Sen. Sara Love

Maddy summarySB 648 repeals the requirement for the Governor to approve medical parole decisions for incarcerated individuals serving life sentences. It removes a provision that previously allowed the Governor to disapprove such decisions within 180 days of receiving the Parole Commission's recommendation. The bill maintains existing medical parole criteria (e.g., chronic debilitation, no public safety risk) and all other procedural requirements, including medical evaluations, community support planning, and victim notification. This change directly affects life-sentence inmates who qualify for medical parole by streamlining the process to eliminate gubernatorial review. The bill focuses on policy implementation rather than outcome speculation.

Maddy summarySB 8 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program, a voluntary initiative for public school systems in Maryland to recognize student civic engagement. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, participating schools must award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" to students who pass a government assessment, earn A or B grades in U.S. history, modern world history, and American government, and complete 75 hours of community service (including at least 30 hours on a civic project). Schools may also earn a "Center of Civic Excellence" designation if 50% or more of their graduating students receive the seal. Participating school systems must submit annual reports on the program starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 290 requires anyone applying for a permit to remove trees along public roads to provide written notice via certified mail to adjacent property owners and community associations that control the land. The law applies to most roadside tree removals (excluding emergencies like downed power lines or trees on unimproved, unpaved roads). Applicants must send either a copy of their application or online access details to affected neighbors. Violations carry fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's wage law to clarify that public employers (like state or local government agencies) must follow the same rules as private employers regarding wage deductions for public employees. It specifically allows deductions only if authorized in a written compensation or benefit plan (such as a retirement plan), removing previous ambiguities about public sector exceptions. The law continues to prohibit deductions without court orders, written employee consent, or valid benefit plan authorization. This directly affects all public employees in Maryland whose wages may be subject to such deductions.

Maddy summarySB 545 amends Maryland's criminal code to prohibit possessing or viewing images depicting minors in sexual conduct, sadomasochistic abuse, or sexual excitement - whether actual or computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children under 16. It specifically targets material that looks like real children (excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings) and adds penalties: up to 5 years for first-time possession/viewing (misdemeanor) and up to 10 years for repeat offenses (felony). The bill includes exceptions for parents possessing non-exploitative images of their own children and allows a defense if someone destroys the material or reports it to police. These changes update sections 11-207, 11-208, and add new section 11-208.2 to the Maryland Annotated Code.

Maddy summarySB 380 clarifies definitions for Maryland's horse industry licensing system by creating a specific term for "breeding stable" (an establishment offering horses for sale to the public for breeding or as breeding products) and adding breeding stables to the definition of "horse establishment." This change affects horse breeders operating breeding stables, as they will now fall under the same licensing, inspection, and regulatory requirements as other horse establishments like boarding or lesson stables. The bill modifies existing statutes (Sections 2-701, 2-710, 2-713, 2-714, and 2-715 of the Agriculture Article) to ensure consistent application of the Maryland Horse Industry Board's oversight. The revised definitions take effect October 1, 2025, streamlining how the Board regulates all horse-related operations.

Maddy summarySB 936 requires developers and deployers of high-risk artificial intelligence systems - those making decisions affecting housing, employment, healthcare, loans, or other significant consumer rights - to prevent algorithmic discrimination. It mandates developers to disclose risks and provide documentation, while deployers must conduct impact assessments, implement risk management programs, and inform consumers about AI-driven decisions. Consumers gain the right to correct data and appeal consequential decisions, such as loan denials or hiring choices. The Attorney General enforces the law, and consumers can sue deployers for violations. This applies only to businesses using AI for specific high-stakes decisions, not general AI tools.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Privacy Protection and Enforcement Unit within Maryland's Division of Consumer Protection to oversee digital privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence issues. It establishes a mandatory registry for data brokers who must register annually with the state Comptroller and imposes a gross income tax on their revenue. The tax revenues generated will fund the new enforcement unit, which is authorized to enforce existing privacy laws, educate consumers on digital rights, and cooperate with other agencies on online privacy and security matters.

Maddy summarySB 898 requires agricultural landowners within 100 feet of tidal waters to install vegetative buffers (native vegetation strips) along water bodies, replacing fertilizer use in these zones for new nutrient management plans. It provides financial incentives including upfront bonuses of up to $1,500 per acre, annual payments of at least $150 per acre, and reimbursement for up to 150% of buffer installation costs. The bill mandates buffers must fill the full 100-foot width of the tidal buffer zone and prohibits fertilizer application within this area for renewed nutrient management plans. These changes directly affect agricultural operators with land in Maryland's tidal buffer zones, aiming to reduce nutrient runoff into waterways.

Maddy summarySB 702 restricts the placement of pregnant incarcerated individuals in restrictive housing (locked cells for 17+ hours daily) in Maryland correctional facilities, barring most involuntary placements. It allows exceptions only for immediate risks of physical harm, flight, or communicable disease spread that cannot be managed otherwise, requiring facility staff to document why less restrictive options weren't possible. The bill mandates medical assessments every 8 hours, housing in the least restrictive setting, and specialized treatment plans developed by women’s health staff. It also requires written reviews of placements every 24 hours, detailed reporting to oversight officials, and specific infirmary care protocols for pregnant individuals.