Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher

Maddy summarySenate Bill 432, known as the "Expungement Reform Act of 2025," updates Maryland's laws concerning the expungement of criminal records, directly affecting individuals seeking to clear certain past convictions. The bill modifies the waiting periods for filing expungement petitions after a sentence is completed and expands the list of misdemeanor convictions eligible for expungement. It also requires courts to consider if restitution has been paid or if the person lacks the ability to pay before granting expungement. Finally, the bill prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search from displaying any reference to certain expunged records.

Maddy summarySB 348 amends Maryland's criminal law to clarify and expand protections against surreptitious filming of people's private areas. It directly affects anyone who secretly films another person's genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast (below the areola) without consent in places where privacy is expected, such as residences, dressing rooms, or hotel rooms. Key changes include explicitly defining "private place" to include homes and adding specific examples like tanning rooms, while clarifying that "visual surveillance" covers camera use, mirrors, or direct observation. Violations are punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both, and victims gain a civil right to sue for damages and attorney fees.

Maddy summarySB 334 prohibits intentionally setting fires (malicious or fraudulent burning) that cause death or serious injury to firefighters. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts, making it a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill adds specific language to Maryland’s criminal code clarifying that harming firefighters during fire-related crimes carries enhanced penalties. Sentences under this law may run separately from sentences for the original fire offense. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exception to Maryland's armed trespass law for retired law enforcement officials who meet specific conditions. It allows retired officers (from federal, state, or local agencies in good standing) to carry concealed firearms without violating trespass laws if they: (1) display their badge or credential, (2) keep the firearm concealed under clothing, and (3) legally possess a handgun under state or federal law. The exception applies only when entering dwellings or property where permission is required under existing law. It directly affects retired law enforcement personnel seeking to carry concealed firearms in public spaces.

Maddy summarySB 834 requires auto manufacturers and dealers to allow dealers to publicly disclose on their websites that the advertised vehicle price is the manufacturer's minimum allowable price and that dealers may offer lower prices. This directly protects dealers from manufacturers taking adverse actions (like threatening to withhold inventory or incentives) for making this disclosure. The law amends Maryland vehicle laws to ensure dealers can transparently advertise pricing without fear of retaliation, while still allowing manufacturers to require standard charges like freight or processing fees to be included in advertised prices. It specifically prohibits manufacturers from conditioning benefits on dealers maintaining exclusive facilities or altering their locations.

Maddy summarySB 130 requires all Maryland county school boards to create and enforce a policy banning student use of cellular devices (including smartphones and tablets) during instructional time, defined as the school day except lunch. The policy must mandate secure storage of devices and include disciplinary measures for violations, while allowing exceptions for students with documented health needs, IEP/504 accommodations, or educator-directed educational use. It affects all public school students, parents, and school staff in Maryland’s 24 county school districts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all county boards of education.

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 392 allows people to ride bicycles, play vehicles, or unicycles on sidewalks or sidewalk areas in Maryland unless local laws prohibit it. It requires riders to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and people using electric mobility devices when traveling on sidewalks or in crosswalks. The bill amends Maryland’s transportation code to clarify these rules, removing previous restrictions that generally banned sidewalk riding for these vehicles. This change directly affects cyclists, parents of young riders, and pedestrians in communities without local sidewalk riding bans.

Maddy summarySB 118 establishes a tiered civil penalty system for speeding violations recorded by speed monitoring systems (like photo radar). It sets specific fines based on how much a driver exceeded the speed limit: $40 for 12-15 mph over, $55 for 16-19 mph, $95 for 20-29 mph, $180 for 30-39 mph, and $350 for 40+ mph over. The bill also restricts where these systems can be used, requiring local authorization after public hearings and limiting deployment to residential areas (35 mph zones), school zones, specific highways in Anne Arundel/Montgomery/Prince George's counties, and near college campuses. This directly affects drivers caught speeding in these designated locations by such systems, with penalties payable without court appearance if chosen.