Rep. April Rose

Maddy summaryHB 1335 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to hire an outside expert to conduct a study on state IT and cybersecurity workforce compensation. The study must compare salaries of state IT professionals with federal, local, and private-sector roles, evaluate the impact of current pay adjustments and benefits, and provide recommendations to improve recruitment and retention. The department must submit the findings to the Governor and legislature by November 1, 2027, and the law expires automatically on June 30, 2028. This bill does not change pay rates but mandates research to inform future decisions affecting state IT and cybersecurity staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1365 requires healthcare providers (like doctors and nurses) to complete menopause-specific training to earn continuing education credits, with licensing boards mandated to grant double credit (2 hours for every 1 hour of training). It also requires insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the evaluation and management of menopause and related symptoms. The law applies to all relevant providers and insurers in Maryland, effective January 1, 2027. The Department must identify a standardized training program after consulting with professional associations like The Menopause Society.

Maddy summaryHB 842 repeals a requirement that a surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty must acquire a dwelling house within two years of the service member's death to qualify for a property tax exemption. The bill directly affects surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, allowing them to qualify for the exemption regardless of when they purchase or acquire the home. Key provisions remove the 2-year acquisition deadline from existing law (Maryland Code, Tax-Property § 7-208(b)), making the exemption available as long as the surviving spouse meets other eligibility criteria. This change takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 623 creates Maryland's Purple Star Colleges Program to recognize colleges providing strong support for military-connected students, while updating the existing Purple Star Schools Program. The bill directly affects military-connected students (including service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents) and colleges, including both public/private higher education institutions and private career schools. Key provisions require colleges to appoint a military liaison to assist new military-connected students with transitions, and maintain an easily accessible website with resources on relocation, enrollment, academic planning, and support services. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will administer the program and establish minimum criteria for colleges to earn Purple Star designation.

Maddy summaryHB 861 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to post the Statewide IT Master Plan on its website within six months of a governor's inauguration in their first term. If the deadline is missed, the Secretary must notify the governor and five specific legislative committees (Senate Budget Committee, Senate Education/Environment Committee, House Appropriations, House Government/Labor/Elections, and Joint Cybersecurity Committee) in writing within 10 days. The notification must explain the delay and provide a new publication date, not exceeding three months after the original deadline. This bill updates existing law to clarify posting requirements and accountability for delays.

Maddy summaryHB 1120 allows members of the U.S. Foreign Service and their spouses to practice licensed professions in Maryland using a valid license from another state, without needing to obtain a new Maryland license. The bill creates new provisions (Sections 10-14A-01 to 10-14A-03) in Maryland law to establish this portability for specific occupations covered under the state's licensing codes. It directly affects Foreign Service employees and their spouses who are already licensed in another jurisdiction and relocate to Maryland for duty. The bill amends multiple sections across Maryland’s licensing codes in State Government, Business Occupations, Education, and Health to implement this change. This policy removes a barrier for these individuals to continue their professional work without repeating licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1063 modifies Maryland's hunting regulations to allow the Department of Natural Resources to authorize deer population reductions on properties with documented deer damage (such as crop destruction or forest harm) through permits permitting Sunday deer hunting, while restricting it within 25 yards of designated equestrian trails. It repeals the ban on Sunday hunting for migratory game birds and allows the Department to establish county-specific Sunday hunting rules during game bird and mammal seasons, with most counties now permitting limited Sunday hunting (typically from 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.). The bill directly affects property owners with deer damage on 10+ acre properties, hunters in counties like Calvert, Caroline, and Worcester, and the Department of Natural Resources, which gains new authority to set hunting rules. Key provisions include standardized time limits for Sunday hunting and eliminating outdated prohibitions, focusing on practical management of wildlife impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 721, the Uniformed Services Spouses Act, extends existing Maryland benefits for military service members and veterans to include their spouses. It adds "eligible spouse" as a defined term to priority registration at public colleges (within 15 years of service member’s last active duty, max four academic years), community college resource centers with tailored support, and senatorial/Delegate scholarships for spouses of active service members. The bill also modifies hiring preferences for state public service roles to include spouses of veterans. These changes directly affect spouses of active-duty service members and veterans living in Maryland who seek education, career support, or scholarships. The law updates multiple sections of Maryland’s education and employment codes to include spouses in eligibility criteria previously limited to service members themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 771 requires Maryland health occupations boards to allow license renewal credits for free, 1-hour human trafficking awareness training. The training must cover definitions of trafficking, trauma-informed care, health indicators, screening protocols, reporting requirements, and survivor resources. It directly affects health practitioners (like nurses and therapists) needing license renewals, with boards mandated to adopt regulations by October 2026. The Maryland Department of Health must approve the training program by July 2026 in collaboration with universities and anti-trafficking organizations. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 972 establishes the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, a permanent fund to provide annual grants supporting agricultural fairs and education. The fund will receive lottery proceeds (before allocation to the general fund) and replace previous requirements for horse racing fund allocations. It directs specific annual grants: $825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, $550,000 to the Maryland State Fair Society (for youth programs like 4-H and FFA), and $50,000 to the Maryland FFA Association. These grants aim to advance agricultural fairs, education, and youth programs across Maryland.