Sen. Mike McKay

Maddy summarySB 628 changes how the salary for Maryland Registers of Wills is calculated. It replaces the previous $146,500 salary cap with a new formula based on the state's Grade 26, Step 20 salary scale for state employees. The Board of Public Works will determine each register's salary using factors like county population and office revenue, while removing an obsolete $12,000 minimum salary requirement for Baltimore City. The new rules take effect for salaries beginning October 1, 2025, applying only to new terms of office.

Maddy summarySB 616 strengthens criminal protections for human and pet remains in cemeteries. It expands the definition of "permanent cemetery" to include family- or religiously-owned sites, prohibits tampering with human remains interred in cemeteries, and bans damaging, trafficking, or transporting human remains (with felony penalties of 5-15 years imprisonment or fines up to $30,000). The bill also adds similar prohibitions for pet remains (with one exception), requiring restoration costs for damaged cemetery property and allowing family members to sue for damages. These changes directly affect cemetery visitors, vandals, and anyone handling remains, while updating Maryland’s Criminal Law (Sections 10-401, 10-402, and 10-404).

Maddy summarySB 763 updates Garrett County's hotel rental tax law to include transient vacation rental units (such as short-term rentals listed on platforms like Airbnb) in the definition of "hotel." This requires short-term rental platforms, property managers, and others to collect and remit the tax on these rentals, subject to the same penalties as traditional hotels for non-compliance. The bill also sets the interest rate for unpaid hotel rental tax in Garrett County at 1% per month, matching rates for several other counties. These changes ensure all short-term rentals contribute to county tax revenue under consistent collection rules.

Maddy summarySB 300 creates a specific felony offense for the theft of a handgun in Maryland, separate from general theft statutes. It directly affects anyone who steals a handgun or knowingly possesses one they believe was stolen. The bill amends the criminal law to establish that stealing a handgun automatically qualifies as a felony, regardless of the handgun's value, with penalties ranging from 5 years to 20 years in prison and restitution requirements based on the handgun's value. This replaces the standard theft thresholds (like the $1,500 minimum for other property) and applies strict penalties for handgun theft.

Maddy summarySB 492 establishes the Maryland Commission to Study the Dental Hygienist Shortage, a 13-member group tasked with examining the state's dental hygienist workforce gaps. The commission includes representatives from state health and education departments, dental hygiene schools, professional associations (like the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association), rural health groups, and community colleges. It will assess how the shortage impacts oral health across rural, suburban, and urban areas, then recommend strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and education opportunities for dental hygienists. The commission must submit an interim report by December 1, 2025, and a final report by December 1, 2026, after which the bill expires.

Maddy summarySB 397 amends Maryland's motorcycle safety law to create an exception to the mandatory protective headgear requirement. It exempts riders aged 21 or older who have held a motorcycle license for at least two years, completed an approved safety course, or are passengers riding with such a rider. The bill also specifies that not wearing headgear cannot be used as evidence of negligence in court and clarifies that liability for defective headgear remains with manufacturers. This change directly affects experienced motorcycle riders and their passengers in Maryland starting October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 398 automates the expungement (removal from public records) of certain criminal cases in Maryland, directly affecting individuals with eligible cannabis possession charges or specific misdemeanors. It requires the Department of Public Safety and the Judiciary to automatically expunge cases where: (1) cannabis possession was the only charge and 3+ years have passed since disposition, or (2) a misdemeanor charge (excluding domestic violence or assault) has had 7+ years since disposition. Starting July 1, 2027, the Judiciary will identify eligible cases monthly, notify the Department within 30 days, and both entities must complete expungement. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, replacing a prior deadline for cannabis expungement.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund's authorization for Deep Creek Lake through fiscal year 2027 (previously set to expire in 2025) and clarifies that the fund's purpose applies solely to Deep Creek Lake. It specifies the fund may be used for sediment removal, invasive species control, and ecological improvements at this lake. The bill requires an annual $1 million appropriation for the fund and states that these funds supplement, not replace, existing lake protection funding. The changes affect Deep Creek Lake directly and ensure continued use of the fund for its designated restoration work.

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 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.