Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher

Maddy summarySB 56 requires Maryland state correctional facilities to pay for telephone services used by incarcerated individuals, eliminating charges to inmates or their families. The bill establishes a 10:1 ratio of inmates to telephones and prohibits facilities from charging inmates, third parties, or replacing in-person visitation with phone access. It creates a 17-member advisory committee - including currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, advocates, and correctional staff - to oversee implementation. The law directly affects all incarcerated people in Maryland state facilities, correctional facilities (which must cover costs), and phone service providers (who cannot bill inmates). It takes effect upon enactment, with the committee tasked to report on phone access costs within one year.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law allows researchers from colleges and universities to review confidential court records related to extreme risk protective orders for academic or policy studies. To access these records, the institution must sign an agreement with the state judiciary that ensures the data remains secure, is used only for the specific research project, and is never shared with unauthorized individuals. The legislation also permits researchers to publish statistical summaries of the data as long as no individual's identity is revealed. Violations of the confidentiality agreement could result in legal penalties or court injunctions to stop unauthorized disclosures.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated, specifically affecting peace officers, emergency facilities, and people with severe mental illness. It allows peace officers to transport individuals to nearby emergency facilities rather than strictly the nearest one and expands the ability to evaluate patients for involuntary admission to include psychiatric nurse practitioners. Additionally, the legislation mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to attend treatment to prevent homelessness and repeated hospitalizations. The law also ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these assisted outpatient proceedings and permits electronic submission of evaluation petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Maryland's existing Law Enforcement Cadet Apprenticeship Program into a broader Public Safety Apprenticeship Program that includes correctional facilities and other public safety agencies. It increases the maximum grant amounts available to agencies, raising the startup grant limit to $200,000 and the per-apprentice stabilization grant to $5,000, while also requiring agencies to bargain with unions regarding employment terms before receiving funds. Additionally, the legislation mandates the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to create mental health wellness policies for law enforcement and correctional facilities and establishes a new workgroup to study ways to increase employment in these sectors.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention within the Maryland Department of Health to reduce gun violence and misuse through a public health approach. The center will be led by an executive director who will partner with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as communities disproportionately affected by firearm violence, to develop and implement prevention strategies. Key actions include creating a state plan by May 2025, offering training and technical assistance to agencies and organizations, sharing data across jurisdictions, and promoting evidence-based initiatives. Funding for the center will be included in the state's annual budget starting in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law strengthens penalties for individuals who solicit minors or law enforcement officers posing as minors to engage in illegal sexual acts. The bill defines "solicit" broadly to include requests made in person, over the phone, via mail, or through any electronic means like computers and the internet. It makes it a felony to encourage a minor or their parent to participate in activities that would otherwise be unlawful, such as producing or viewing child pornography or engaging in sadomasochistic abuse. Convictions carry prison sentences of up to ten years for a first offense and up to twenty years for repeat offenders, along with substantial fines.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Maryland Entertainment District Security Grant Program to help fund security operations in specific areas of the state. The program targets neighborhoods with high concentrations of bars, hookah lounges, or live entertainment venues that experience heavy foot traffic and frequent police calls for service. Eligible recipients include community organizations, nonprofits, and local governments, which must apply through the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. The program is financed by a special state fund that will receive up to $1 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026, with money used solely for grants and administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill expands the state's definition of "legally protected health care" to include specific gender-affirming treatments, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, when provided by licensed medical professionals. By updating several state laws, the measure ensures that these services receive the same legal protections as other protected health care, shielding providers from disciplinary actions and preventing the state from sharing resources with out-of-state investigations related to the treatment. Additionally, the bill restricts courts from issuing subpoenas or ex parte orders to investigate these medical matters unless the underlying conduct would also be considered a crime within Maryland. These changes primarily affect healthcare providers, patients seeking gender-affirming care, and legal entities involved in investigations or litigation concerning such treatments.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires that naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, be placed in the same location as automated external defibrillators within all public buildings. The State Emergency Medical Services Board, working with the Department of Health, will manage this initiative using existing funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund. To encourage participation, the law grants legal protection from lawsuits to building owners and individuals who provide or administer this naloxone in good faith. These changes aim to increase the availability of life-saving equipment and medication in public spaces to address both cardiac arrest and drug overdoses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two new programs within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support technology-based start-up companies in the Baltimore area. The first program provides grants of up to $50,000 to startups founded by students or faculty at local universities, requiring that at least 20% of the funds be used to hire third-party consultants for planning and technical assistance. The second program, a pilot initiative, offers incentives to eligible universities to foster entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, and commercialization projects, particularly those involving artificial intelligence or machine learning in healthcare and biotechnology. Additionally, the legislation repeals a previous mandated appropriation for a telework assistance grant program and requires annual budget allocations for these new innovation initiatives.