Sen. Clarence Lam

Maddy summarySB 888 is a constitutional amendment that temporarily establishes Maryland’s 8 congressional districts for elections held after the 2026 general election and before the 2030 census redistricting. It uses 2026 boundary data (election districts, wards, and precincts) to define these districts, including specific counties and parts of Anne Arundel County. The bill also clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative seats, not congressional seats, and gives the General Assembly power to allow the Supreme Court to review congressional districting. This framework expires once the state passes permanent congressional districts after the 2030 census.

Maddy summarySB 616 creates a Maryland registry requiring businesses that collect and sell personal data (like names, addresses, biometric information, or Social Security numbers) to register annually with the state Comptroller. It defines "data brokers" as entities selling "brokered personal data" but excludes credit bureaus, banks under federal law, and nonprofits assisting law enforcement. The law mandates registration for qualifying businesses to operate, focusing on transparency around how personal data is collected and sold. It specifically covers sensitive data types (e.g., facial recognition, DNA sequences) while clarifying exclusions to avoid overlapping with federal regulations.

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 341 establishes new definitions for small portable solar systems (max 1,200 watts, plug-in devices for residential use) and creates two types of solar energy credits: SRECs for smaller systems and SREC-II for larger installations. It requires electric companies to procure a specific number of SREC-II credits from qualifying solar projects and mandates that certain compliance fees be deposited into an escrow account instead of the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. Homeowners using portable solar systems cannot have utility approval requirements or fees for grid connection, but these systems do not count toward renewable energy goals. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives gain flexibility in meeting solar requirements under the new framework.

Maddy summarySB 386 (Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026) requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (over 69,000 volts) in Maryland to join a regional transmission organization. It mandates that applicants seeking permits for new transmission lines must include alternative proposals using advanced transmission technologies and compare their cost-effectiveness. The bill creates a new Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration and directs funds from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential customers. These changes aim to modernize transmission infrastructure, promote technology adoption, and reduce costs for Maryland ratepayers.

Maddy summarySB 563 adds crisis pregnancy clinics to Maryland’s definition of "health care provider" under confidentiality laws. This means these clinics must now follow the same medical record privacy rules as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. The bill specifically covers clinics providing pregnancy-related care, including mobile facilities, even if they’re not subject to federal HIPAA rules. It applies directly to crisis pregnancy clinics operating in Maryland, requiring them to protect patient records like other healthcare providers. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 505, the Aviation Health and Safety Act, requires the Maryland Aviation Administration to create medical and legal forms for passengers traveling involuntarily in restraints (detained individuals). Flight crews must distribute and collect these forms, which document medical history, allergies, legal contact info, and guardian details for minors. Aeronautical service providers (like fueling companies) must verify the forms are on board before servicing aircraft and compile monthly reports on compliance. The bill also prohibits refueling an aircraft with a restrained passenger onboard and mandates that restrained individuals removed for refueling receive specific services. This directly affects detained travelers, flight crews, and aviation service providers operating in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 416 sets new minimum reimbursement rates that Maryland health maintenance organizations (HMOs) must pay to nonparticipating health care providers, such as doctors and hospitals not under contract with an HMO, for specific services. For trauma physicians treating trauma patients in designated trauma centers, HMOs must pay the greater of 140% of the Medicare rate (adjusted for inflation) or the 2001 rate (adjusted for inflation). For other services like routine office visits, HMOs must pay at least 125% of the rate they paid in 2019 (adjusted for inflation) or 140% of the Medicare rate from 2008 (adjusted for inflation), whichever is higher. This bill directly affects HMOs and nonparticipating providers by standardizing these minimum payment rates across Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 490 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) from requiring prior authorization or step therapy protocols for prescription drugs treating specific serious mental illnesses. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to mental illness treatment. The law, effective July 1, 2026, removes barriers that previously forced doctors to seek approval before prescribing these medications or require trying less effective treatments first. The policy change applies only to these five conditions and expires automatically on June 30, 2029.

Maddy summarySB 106 would repeal Maryland's Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program, ending the requirement for biennial emissions tests and equipment inspections for most vehicles. This directly affects Maryland vehicle owners (primarily those with vehicles from 1977 model year onward) who currently must comply with the program. The bill removes all legal provisions related to the program, including testing requirements, waiver processes for repair costs, and certification rules for repair facilities. It does not create new requirements but eliminates the existing mandate under Maryland law. This repeal would end the state-level enforcement of emissions inspections, though federal requirements may still apply.