Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher

Maddy summarySB 443 reclassifies transporting regulated firearms into Maryland for unlawful sale or trafficking from a misdemeanor to a felony. The bill directly affects dealers or individuals who move firearms into the state intending to illegally sell or traffic them. Key provisions increase penalties: violators now face up to 10 years in prison, a $25,000 fine, or both, instead of misdemeanor penalties. This amendment to Maryland's Public Safety Code (Section 5-140) takes effect October 1, 2025. The law specifically targets firearm trafficking networks operating across state lines.

Maddy summarySB 436 requires the Maryland Department of Labor to study building code requirements for single-staircase buildings (those with only one stairwell for egress) across North America. The study will analyze factors like fire safety, water supply, cost impacts, and feasibility of building up to six stories in urban areas, with the goal of identifying potential changes to increase affordable housing development. The Department must consult fire safety experts and firefighter unions during the study and submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 1, 2025. This bill does not change current codes but sets the stage for future legislative or regulatory action based on the study’s findings. It directly affects future housing developers, local governments, and building code administrators who may implement recommended changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames Maryland's Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program to honor former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. It updates the program's official name throughout state law to "Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Program" without changing the program's structure, funding, or operations. The renaming applies to all references in Maryland's Natural Resources and State Government codes, including funding provisions and program administration details. The program - administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and focused on environmental conservation projects - remains unchanged in its purpose and implementation.

Maddy summarySB 618 (Eric's ID Law) requires Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration to allow applicants for driver's licenses, ID cards, or moped permits to voluntarily indicate a nonapparent disability (like developmental or intellectual disabilities) on their documents. If selected, the MVA must add a visible notation to the document, with no fee, and cannot require proof of the disability or deny an application based on it. The law also prohibits disclosing this information to insurance companies and mandates public outreach about the notation, plus police training on interacting with individuals who have it. This directly affects Maryland residents with nonapparent disabilities who choose to use this option on their identification.

Maddy summarySB 548 modifies Maryland's child custody laws to require courts to consider additional factors when determining custody arrangements. It expands the definition of abuse to include harm to other parents, spouses, or children in the household (Section 9-101.1), mandates denial of custody to parents convicted of murder (with supervised visitation as an exception, Section 9-101.2), and adds 16 specific factors courts must weigh - including child safety from conflict/violence, developmental needs, and parental communication (Section 9-201). The bill directly affects parents involved in custody disputes, particularly those with histories of abuse or criminal convictions. These changes aim to strengthen child safety protections and provide clearer guidelines for judicial decisions.

Maddy summarySB 326 establishes confidentiality rules for peer support programs in Maryland law enforcement agencies. It requires that communications between officers and peer support specialists (trained law enforcement staff or Fraternal Order of Police members) remain private, with limited exceptions for threats of suicide, imminent harm to others, child/vulnerable adult abuse, or criminal admissions. Before any session, specialists must provide written notice of these confidentiality rules to participants. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and officers using these peer support services, ensuring their counseling discussions are protected unless specific safety or legal thresholds are met.

Maddy summarySB 280, the *Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act*, updates Maryland law to ensure legal protections apply consistently to all uniformed service members (not just veterans) in judicial, criminal, family, and public safety matters. It revises definitions in key laws to replace "veteran" with "uniformed services" and expands the application of court procedures, corrections policies, criminal laws, family law, and public safety regulations to cover active-duty and reserve service members. The bill adds new provisions (e.g., in family law and public safety sections) to address service-related circumstances, such as deployment impacts on custody or safety protocols. This directly affects service members navigating Maryland’s legal system during active duty or in related legal proceedings.

Maddy summarySB 491 defines "honorable discharge" for Maryland state benefits to include discharges solely based on sexual orientation or gender identity, discharges related to statements/acts about orientation/identity (if prohibited at the time), or discharges tied to PTSD/TBI diagnoses or disclosed sexual trauma at VA facilities. This change directly affects veterans applying for Maryland state programs like housing, education, or employment benefits. Veterans must now submit documentation explaining their discharge basis to qualify under this expanded definition. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 603 authorizes an annual $350,000 appropriation starting in fiscal year 2027 for the University of Maryland, College Park’s TerpsEXCEED Program. This program provides educational and employment support specifically to students with intellectual disabilities. The funding covers direct services like academic advising, career development courses, internship coordination, and connections to disability support agencies. It aims to create sustainable support for the program’s operations and future expansion. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 274 modifies Maryland court procedures for child abuse cases by allowing a child victim to testify remotely via closed-circuit television outside the courtroom if a judge determines their presence with the defendant would cause serious emotional distress. It specifies that only certain attorneys (prosecution, defense, child's advocate), court staff, and therapeutic support personnel may be present with the child during remote testimony, while the defendant and judge remain in the courtroom. The bill explicitly prohibits two-way video that would let the child see or hear the defendant during testimony. This directly affects child victims, defendants, and their legal representatives in abuse cases covered under Maryland’s Family Law and Criminal Law Articles.