Sen. Ben Kramer

Maddy summarySB 535 requires all Maryland research and testing facilities using animals for research, education, or testing to obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture. It establishes a State Inspector of Animal Welfare to conduct facility inspections, mandates reporting of violations, and requires facilities to take steps to adopt out dogs/cats no longer needed for research. The bill creates the Animals in Research Fund to support these efforts and exempts schools/institutions of higher education from the licensing requirement. Facilities not covered by federal animal welfare laws must pay a licensing fee to cover implementation costs.

Maddy summarySB 537 requires research and testing facilities in Maryland that use dogs or cats for scientific research, education, or testing to adopt out animals no longer needed for these purposes. Facilities must establish adoption processes, maintain lists of approved animal rescue organizations, and offer animals to these groups if private placements fail. Additionally, all such facilities must annually report to the Department of Agriculture by January 31 on the number of dogs/cats owned and adopted, while schools and higher education institutions using animals must submit annual inspection reports to the General Assembly by December 31. The bill directly affects facilities conducting animal-based research or testing, extending existing adoption requirements to testing facilities for the first time.

Maddy summarySB 752 modernizes Maryland's unemployment insurance system by changing how weekly benefit amounts and employer contributions are calculated. It replaces fixed dollar amounts with formulas tied to the state's average wage: beginning in 2028, the taxable wage base for employer contributions will be 20% of the average annual wage, and the maximum weekly benefit will be 50% of the average weekly wage. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Labor to publish the annual average wage by January 31 each year to set these rates. These changes directly affect unemployed workers receiving benefits and employers paying into the unemployment insurance fund.

Maddy summarySB 538 creates the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, allowing dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states more easily. It requires passing a uniform national exam (ADEX) and establishes a Commission to manage shared licensing records and investigations, while ensuring each state maintains regulatory control. The bill specifically eliminates fees for military members and their spouses relocating due to service, and prevents duplicate documentation for license transfers. This directly affects licensed dental professionals seeking to work across state lines, patients in member states, and military families. The compact aims to streamline access to dental care without weakening public safety standards through shared information.

Maddy summarySB 551 prohibits Maryland insurers from raising premiums, adding surcharges, or removing discounts for private passenger auto insurance policies after collisions with free-roaming wild animals when the driver was not at fault. It directly affects car insurance policyholders in Maryland who experience such non-fault accidents. The key provision amends insurance law to block insurers from treating these incidents differently than other non-fault claims. This ensures drivers cannot be penalized financially for unavoidable encounters with wildlife like deer or coyotes. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 406 requires Maryland's Medicaid program and certain private health insurers (including nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations) to cover orthoses - custom-designed devices treating neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions - starting January 1, 2026. The law mandates annual coverage for the devices themselves, repairs, and replacements when medically necessary due to physiological changes or device damage (not misuse), with no higher copays than other medical benefits. It prohibits separate lifetime dollar limits for orthosis coverage and aligns medical necessity standards with Medicare guidelines, covering activities like daily living, job tasks, and physical therapy. This applies to all Medicaid enrollees and individuals covered under qualifying health insurance policies in Maryland.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a school principal position to Maryland's State Board of Education, increasing the board's regular membership from 13 to 14 members. The principal member must be a certified school leader actively serving in a Maryland public school and will be elected by all certified principals in the state. The elected principal can attend and participate in board meetings but cannot vote on appeals related to personnel dismissals or school board decisions under specific sections of law. The initial principal member will begin their term on July 1, 2026, following the election process established by the bill.

Maddy summarySB 166 grants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants and postdoctoral associates at Maryland's public universities (University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary's College of Maryland). The bill amends state law to remove their current exclusion from collective bargaining, creating separate bargaining units for these two groups. It directly affects graduate students working as teaching, research, or administrative assistants, and postdoctoral researchers with primarily research roles. The key change is adding these positions to the list of state employees eligible for collective bargaining under Maryland's State Personnel and Pensions law.

Maddy summarySB 124 requires counties and municipalities that employ firefighters to calculate overtime pay based on hours worked over 168 hours in a 28-day period (instead of the standard 40-hour workweek). It mandates that these local governments provide firefighters with detailed payroll statements at hiring, pay changes, and each pay period, including hours worked, gross earnings, and deductions. If a government unit fails to provide required payroll information or pay owed wages, firefighters or their union representatives can file a grievance, triggering penalties of 30% per pay period (capped at three times the unpaid amount) until resolved. The bill directly affects public-sector firefighters in Maryland and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover orthoses and prostheses starting in 2025. It defines orthoses as custom or prefabricated devices used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions and mandates that these devices be considered essential health benefits. The bill also sets specific rules for replacing devices, ensuring they are not subject to higher copayments or separate annual limits, and prohibits denial of coverage based on a patient's disability status. Additionally, it establishes that coverage decisions must align with federal Medicare standards and allows for replacements if repairs would cost more than 60% of a new device.