Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher

Maddy summarySB 992 removes the requirement for shareholder approval when corporations transfer assets used as collateral for mortgages, pledges, or security interests. It establishes two key pathways: (1) when lenders exercise rights under commercial law to transfer assets without corporate consent, or (2) when the board authorizes an "alternative sale" that reduces the secured debt, with the asset value not exceeding the debt amount. This primarily affects corporations with secured debt and their lenders by simplifying asset transfers during debt resolution. The bill also repeals outdated merger documentation requirements for business entities.

Maddy summarySB 342, the "Voting Rights Act of 2025," prohibits counties and municipalities from using election methods that dilute or abridge voting rights for protected classes (defined as racial, color, or language minority groups under federal law). It directly affects voters in these local jurisdictions by requiring election systems to allow members of protected classes to elect candidates of their choice. The key mechanism establishes that a violation occurs if elections show "polarized voting" (where voting patterns differ between protected classes and the broader electorate) and the election method dilutes their voting strength. Courts must evaluate this using federal methodologies for enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, applying only to local county and municipal elections - not statewide contests.

Maddy summarySB 710, the Sergeant Patrick Keep Act, creates a new criminal misdemeanor for driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel in a criminally negligent manner - defined as failing to recognize a serious danger a reasonable person would have seen. It distinguishes criminal negligence (a new offense) from ordinary negligence (which remains a civil matter under Maryland’s transportation law). Penalties include up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine for driving negligently, and up to one year in jail or $5,000 for causing a life-threatening injury through such negligence. This law applies to all drivers and vessel operators in Maryland who act with criminal negligence, not to those who are merely negligent.

Maddy summarySB 466 prohibits caregivers, family members, or household members from knowingly taking property from vulnerable or senior adults with the intent to deprive them of it. The bill makes such exploitation a violation of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, allowing the Attorney General’s Senior and Vulnerable Adult Asset Recovery Unit to pursue civil cases for asset recovery. It also disqualifies convicted individuals from inheriting or benefiting from the victim’s estate, insurance, or property. This law directly protects vulnerable seniors and their families while strengthening enforcement through existing consumer protection and criminal justice mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 179 exempts one vehicle owned or leased by an unemployable disabled veteran with a service-connected disability from Maryland's motor vehicle registration fees. It adds this group to existing fee exemptions by amending Maryland's transportation code (Section 13-903(a)(11)). The exemption applies only to vehicles personally used by the veteran and requires the veteran to be declared unemployable due to a disability connected to military service. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible disabled veterans who qualify under this specific criterion.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,000 refundable state income tax credit for Maryland parents who experience a stillbirth. It directly affects parents who receive a certificate of stillbirth (per Maryland Health-General Article § 4-213.1 or equivalent from another state) for a birth that results in stillbirth. The credit can be claimed only in the tax year the stillbirth occurred, and if the credit exceeds the parent's state income tax liability for that year, they receive a refund for the excess amount. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 648 repeals the requirement for the Governor to approve medical parole decisions for incarcerated individuals serving life sentences. It removes a provision that previously allowed the Governor to disapprove such decisions within 180 days of receiving the Parole Commission's recommendation. The bill maintains existing medical parole criteria (e.g., chronic debilitation, no public safety risk) and all other procedural requirements, including medical evaluations, community support planning, and victim notification. This change directly affects life-sentence inmates who qualify for medical parole by streamlining the process to eliminate gubernatorial review. The bill focuses on policy implementation rather than outcome speculation.

Maddy summarySB 25 establishes specific qualifications for individuals appointed by Maryland courts as child custody evaluators. It requires evaluators to be licensed mental health professionals (such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or marriage and family therapists) with defined training, experience, and expertise in areas like domestic violence, child trauma, and family dynamics. The bill mandates that courts cannot appoint someone who doesn't meet these standards, effective July 1, 2025. This directly affects courts, custody evaluators, and families involved in contested custody cases by ensuring evaluators have verified expertise to assess children's best interests.

Maddy summarySB 576, the Maryland Worker Freedom Act, prohibits employers from firing, disciplining, or refusing to hire employees or applicants who decline to attend or participate in mandatory employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political topics (like election views or religious practices). The law specifically protects workers who refuse to engage in such meetings where the employer shares its own opinions on these matters. Religious employers and voluntary meetings about these topics are exempt from the law. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025, and directly affects most Maryland workers and job applicants in covered workplaces.

Maddy summarySB 86 requires online sports betting companies licensed in Maryland to prominently display contact information for the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling on their website homepage and mobile app. Specifically, companies must include the exact statement: "IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS A GAMBLING PROBLEM, CLICK HERE OR CALL 1-800-GAMBLER FOR HELP," with "CLICK HERE" linking directly to the Center’s website. This applies to all mobile sports wagering licensees operating in Maryland and aims to make problem gambling resources easily accessible to users. The bill does not change existing age verification or geolocation rules but adds this mandatory resource disclosure as a new requirement. The provision takes effect October 1, 2025.