Sen. Mike McKay

Maddy summarySB 661 modifies Maryland law to clarify when intercepted communications (like phone calls or texts) can be used as evidence in criminal court. It allows such evidence if: (1) at least one party was outside Maryland during the communication, (2) the interception wasn’t done by Maryland law enforcement, and (3) all parties were co-conspirators in a violent crime. For other cases, it sets strict conditions for admissibility, including requiring prosecutors to notify defendants 14 days in advance and proving the evidence is more relevant than alternatives. The bill directly affects criminal defendants, prosecutors, and law enforcement handling wiretap evidence in Maryland courts. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 689 (Bri's Law) creates a task force to study postrelease services for people leaving prison in Maryland, focusing on programs designed to prevent re-arrest. The task force, composed of legislative members, corrections officials, and state's attorneys, must examine all release types and existing post-release requirements by July 2027. It will recommend improvements to these programs based on its findings. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2028, with no further legislative action required. This study directly affects individuals transitioning from incarceration back into communities.

Maddy summarySB 464 establishes a 10-member Commission to review Maryland's current expungement laws and processes, focusing on improving efficiency and equity. The Commission includes representatives from state government (like the Public Defender and State Court Administrator), legal advocates, workforce organizations, crime victims' groups, and two individuals with criminal records currently ineligible for expungement. It must examine existing laws, compare them with other states, and propose a streamlined, broader-expungement system by December 31, 2027. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2028, without requiring further legislative action. This process directly affects how Maryland might reform its criminal record clearance system for residents.

Maddy summarySB 483 (Clean Slate Act of 2026) automatically removes certain criminal records from public view without requiring individuals to apply. It affects people with eligible misdemeanor convictions (excluding domestic violence cases and specific assaults) that are at least 7 years old, or cases where all charges were dismissed (with at least 3 years elapsed since the outcome). The law requires the Department of Public Safety and the Judiciary to expunge all currently eligible cases by July 1, 2028, and then automatically process newly qualifying cases monthly starting August 1, 2028. Expungement means permanently removing all references to the case from electronic court records and the central repository, with no need for manual redaction.

Maddy summarySB 477 establishes a 2-year or 4-year deadline for filing lawsuits related to real estate appraisal errors in Maryland. It applies to civil actions against appraisers, appraisal management companies, or others involved in appraisal work (including valuation reports, analysis assignments, and reviews), but excludes price recommendations from licensed agents. The deadline starts either when the complainant knew or should have known about the error (2 years) or 4 years after the appraisal work was completed (whichever comes first). The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and only applies to cases arising after that date. It does not cover administrative actions by the real estate appraiser commission or cases where fraud concealed the issue.

Maddy summarySB 471 updates salary rules for Maryland circuit court clerks and registers of wills by replacing fixed salary amounts with a new formula tied to the state's Standard and Bargaining Salary Scale. Specifically, it sets their maximum annual salary at Grade 26, Step 20 of this scale (currently $146,500), determined by the Board of Public Works based on workload and fees collected. The bill removes Baltimore City’s outdated $12,000 minimum salary requirement for registers of wills. Crucially, salary changes during an official’s term do not apply to them - only taking effect at the start of the next term. This applies to all clerks and registers elected or appointed after the bill’s effective date of October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 9 establishes an annual tax-free day on November 11 (Veterans Day) in Maryland starting in 2026. It exempts sales tax on items costing less than $2,000 purchased by veterans, provided they show valid ID (like a driver's license or government ID) indicating veteran status. The Comptroller may suspend this tax-free day at their sole discretion. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly benefiting eligible veterans making qualifying purchases.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently define Maryland's state flag as the version adopted in 1904, which features the Calvert and Crossland family coats of arms. The legislation would update state laws to align with this constitutional definition and remove previous statutory language about the flag. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, the change would make the 1904 flag design the official state symbol under the Maryland Constitution. The bill does not alter the flag's appearance but clarifies its legal status and ensures future consistency in how the flag is recognized.

Maddy summarySB 801 requires Maryland to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by January 1, 2027, with conditions allowing rejoining if other states join RGGI or Maryland becomes a net electricity exporter. It eliminates the utility surcharge funding EmPOWER energy efficiency programs, shifting cost recovery away from customer bills. The bill also modifies net energy metering rates, altering how customers with solar panels are compensated for excess electricity fed back to the grid. These changes directly affect the state government, utilities, ratepayers, and residential/commercial solar customers. The policy focuses on restructuring energy cost recovery and emissions program participation without endorsing specific environmental outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 175 authorizes the City of Cumberland to install and use traffic cameras (speed monitoring systems) specifically to enforce speed limits for tractor-trailers on certain sections of Interstate 68. This directly affects commercial truck drivers operating combination vehicles (tractor-trailers) traveling on that highway segment within Cumberland. The bill modifies Maryland law to allow these cameras, requiring that any leftover fines collected after covering system costs must fund local public safety programs and transportation improvements along the I-68 corridor in Cumberland. The law also includes definitions for terms like "speed monitoring system" and "erroneous violation" to ensure proper implementation and review of camera-recorded violations. (Note: The bill is pending, with a hearing canceled in January 2026.)