Sen. Cheryl Kagan

Maddy summarySB 695 regulates how businesses and government entities can use driver's license or ID card swiping. It prohibits swiping except for specific purposes like verifying identity during purchases, checking age for restricted goods, preventing fraud, or processing payments. Businesses may not store, sell, or share personal details (like license numbers) collected through swiping, except for limited data (name, address, date of birth, ID number) when used for fraud prevention or payment processing. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, with enforcement by the Attorney General. The bill applies to retailers, financial institutions, and government agencies handling such data.

Maddy summarySB 595 changes how Maryland county school boards and Baltimore City’s school board fill vacant elected and appointed positions. If a vacancy occurs 55 or more days before the primary election filing deadline, the board must hold an election at the next general election. If a vacancy happens within 54 days of that deadline, or if no qualified candidates file, the board must appoint a replacement within 60 days through a public process: advertising the vacancy, reviewing candidate resumes, conducting livestreamed interviews, and holding a public vote. This bill directly affects school board members and residents in all Maryland counties and Baltimore City by standardizing vacancy procedures.

Maddy summarySB 948 requires the State Board of Elections to include specific information in Maryland's accessible online absentee ballot application, such as a detailed explanation of the ballot process and a mandatory confirmation that voters understand the requirements. It prohibits voters with permanent absentee ballot status from receiving internet-delivered ballots for more than one election cycle, restricting this option to a single election. The bill also modifies communication to permanent absentee voters and mandates that the online application feature a separate modal box explaining ballot procedures and a dialog box requiring affirmative acknowledgment of understanding before submission. These changes directly affect voters who choose to request absentee ballots online, particularly those with permanent absentee status. The bill focuses on improving clarity and security for internet-based absentee ballot requests without altering voting eligibility or outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 132 allows unaffiliated voters in Maryland to formally affiliate with a political party at an early voting center during a primary election. Previously, unaffiliated voters could only change their party affiliation through registration offices or mail before primaries. Under this bill, an unaffiliated voter requesting affiliation at an early voting center will receive a provisional ballot for their chosen party, after confirming residency. This directly affects unaffiliated voters participating in primary elections by providing a new, accessible option to change party affiliation on election day. The key mechanism updates existing voting procedures to permit this affiliation change during early voting, using provisional ballots to ensure eligibility for the primary election.

Maddy summarySB 236 requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to create regulations for reviewing, certifying, and removing certification of election-supporting technology - such as ranked-choice vote tabulation tools, risk-limiting audit software, and electronic pollbooks - by December 2026. The bill mandates that the State Board annually review and evaluate this technology starting January 1, 2027, to ensure it meets safety and accuracy standards. This directly affects technology vendors developing election tools and local election offices using these systems. The law does not cover voting machines themselves but focuses on supporting software and equipment used in election administration.

Maddy summarySB 955 modifies Maryland law to require independent election conductors for condominium and homeowners association elections only when the number of candidates exceeds the number of contested seats. It affects all residential condominiums and homeowners associations in Maryland by clarifying when third-party oversight is mandated. The bill specifies that independent parties (excluding property management representatives unless they own the management) must handle ballot collection, counting, and results certification, while allowing associations to use external vendors or technology platforms for elections. This change streamlines election procedures by reducing unnecessary oversight requirements for uncontested races.

Maddy summarySB 93 updates Maryland law to replace gendered and narrow terms like "clergyman" with "member of the clergy" and "churches" with "faith institutions and places of worship" across multiple legal sections. It specifically revises terminology in laws covering alcohol permits, cemetery ownership, professional services, retirement communities, and religious corporations. The bill affects how Maryland statutes reference religious entities, ensuring consistent language that better reflects diverse faith groups. This is a terminology update only, not a change to religious rights or policies. The bill passed all legislative readings in early 2026.

Maddy summarySB 342 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, requiring beverage producers to register with the state, pay fees, and include refund values in product prices. It mandates that containers display refund information, retailers show refund amounts on receipts, and creates a producer-led stewardship group to manage recycling. The program funds water refill stations through a new grant initiative and sets recycling targets to reduce litter and pollution from beverage containers. This directly affects beverage manufacturers, retailers, and communities by changing how containers are sold, priced, and recycled.

Maddy summarySB 303 requires Maryland gas stations to clearly display the standard price for regular gasoline and other fuels on prominent, visible signs. The law mandates signs must show the price per gallon (including taxes) in uniform, legible numerals at least 8 inches high, display the unit of measurement, and avoid making conditional prices (like membership discounts) more noticeable than the standard price. Gas station suppliers must provide these signs at no cost to retailers. The bill directly affects all retail service stations selling motor fuel in Maryland, ensuring price transparency for customers.

Maddy summarySB 41 prevents state-funded public art contracts from requiring artists to give up certain copyright rights (like attribution or integrity protections under federal law). It also mandates that all state-funded public art be registered with the Maryland State Arts Council, including the artist’s name, location, type, title, and installation date. The bill directly affects artists and entities commissioning public art projects using state funds, ensuring they retain legal protections unless they voluntarily and in writing choose to waive them. Registration requirements aim to create a public record of state-supported art, improving transparency and accessibility for the public.