Sen. Ben Kramer

Maddy summarySB 308 requires the Governor of Maryland to annually proclaim January as Muslim American Heritage Month and May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The bill mandates that these proclamations urge educational and cultural organizations to host programs and activities during these months. It amends Maryland law by adding specific sections (7-501 and 7-505) to the Annotated Code, establishing the annual recognition process. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects the Governor’s office and eligible organizations. This is a commemorative measure with no new funding or regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their total nursing and residential care revenue on direct care staff wages and benefits (including nurses, dietary, therapy, and social workers). Nursing homes must annually submit detailed cost reports by September 1 starting in 2027, including proof of wage payments and other data determined by the Maryland Department of Health. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including suspension from the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting all nursing homes operating in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 882 creates a state income tax credit for educators working full-time in Maryland public primary or secondary schools who have outstanding student loan debt. Eligible individuals must participate in the state's Career Ladder teaching program and certify they will use the credit for student loan repayment. The credit is claimed annually through the Maryland Higher Education Commission, with a $5 million annual cap, and paid out over five years (one-fifth each year). Recipients must verify continued employment in public schools and use the credit for loan repayment within three years, or repay the amount to the state if they fail to comply.

Maddy summarySB 628 requires Maryland colleges and universities to submit annual reports to the Maryland Higher Education Commission by October 1 each year, detailing institutional debt owed by students. The reports must include total student enrollment (broken down by demographics like race and residency), total debt amounts, collection status (e.g., good standing vs. past due), and specifics on debt types (tuition, fees), payment plans, and collection efforts. The Commission must then summarize these reports for the General Assembly by December 1 each year. This bill mandates transparency around student debt without changing debt collection rules, directly affecting all public and private postsecondary institutions in Maryland that collect student payments.

Maddy summarySB 590 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to study the design and implications of an economy-wide cap-and-invest program to help achieve the state's 2045 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal. The study, to be developed with agencies like the Climate Change Commission and Energy Administration, will evaluate key elements including which sectors (like electricity generation) to cover, how to protect low-income households through revenue use (e.g., rebates, weatherization), and how to address equity in overburdened communities. It will also assess program mechanics such as allowance distribution, auction design, and potential use of offset credits, building on Maryland's existing experience with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The study aims to provide a foundation for future policy decisions on climate funding and emissions reductions.

Maddy summarySB 750 (Ash's Law) creates a legal exception to Maryland’s animal abandonment law for people caring for community cats under Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. It defines "community cats" (free-roaming cats cared for by neighborhood residents) and "community cat caregivers" (those providing food/shelter under TNR), requiring local governments to adopt TNR policies that: - Prohibit registration requirements for caregivers, - Allow reclaiming impounded cats without proof of ownership, - Mandate returning eartipped cats (identified via ear notch) to their original location. The law preempts conflicting local rules and directly affects community cat caregivers, animal shelters, and local governments implementing TNR programs.

Maddy summarySB 341 establishes new definitions for small portable solar systems (max 1,200 watts, plug-in devices for residential use) and creates two types of solar energy credits: SRECs for smaller systems and SREC-II for larger installations. It requires electric companies to procure a specific number of SREC-II credits from qualifying solar projects and mandates that certain compliance fees be deposited into an escrow account instead of the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund. Homeowners using portable solar systems cannot have utility approval requirements or fees for grid connection, but these systems do not count toward renewable energy goals. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives gain flexibility in meeting solar requirements under the new framework.

Maddy summarySB 422 requires Maryland research and testing facilities that use dogs or cats for research, education, or testing to adopt out animals no longer needed for these purposes. Facilities must establish adoption processes through approved animal rescue organizations and submit annual reports to the Department of Agriculture detailing the number of animals owned, used, and released to rescues. The law applies to all such facilities (excluding those solely providing spay/neuter services) and mandates public posting of aggregated annual data online. It focuses on increasing transparency around animal welfare practices without altering research protocols.

Maddy summarySB 3 modernizes Maryland's unemployment insurance system by changing how weekly benefit amounts and employer contributions are calculated. It sets the maximum weekly benefit at 40% of the state's average weekly wage (up from fixed amounts) and bases employer taxable wages on 16% of the state's average annual wage, both updated annually. This directly affects unemployed workers (through revised benefit calculations) and employers (through adjusted contribution rates). The Maryland Department of Labor must publish the state average wage data online by January 31 each year to implement these changes.

Maddy summarySB 332 increases the maximum deductible amount a unit owner must pay when damage originates from their unit, raising the cap from $10,000 to $25,000 under Maryland's condominium insurance law (Section 11-114(g)(3)(iii)). It directly affects unit owners (who may now owe up to $25,000 for damage they cause), condominium councils (required to provide annual written notices of this responsibility), and sellers (who must include the notice in resale contracts). Key mechanisms include mandating annual written notices to unit owners about their deductible responsibility and requiring resale agreements to include this notice. The bill does not change insurance coverage but clarifies financial responsibility for repairs when damage stems from a specific unit.