Sen. Paul Corderman

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, directly affecting job applicants and current staff. It bans hiring for offenses including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, child abuse, and sexual offenses against minors (as listed in Section 1(A)). An exception allows hiring if a conviction was reversed or vacated (Section 1(B)). The law takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to protect youth in state care by restricting employment for individuals with certain criminal histories.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new transmission lines whenever specific conditions are met, such as preserving historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, or avoiding conflicts with planned residential zones. The bill expands the Commission's review to include options like using existing utility corridors, reconductoring older lines, or undergrounding existing infrastructure instead of constructing new routes. This directly affects utility companies planning new transmission projects and the Commission, which must now consider these alternatives before approving new construction. The law applies to all new transmission line projects within Maryland starting October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 982 updates Maryland's sports wagering law to authorize licensed sports wagering facilities to accept bets on historical horse races. It amends the definition of "sporting event" to explicitly include "historical horse races" within existing wagering rules. This change directly affects current sports wagering facility licensees (such as casinos or racetracks with existing sports betting licenses), allowing them to offer this specific type of wager under defined conditions. The bill does not create new licenses but expands the scope of betting permitted for existing license holders, subject to regulatory limitations.

Maddy summarySB 478 requires the Maryland Public Service Commission to obtain written approval from every county or municipal government where a solar energy generating station is proposed before approving its construction. This directly affects solar energy developers, who must now secure local consent from all affected jurisdictions prior to state-level review. The bill amends state law to mandate this local approval step for solar projects, adding it as a prerequisite for the Commission to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity. The requirement takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 781 establishes a task force to study the feasibility and costs of creating a state park in Washington County dedicated to providing recreational and therapeutic services for veterans. The task force includes state agency representatives, Washington County officials, veteran service organization members, and a landowner, who will assess park services, operational models, funding options, and develop an action plan. It must submit final recommendations to the Governor and relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026, and will operate for two years (July 2025-June 2027). The bill does not create the park itself but enables a study to inform future decisions.

Maddy summarySB 782 requires that individuals found not criminally responsible for murder in the first or second degree and committed to Maryland's Department of Health cannot be considered for discharge for at least 10 years after their commitment date. This applies only to people committed under this legal status for murder offenses, not to those found not criminally responsible for other crimes. The bill establishes a mandatory 10-year waiting period before eligibility for discharge is evaluated, replacing prior provisions that allowed earlier review. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to commitments occurring after that date, not to past cases.

Maddy summarySB 661, the "Protect Maryland Farm Lands Act," changes how farmland is compensated when taken through eminent domain. It requires the fair market value of agricultural property actively used for farming to be set at 350% of the highest appraisal value, instead of standard market value. This directly affects Maryland farmers whose land is acquired for public projects (like roads or transmission lines) and the government entities conducting those takings. The bill also allows property owners to use the assessed tax value if it exceeds the appraisal, and applies retroactively to all past and future condemnation cases involving qualifying farmland.

Maddy summarySB 579 amends Maryland's Local Government Tort Claims Act to explicitly include Hagerstown Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility, Inc. (a nonprofit corporation in Washington County) in the definition of "local government." This change means the facility will now be covered under the same tort claims procedures that apply to other public entities like counties and municipalities. The bill does not create new policies or alter the facility's operations - it only updates the legal definition to clarify that the facility can be sued under the existing tort claims framework. This affects only Hagerstown's sports facility, not broader policy or other organizations.

Maddy summarySB 300 creates a specific felony offense for the theft of a handgun in Maryland, separate from general theft statutes. It directly affects anyone who steals a handgun or knowingly possesses one they believe was stolen. The bill amends the criminal law to establish that stealing a handgun automatically qualifies as a felony, regardless of the handgun's value, with penalties ranging from 5 years to 20 years in prison and restitution requirements based on the handgun's value. This replaces the standard theft thresholds (like the $1,500 minimum for other property) and applies strict penalties for handgun theft.

Maddy summarySB 16 amends Maryland law to adjust funding rules for the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. It increases the maximum grant coverage from 50% to 80% of project costs for heritage area planning, development, and management plans. The bill also reduces the allowable percentage of Program Open Space funds used for the Authority’s operating expenses (from 10% to 7%) while allowing up to 50% of these funds to cover bond debt service. These changes directly affect local jurisdictions, heritage area management entities, and the Authority itself by altering how they access and utilize state funding for heritage preservation and programming.