under 21 years old and bans sports wagering licensees from offering player-specific proposition bets (e.g., wagers on individual player performance). The bill also mandates that sports wagering licensees provide transactional data to certain universities for unspecified purposes. These provisions directly affect gamblers, fantasy sports operators, and sports betting businesses across Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 479 establishes the Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program to create a structured, tuition-free pathway for high school students in Southern Maryland - especially those from underrepresented groups and rural areas - to begin teacher preparation while earning college credits. The State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, will administer the program, ensuring participants are treated as dually enrolled students with no tuition or fees required. The University System of Maryland must develop the program and teacher preparation pathway, with a workgroup (including appointed members from the Governor, Senate, and House) overseeing its design. This program aims to address local teacher shortages and build a diverse educator pipeline, aligning with statewide education goals.

Maddy summaryHB 1014 defines "danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others" for Maryland's mental health law, directly affecting individuals with mental disorders who might face involuntary admission. It specifies four concrete scenarios that constitute this danger: causing bodily harm, engaging in conduct leading to criminal involvement, inability to meet basic needs (food, shelter, medical care), or substantial deterioration in judgment that impairs treatment decisions. The definition requires a "substantial risk" considering the person's current condition and available history, replacing the prior standard. This change clarifies the legal threshold for involuntary hospitalization and emergency evaluations under Maryland law.

Maddy summaryHB 1037 (Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act) gives Maryland's Public Service Commission authority to oversee broadband and internet-based phone service (VoIP), which it previously could not regulate. The bill requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to report on network reliability, outages, pricing, and emergency preparedness plans, and to maintain infrastructure meeting safety and reliability standards. The Commission can audit providers and order corrective actions if services are deemed unsafe, unreliable, or inadequate. ISPs must submit annual reports on progress, with the Commission reporting to the legislature each year starting in 2028 on improvements in service quality and network resilience.

Maddy summaryHB 1000 requires Maryland public schools receiving funding through the School Mapping Data Program to include specific labeling in their mapping data. The bill mandates that maps must show a 1-mile radius around school grounds - including bodies of water - and include detailed building features like room labels, hazard locations, emergency equipment (defibrillators), and surrounding roads. Maps must also be compatible with emergency services software, verified via physical walkthroughs, oriented true north, and overlaid with current aerial imagery. These requirements apply to all school mapping data produced with state funds, effective July 1, 2026.