Sen. Mike McKay

Maddy summarySB 348 amends Maryland's criminal law to clarify and expand protections against surreptitious filming of people's private areas. It directly affects anyone who secretly films another person's genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast (below the areola) without consent in places where privacy is expected, such as residences, dressing rooms, or hotel rooms. Key changes include explicitly defining "private place" to include homes and adding specific examples like tanning rooms, while clarifying that "visual surveillance" covers camera use, mirrors, or direct observation. Violations are punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both, and victims gain a civil right to sue for damages and attorney fees.

Maddy summarySB 46 makes it a crime to illegally occupy residential property with the intent to defraud the owner, prohibiting possession or claiming rights to property you don’t legally own. Property owners can submit a sworn affidavit to their sheriff, triggering removal of the occupant unless they present evidence of lawful possession. Violations carry fines up to $2,500 or jail time (up to 1 year for repeat offenses within 2 years). The law explicitly states it does not replace existing wrongful detainer lawsuits, which remain an option for property owners.

Maddy summarySB 1007 modifies Maryland's evidence rules to allow intercepted communications (like phone calls or texts) as court evidence under specific conditions. It permits such evidence if at least one party was outside Maryland during the communication, the interception wasn’t conducted by Maryland law enforcement, or all parties were co-conspirators in a violent crime. Courts must also determine the evidence is more probative than alternatives and serves justice, and the defense must receive advance notice of its use. The law applies to all Maryland courts and legal proceedings, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1046 allows Maryland correctional officers to use body-worn digital recording devices to capture conversations during their duties under specific conditions. It permits recording only when officers are in uniform, notify individuals being recorded (unless unsafe), and are participating in the conversation. The bill also requires the Maryland Correctional Training Commission to create a detailed policy by 2026 covering camera use, notification rules, recording storage, and access to recordings for all correctional facilities. This directly affects correctional officers and the individuals they interact with in state correctional facilities.

Maddy summarySB 711 establishes the Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Recreation Oversight Board in Maryland to advise the Secretary of Natural Resources and review spending from the state’s Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Trail Fund. The board, appointed by the governor and representing OHV user groups, trail maintenance, and local counties, must meet quarterly and ensure at least 25% of annual fund balances fund trail development, 10% support maintenance, and 10% cover infrastructure like camping sites. This directly affects OHV trail users, state natural resources agencies, and local counties with OHV trails by mandating specific spending allocations for recreation infrastructure and operations. The board’s recommendations will guide how the fund supports OHV recreation activities statewide.

Maddy summarySB 179 exempts one vehicle owned or leased by an unemployable disabled veteran with a service-connected disability from Maryland's motor vehicle registration fees. It adds this group to existing fee exemptions by amending Maryland's transportation code (Section 13-903(a)(11)). The exemption applies only to vehicles personally used by the veteran and requires the veteran to be declared unemployable due to a disability connected to military service. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible disabled veterans who qualify under this specific criterion.

Maddy summarySB 878 repeals Maryland’s current ban on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production, authorizing the activity for the first time. It directly affects oil and gas companies seeking to operate in Maryland by allowing them to conduct hydraulic fracturing under new regulations. The bill requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to adopt specific rules governing how fracturing is conducted, including safety and environmental protections. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, replacing the existing prohibition with a regulated authorization framework.

Maddy summarySB 638 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to collect an 8% surcharge on hotel rentals at Savage River Lodge. The proceeds will be sent to Garrett County, which must use 6% of the surcharge for promoting the county and the remaining 2% for the county’s general fund. This bill directly affects hotel guests staying at Savage River Lodge and provides a dedicated funding source for Garrett County’s promotional efforts and general operations. It amends Maryland law to establish this specific surcharge mechanism for the lodge property. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 545 amends Maryland's criminal code to prohibit possessing or viewing images depicting minors in sexual conduct, sadomasochistic abuse, or sexual excitement - whether actual or computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children under 16. It specifically targets material that looks like real children (excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings) and adds penalties: up to 5 years for first-time possession/viewing (misdemeanor) and up to 10 years for repeat offenses (felony). The bill includes exceptions for parents possessing non-exploitative images of their own children and allows a defense if someone destroys the material or reports it to police. These changes update sections 11-207, 11-208, and add new section 11-208.2 to the Maryland Annotated Code.

Maddy summarySB 1034 proposes constitutional amendments to change how the Governor and legislature handle budget vetoes. It removes the Governor's authority to veto most budget items, allowing vetoes only for executive department appropriations that the legislature increased. If the legislature overrides such a veto with a 3/5 vote, the item reverts to the original legislative version and becomes law immediately. This directly affects budget negotiations between the Governor and General Assembly, specifically altering the process for approving or rejecting state spending.