Sen. Ben Brooks

Maddy summarySB 945 requires Maryland licensing authorities to provide interested parties (such as families of residents or nearby neighbors) with the specific criteria used to approve or renew licenses for community-based residential facilities. It also mandates that each licensing authority designate a single point of contact to handle complaints or concerns about these facilities. The bill applies to facilities licensed under Maryland’s health codes for community residential care, including those regulated under Titles 7.5, 8, 10, or 14 of the state’s laws. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 713, the "Informed Enrollment Act," requires Maryland colleges admitting first-time undergraduates to prominently display a link to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard on their public websites by July 1, 2026. It mandates that institutions explain the Scorecard’s data on cost, graduation rates, salary outcomes, and debt to prospective students, new students, and staff like advisors and career counselors. Colleges must also share this information during orientation, recruitment events, and on social media at least once per semester. If the federal Scorecard is discontinued, Maryland’s Higher Education Commission will provide comparable data using state systems like the Maryland Longitudinal Data System. The bill directly affects all Maryland public and private colleges enrolling first-time undergraduates.

Maddy summarySB 816 increases the Maryland Public Service Commission from five to seven commissioners and establishes specific geographic residency requirements for each position. The seven commissioners must represent: Western Maryland (one commissioner), Southern Maryland (one), the Eastern Shore (one), Central Maryland (two), and the Capital Region (two). The bill requires the Commission to submit a slate of nominees for two new seats (Western and Southern Maryland) to the Governor by August 1, 2025, and changes the process for appointing the Commission's Chair from among its members. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with no retroactive application.

Maddy summarySB 434, the ENERGIZE Maryland Act, renames Maryland’s "renewable energy portfolio standard" to "clean energy portfolio standard" and adjusts annual clean energy requirements for utilities. It updates definitions for "qualified offshore wind projects," expands the definition of "clean energy source" to include modular nuclear reactors, and establishes new rules for nuclear energy project approvals and sales. The bill also renames the "Maryland Offshore Wind Business Development Fund" to the "Clean Energy Business Development Fund" and requires nuclear projects to distribute proceeds from energy sales. These changes directly affect energy providers, offshore wind developers, and nuclear project applicants, aiming to accelerate clean energy adoption while including minority business participation requirements.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new transmission lines whenever specific conditions are met, such as preserving historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, or avoiding conflicts with planned residential zones. The bill expands the Commission's review to include options like using existing utility corridors, reconductoring older lines, or undergrounding existing infrastructure instead of constructing new routes. This directly affects utility companies planning new transmission projects and the Commission, which must now consider these alternatives before approving new construction. The law applies to all new transmission line projects within Maryland starting October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 675 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to conduct a detailed analysis comparing the full costs and benefits of different electricity generation sources for ratepayers. The study must evaluate three specific scenarios: current natural gas and nuclear capacity, plus 8,500 megawatts of offshore wind (with energy storage to address intermittency), and compare costs using the Levelized Full System Cost model. It specifically examines how energy storage affects reliability costs for each source and identifies the most cost-effective options. The Commission must submit findings and policy recommendations to relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026. This analysis directly affects Maryland electricity ratepayers by informing potential future energy policy decisions based on cost comparisons.

Maddy summarySB 952 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to consider "grid enhancing technologies" when reviewing applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity for overhead transmission lines. These technologies include high-performance conductors and storage systems designed to improve grid capacity, efficiency, reliability, and resilience. The bill amends existing law (Section 7-207(f)) to add these considerations to the Commission's decision-making process, directly affecting utility companies seeking approval for new transmission projects. This policy change expands the Commission's evaluation criteria without altering other existing requirements for transmission line reviews.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJ 4) is a symbolic statement urging federal action on nuclear weapons, not a binding law. It asks Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the "Back from the Brink" policy goals. The resolution specifically requests the U.S. President and Senate endorse the treaty, which bans nuclear weapons development and use. It does not change Maryland law or impose requirements, but formally joins over 75 localities and 7 states in calling for reduced nuclear risks.

Maddy summarySB 853 prohibits the Public Service Commission from authorizing new overhead transmission line construction unless an applicant proves existing power line paths are insufficient. It requires developers to demonstrate that current transmission corridors cannot accommodate new lines before approval. The bill also limits local governments from conditioning permits on approvals like "conditional use" or "special exception" for new power lines. This directly affects utility companies seeking to build new transmission infrastructure and local governments issuing construction permits. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 716 adds nuclear energy from licensed reactors to Maryland's renewable energy portfolio standard as a Tier 1 source, requiring electric companies to meet increasing nuclear energy targets: at least 4% by 2026, rising to 16% by 2029 and 20% by 2030. The bill creates a "certified nuclear renewable energy credit" for compliance and establishes a procurement process for the Public Service Commission to review nuclear projects. It mandates electric companies to purchase nuclear energy from a dedicated escrow account and requires new nuclear projects to sell energy into markets while distributing proceeds per specific rules. This directly affects Maryland's electric utilities, nuclear energy developers, and the state's decarbonization goals under the 2025 "Decarbonization Infrastructure Solutions Act."