Sen. Cheryl Kagan

Maddy summarySB 36 amends Maryland law to allow the 9-1-1 Trust Fund to cover costs related to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline that are shared with 9-1-1 operations, such as software interfaces and joint staff training. Previously, the fund could not support any costs "solely" for the 9-8-8 hotline, but this bill removes that restriction. The change directly affects how the state allocates funds for public safety communications systems, enabling shared expenses between 9-1-1 services and the suicide hotline. The bill does not fund the hotline independently but permits cost-sharing for operational integration.

Maddy summarySB 775 establishes a temporary workgroup to study expanding Maryland's 3-1-1 nonemergency phone system statewide. The workgroup includes state agency representatives (like Emergency Management and Information Technology), county/municipal safety officials, and industry stakeholders. It will review existing 3-1-1 services, best practices from other states, and potential solutions for implementing a statewide system, including a virtual portal. The group must report findings to the Governor and Legislature by November 1, 2025, and the bill expires on June 30, 2026. This bill does not create a new system but focuses solely on research and recommendations.

Maddy summarySB 138 authorizes the Maryland 9-1-1 Board and Maryland Department of Emergency Management to adopt regulations governing 9-1-1 system operations. It specifically empowers these agencies to set standards for county 9-1-1 system enhancements, reimbursement requests, Next Generation 9-1-1 deployment, cybersecurity, personnel training (including implicit bias training), and record retention. The bill directly affects counties operating 9-1-1 systems, their contractors, and public safety answering point personnel by establishing regulatory requirements they must follow. This legislation updates existing law (replacing sections of the Annotated Code) to clarify and expand the agencies' authority over 9-1-1 system management.

Maddy summarySB 315 changes the composition of the Maryland Environmental Service's Board of Directors by replacing the State Treasurer with the Secretary of Planning or their designee. The bill directly affects the Service's governance structure, altering who serves as a voting member on the board. Key mechanisms include removing the Treasurer position and modifying term provisions to exempt the Secretary of Planning and Executive Director from standard board term rules. This is a procedural change to board membership, not a substantive policy shift.

Maddy summarySB 1040 (FEDERAL Jobs Act of 2025) creates an Expedited Hiring Program within Maryland's Department of Budget and Management to recruit former federal employees for state government positions. It directly affects eligible applicants who previously worked for the federal government for at least one year and left after January 15, 2025, as well as state appointing authorities responsible for filling vacancies. Key provisions require appointing authorities to fill eligible vacancies within 40 days, modify job descriptions to appeal to former federal workers, and implement marketing, applicant rating, and referral processes. The program aims to leverage federal expertise for state roles while operating under the State Personnel Management System.

Maddy summarySB 683 (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility. The bill allows Maryland to use funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to assist federal workers affected by closures, relocations, or mass layoffs of federal offices (beyond just government shutdowns). It specifically adds these new circumstances to the Fund’s purpose, enabling loans to Maryland-resident federal employees who lost pay during shutdowns *or* were terminated due to federal facility changes beyond their control. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 7-324 and 7-327) to formalize these changes, ensuring the Fund remains continuously available for these purposes.

Maddy summarySB 322 bans drivers from obscuring, modifying, or blocking vehicle registration plates in a way that prevents identification, directly affecting anyone using plate covers, tinted shields, or alterations that hide license plate numbers. The bill amends Maryland’s Vehicle Laws (Section 21-1112.1) to make such violations a moving violation, resulting in points on a driver’s license under state law. It removes the previous requirement of proving intent to avoid identification, focusing instead on whether the plate’s readability is compromised. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025, and applies statewide to all vehicles registered in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 759 modifies Maryland's income tax law to expand a tax break for public safety retirees. It adds "9-1-1 specialists" to the list of eligible public safety employees who can subtract $15,000 from their taxable income. This applies to retirement income received by individuals aged 55 or older who worked as 9-1-1 specialists. The change specifically defines "9-1-1 specialist" as employees handling emergency calls and dispatching services, aligning with existing tax definitions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, for tax years after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 433 establishes the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within Maryland’s Department of Disabilities and creates the "Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative" to improve hiring, retention, and advancement of people with disabilities in state government. The office will develop employment strategies, collect data from state agencies on disability workforce outcomes, and oversee the initiative, which requires agencies to set hiring/retention goals and implement best practices. State agencies must report annually on progress and barriers to employment for people with disabilities starting in 2026. The bill does not create new benefits or entitlements but mandates policy coordination and transparency for state government employment practices.

Maddy summarySB 429, the "Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act," reforms school funding formulas and creates new education programs for Maryland public schools. It adjusts key funding amounts per student (like the "target per pupil foundation amount"), establishes new grants for teacher recruitment and relocation, and creates a Career Counseling Program for middle and high school students. The bill requires school districts to develop community school plans, modifies special education funding, and creates an Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact to ease teacher licensing across states. These changes directly affect Maryland public schools, teachers, school districts, and workforce development boards.