Sen. Cheryl Kagan

Maddy summarySB 810 prohibits public school security personnel (including school resource officers, security employees, and certain off-duty officers providing school coverage) from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee information for immigration purposes. The bill specifically bans using school staff for Section 287(g) federal immigration investigations and restricts sharing educational or personnel records related to immigration enforcement, except when presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order. School security personnel must immediately contact the county superintendent and legal counsel if shown such legal documents. This law directly affects all Maryland public schools and their security staff, taking effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with existing privacy laws.

Maddy summarySB 653 modifies Maryland's licensing rules for architects by making the State Board of Architects *required* to deny, reprimand, or suspend licenses in specific cases, rather than merely authorized to do so. It directly affects licensed architects who fraudulently misrepresent their license status (Section 3-311(a)(1)(ii)), county code officials who review building permits (requiring them to verify credentials under Section 3-208.1), and the Board itself (mandating annual lists of licensees and notifications of suspensions). Key provisions include requiring the Board to notify code officials when a license is suspended, mandating code officials to verify a licensee’s credentials before issuing permits, and establishing clear grounds for disciplinary action like fraud, misconduct, or convictions related to architecture practice. The bill updates Sections 3-208.1 and 3-311 of the Maryland Annotated Code to strengthen enforcement and transparency.

Maddy summarySB 443 changes the qualifications for legal counsel serving on Maryland's local election boards. It replaces a requirement that counsel must be a registered voter in their specific county with a statewide requirement that counsel must be a registered voter in Maryland. The bill also maintains the existing requirement that counsel must be licensed to practice law in Maryland. These changes apply directly to county election boards statewide, affecting who can serve as their legal counsel.

Maddy summarySB 601 requires all Maryland local school systems to designate a cybersecurity point of contact by 2027 and comply with state minimum cybersecurity standards established by the Department of Information Technology. Schools must conduct a cybersecurity maturity assessment every two years and certify compliance annually by June 30, starting in 2027. The bill repeals a previous requirement that county boards prioritize purchasing digital devices with certain funds and instead mandates annual reporting on cybersecurity expenditures. It also directs the Department of Information Technology to annually review and update the state cybersecurity standards. This bill directly affects all public school systems in Maryland, focusing on strengthening cybersecurity practices rather than device procurement.

Maddy summarySB 385 (The Vax Act) requires Maryland’s Secretary of Health to issue evidence-based recommendations for immunizations, screenings, and preventive services, aligning with guidance from major medical organizations like the CDC and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It expands pharmacists’ authority to administer vaccines (including those recommended by CDC or the Secretary) to patients aged 3+ after completing specific training and certification, while mandating health insurers to cover these services without cost-sharing. The bill also repeals outdated pertussis-related provisions and updates reporting requirements for pharmacists. This directly affects pharmacists, health insurers, and patients seeking preventive care, aiming to improve access to vaccinations and screenings.

Maddy summarySB 7 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the June 30, 2030 cutoff that previously prevented new awards after that date. This change allows the scholarship to be awarded indefinitely to eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents who meet Maryland residency and educational requirements. The bill also removes restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before 2030. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition, fees, and room/board at Maryland public universities, requiring a 2.5 GPA and 5 years of full-time study. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 841 changes how Maryland uses fees paid by utilities to fund renewable energy projects. Instead of direct grants, it requires the Maryland Energy Administration to run annual competitive auctions where developers bid to build renewable energy projects. The bill sets specific targets for project capacity, deadlines for completion, and eligibility rules for bidders, including prioritizing projects benefiting low-income or overburdened communities. It redirects existing compliance fees - previously used for solar grants - into this auction system to accelerate renewable energy development.

Maddy summarySB 65 clarifies rules for "exploratory committees," which potential candidates form to test their viability for office before officially running. It removes contribution limits for these committees (meaning donors can give any amount) but restricts their spending to specific activities like polls, mailings, staff, websites, and office equipment. If a candidate later creates an official campaign committee, they must buy any equipment from the exploratory committee at fair market value. Any leftover funds must be returned to donors or designated organizations within 120 days, either pro-rata to contributors or to a political party, nonprofit, or campaign fund. The bill applies existing campaign finance rules to exploratory committees while creating specific allowances for their temporary use.

Maddy summarySB 99 requires county school boards and Baltimore City’s school board to live-stream all public meetings on their websites, making them accessible to the public in real time. It mandates posting meeting agendas 48 hours in advance (or as soon as possible for emergencies) and posting minutes from public sessions within two business days. The bill also requires boards to maintain archived video recordings of public meetings for at least one year. These changes apply specifically to Maryland’s local school boards, enhancing transparency around their decision-making processes.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 181 requires hunters to use non-lead ammunition for all game species by specific dates: pen-raised birds by July 1, 2027; upland birds, migratory birds, and turkeys by July 1, 2028; and deer and other game by July 1, 2029. It directly affects licensed hunters using firearms for hunting in Maryland, excluding muzzleloaders and handguns if non-lead ammunition isn't commercially available. The bill defines "non-lead ammunition" as having less than 1% lead content or being federally approved as non-toxic. The Department of Natural Resources must adopt these regulations by the specified deadlines. The bill is pending approval and has not yet taken effect.