Sen. Ben Brooks

Maddy summarySB 780 (CHERISH Our Communities Act) requires applicants for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new or modified power plants to submit a "BURDEN report" analyzing environmental and public health burdens in the surrounding area. This applies specifically to projects located in "at-risk census tracts," defined as areas meeting certain thresholds for pollution exposure, health indicators (like asthma ER visits), or proximity to hazardous sites (e.g., power plants, landfills). The bill mandates the Public Service Commission to deny applications if issuing the certificate would worsen environmental or public health stressors in these overburdened communities. The report must include baseline data on disparities and environmental needs, using Maryland’s EJ Score and mapping tool to identify affected areas.

Maddy summarySB 781 (CHERISH Our Communities Act) requires applicants for certain environmental permits (like air quality or wastewater permits) at facilities in "at-risk census tracts" to submit a report detailing existing environmental and public health burdens in those areas. The Maryland Department of the Environment must deny permit applications if approval would worsen adverse environmental or health stressors in those high-burden communities, as defined by specific metrics like pollution proximity scores or health indicator thresholds. The bill mandates new public participation requirements during permit reviews for facilities in these areas and specifies that denial decisions must be documented for judicial review. It directly affects businesses seeking permits for facilities in designated at-risk neighborhoods, aiming to prevent additional environmental harm in communities already facing disproportionate pollution.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Maryland General Assembly members to use campaign funds or receive state reimbursement for home security system expenses at their primary residence. Under the new provisions, members can request up to $1,000 per term of office for costs related to acquiring, installing, maintaining, or upgrading security systems, with limits of one reimbursement per election cycle. Members must submit proof of completed work to their campaign finance entity or the General Assembly, and the State Board retains the authority to audit these disbursements. The legislation also clarifies that these reimbursements are not considered campaign expenditures for election law purposes.

Maddy summarySB 592 requires Maryland public high schools to add a standalone personal financial literacy course as a graduation requirement, effective for students graduating in 2030 or later. The bill mandates that students complete at least one semester of this course in grades 11 or 12, with county boards of education determining curriculum and materials while aligning with state standards. Successful completion earns students at least 0.5 credits toward their diploma, and counties may allow this credit to satisfy remaining requirements through existing courses like business or social studies. The State Board of Education must establish the graduation requirement, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 593 requires all student athletes in Maryland public and nonpublic schools to undergo a heart health check (including family history and physical exam) as part of their pre-sports physical starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This applies to health care providers conducting these exams and mandates schools to report participation and referral rates to health departments. The bill also directs the State Department of Education and Maryland Department of Health to create guidelines for providers on conducting these checks and identifying early heart risks. Schools must report data on screenings and referrals annually, with the health department publishing annual outcome analyses on its website.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to select, certify, and purchase a telephone voting system for absentee voters who have attested to having a print disability. The system must meet strict security standards, including ballot secrecy, accurate vote recording, voter identity authentication, and the ability to create a paper audit trail. Eligible voters will be placed on a special list and receive accessible communications with instructions and credentials to access the system, while the state will also run a public education campaign about the new voting option.

Maddy summarySB 727 authorizes Maryland municipalities to use secure electronic voting systems for local elections, directly affecting cities and towns conducting municipal elections. The bill defines a "qualified electronic transmission system" as one with strict security features like end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, paper ballot backups, and biometric ID verification to protect voter data and election integrity. It prohibits municipalities from using any voter information collected through these systems for purposes beyond election administration or tracking voter participation. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all municipal elections in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 669 extends the deadline for solar energy systems to be placed in service to qualify for Maryland's Small Solar Energy Generating System Incentive Program, changing the window from 2024-2028 to 2024-2031. It also doubles the statewide capacity cap for medium-sized systems (20 kilowatts to 5 megawatts) from 270 megawatts to 540 megawatts, specifically for systems installed on rooftops, parking canopies, brownfields, or industrial water sites. This bill directly affects residential, commercial, and community solar system owners seeking certification under the program, enabling more installations while maintaining eligibility rules for smaller systems under 20 kilowatts.

Maddy summarySB 622 requires the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide loans and grants specifically for building electrification (replacing gas appliances with electric ones) and transportation electrification (such as electric vehicle infrastructure). This policy change directly affects Maryland residents, businesses, and local governments seeking funding to switch to electric systems. The bill amends existing law to mandate these uses of the fund, redirecting resources from previous allocations. It becomes effective October 1, 2026, without creating new programs but altering how existing funds are distributed.

Maddy summarySB 430, the Informed Enrollment Act, requires Maryland institutions of higher education 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, 2027. Each institution must also provide a clear explanation of the Scorecard’s data on costs, graduation rates, salary outcomes, and debt. Schools must share this information during student orientation, recruitment materials, and regularly with prospective students, new students, advisors, and career counselors via websites, social media, and career center pages. The bill is contingent on the federal College Scorecard remaining active; if discontinued, the law automatically ends without further legislative action. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with compliance beginning July 1, 2027.