Sen. Sara Love

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits detaining juveniles (under 18) in any facility where they could see, hear, or otherwise have contact with incarcerated adults. It applies to all juveniles awaiting trial, convicted, or held in custody for offenses tried in adult court. The law requires juveniles to be held in secure juvenile facilities unless temporarily held for up to 6 hours in an adult facility - while separated by sight/sound - pending transfer to a juvenile facility. Exceptions for capacity issues or safety risks remain but must be documented by the court.

Maddy summarySB 304 prevents Maryland auto insurers from raising premiums, adding fees, or removing discounts for private vehicle insurance when a driver has an accident with a free-roaming wild animal (like a deer) and wasn't at fault. It directly affects car insurance policyholders who experience such unavoidable collisions. The law specifically prohibits insurers from using these accident types as a reason to penalize customers through price increases or loss of discounts. The rule takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 251 creates the "Maryland Uniform Public Expression Protection Act" to protect individuals and groups from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP suits). The bill allows defendants in such cases - where a lawsuit targets communication about government actions or public issues - to file a "special motion" within 60 days to dismiss the case quickly. If filed, the court must pause all other proceedings while reviewing the motion, ensuring public speech on matters of public concern isn’t silenced by costly litigation. This applies to communications in government proceedings or regarding public issues, but excludes lawsuits by government entities or business-related disputes.

Maddy summarySB 669 modifies Maryland's Rape Kit Testing Grant Fund to prioritize testing untested sexual assault evidence kits collected before October 1, 2020. The fund will now specifically provide resources for law enforcement agencies to test these backlog kits, fund the Attorney General's office to assist investigations, and support a statewide victim notification hotline operated by the Sexual Assault Coalition. Key provisions require the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to distribute annual funding until all pre-2020 kits are processed, with minimum funding levels unless federal grants cover the same purpose. The bill prohibits using the fund for the existing Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Tracking System. This directly affects victims of past sexual assaults, law enforcement agencies, and state offices handling sexual assault cases.

Maddy summarySB 356 repeals Maryland's criminal law (Section 18-601.1 of the Annotated Code) that previously prohibited individuals with HIV from knowingly transferring the virus to others, making such acts a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a $2,500 fine. The bill directly affects people living with HIV who could have faced criminal charges under this provision. It removes the criminal penalty for knowingly transmitting HIV, shifting focus from criminalization to public health approaches. The repeal takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter other HIV-related public health or medical regulations.

Maddy summarySB 381 limits access to images captured by automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras or red-light cameras) in Maryland. It requires agencies operating these systems to deny public access to recorded images, except for specific cases like people who received a ticket or for official traffic enforcement investigations. The bill also prohibits state or local agencies from using these images or associated data without a warrant, subpoena, or court order, unless the use is directly related to traffic enforcement. Additionally, it sets requirements for securely deleting the images after a set period. This bill directly affects law enforcement agencies managing automated traffic enforcement systems and protects the privacy of drivers whose vehicles are captured.

Maddy summarySB 764 designates chromite as Maryland's official state mineral, recognizing its historical significance in the state's mining heritage. The bill adds "Chromite is the State Mineral" to Maryland's legal code, referencing its discovery in Baltimore County in 1808, its role in early chromium production (including Isaac Tyson, Jr.'s contributions), and its presence in multiple Maryland counties. This symbolic designation has no practical policy impact - it does not change regulations, funding, or responsibilities. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 349 prohibits medical debt from creating liens on a homeowner’s primary residence. It bans contracts or breach-of-contract actions by medical providers to place liens on owner-occupied homes for unpaid medical bills (defined as debt for medication, procedures, or services). If a lien is improperly placed, courts must remove it and may award economic damages to the homeowner. The bill applies prospectively from October 1, 2025, and does not affect cases filed before that date.

Maddy summarySB 513 modifies notice requirements for counties and municipalities seeking to record changes to unlawfully restrictive covenants on property. These covenants are recorded restrictions that limit property ownership based on race, religion, or national origin. The bill requires government entities to provide written notice to property owners via first-class mail, newspaper publication for four weeks, courthouse posting, or official website posting at least 30 days before recording a modification. Property owners with an interest in the property can decline the change by notifying the county or municipality within 30 days of receiving the notice.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a producer responsibility program requiring companies that make packaging and paper products to submit approved plans to the Maryland Department of the Environment by 2034. Under the new rules, producers must either create their own recycling and collection plans or join a producer responsibility organization that manages these responsibilities on their behalf. The bill also creates a new advisory council to oversee the program, requires independent assessments of statewide recycling needs every ten years, and allows local governments to request reimbursement from producers for certain program costs. Companies cannot sell or distribute covered packaging materials in Maryland unless they have an approved plan on file with the state.