Sen. Ben Brooks

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires that naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, be placed in the same location as automated external defibrillators within all public buildings. The State Emergency Medical Services Board, working with the Department of Health, will manage this initiative using existing funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund. To encourage participation, the law grants legal protection from lawsuits to building owners and individuals who provide or administer this naloxone in good faith. These changes aim to increase the availability of life-saving equipment and medication in public spaces to address both cardiac arrest and drug overdoses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two new programs within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support technology-based start-up companies in the Baltimore area. The first program provides grants of up to $50,000 to startups founded by students or faculty at local universities, requiring that at least 20% of the funds be used to hire third-party consultants for planning and technical assistance. The second program, a pilot initiative, offers incentives to eligible universities to foster entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, and commercialization projects, particularly those involving artificial intelligence or machine learning in healthcare and biotechnology. Additionally, the legislation repeals a previous mandated appropriation for a telework assistance grant program and requires annual budget allocations for these new innovation initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines specific types of small-scale electricity generators as exempt from the requirement to obtain a state Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. It directly affects owners of facilities that build backup power systems for critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and data centers, as well as those installing small solar arrays. The legislation allows these projects to proceed without the usual regulatory approvals if they produce no more than 14 megawatts of power and include safety features that prevent electricity from flowing back into the main grid during outages. Additionally, the law adjusts how income tax revenue is calculated for corporations operating certain data centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership of Maryland's Commission on Climate Change by adding two new representatives to the group. Specifically, it requires the Secretary of Emergency Management and the Chair of the Public Service Commission to serve as members, or send a designated representative in their place. These additions expand the commission's composition to include perspectives from emergency preparedness and public utility regulation. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and involve modifying existing state laws to reflect these new roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence within Maryland state government by creating a new subcabinet and requiring agencies to conduct annual inventories of their AI systems and impact assessments. It mandates that the Department of Information Technology develop policies for the development, procurement, and deployment of AI while prohibiting certain agencies from using AI in specific high-risk scenarios until further guidelines are set. The legislation also introduces a formal competitive procurement method called "proof of concept" to test new AI products and services, while exempting certain financial and higher education offices from some of these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Governor's Office for Children and creates a new ENOUGH Grant Program to support community organizations working with children and families. It mandates that the Children's Cabinet meet at least four times a year, be chaired by the Special Secretary, and submit annual reports on its activities and future plans. Additionally, the legislation requires the office to develop a database and submit a detailed report analyzing different methods for calculating neighborhood poverty indicators to improve eligibility for state education grants. The bill also creates a special, nonlapsing fund for the ENOUGH grants and ensures that interest earnings from this fund remain within it rather than going to the state's general fund.