It's pretty early spring in Maine 5b. I haven't removed the fall leaves yet.

Bonus question, is it normal for my hepaticaa to have no leaves?

Yes, completely normal. That is last season's foliage and it always looks terrible at this time of year. Most hellebore growers routinely remove the foliage any time between the onset of winter and when the flower buds start pushing above the soil surface. Once the flowers appear, new foliage will emerge shortly.

It's been ages since I grew hepaticas but IIRC, the flowers appear before the new foliage. There should be some old (last season's) foliage present but it is no longer green now but a brown or russet color. Maye it's blending in with the fallen leaves I see :-)