Sen. Will Smith

Maddy summarySB 692 requires all licensed firearms dealers, their applicants, and employees to complete mandatory training and pass a written exam by January 1, 2027. The training covers state/federal firearm laws, preventing theft, safe storage, recognizing straw purchases, trafficking, and other illegal activities. Dealers must maintain proof of completion for all employees at their business location, and failure to comply carries a $1,000 civil penalty. The Secretary of State Police must approve at least one online training course and administer the exam by October 1, 2026, with a 70% passing requirement.

Maddy summarySB 539 establishes the Workforce Opportunities Grant Program to provide competitive grants to nonprofits, local workforce boards, and employer-community partnerships for planning and hosting job fairs and workforce events across Maryland. It creates a permanent "Workforce Opportunities Grant Fund" (nonlapsing) to finance the program, with interest earnings automatically credited to the fund. The Department of Social and Economic Mobility will administer the program, connecting job seekers with employers through these funded events. This directly affects organizations organizing workforce events and job fairs, aiming to expand employment opportunities for residents.

Maddy summarySB 821 requires Maryland's Department of General Services to acquire the abandoned Sears Building at 11255 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring (20904) by December 31, 2026. The bill mandates acquisition through purchase or condemnation under real property law, specifying it must occur "as quickly as practicable" for a public purpose. This bill directly affects the Department of General Services and the property owner, with no other entities or programs impacted. The measure takes effect July 1, 2026, and is procedural in nature, focusing solely on the acquisition process.

Maddy summarySB 342 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, requiring beverage producers to register with the state, pay fees, and include refund values in product prices. It mandates that containers display refund information, retailers show refund amounts on receipts, and creates a producer-led stewardship group to manage recycling. The program funds water refill stations through a new grant initiative and sets recycling targets to reduce litter and pollution from beverage containers. This directly affects beverage manufacturers, retailers, and communities by changing how containers are sold, priced, and recycled.

Maddy summarySB 669 modifies Maryland's Rape Kit Testing Grant Fund to prioritize testing untested sexual assault evidence kits collected before October 1, 2020. The fund will now specifically provide resources for law enforcement agencies to test these backlog kits, fund the Attorney General's office to assist investigations, and support a statewide victim notification hotline operated by the Sexual Assault Coalition. Key provisions require the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to distribute annual funding until all pre-2020 kits are processed, with minimum funding levels unless federal grants cover the same purpose. The bill prohibits using the fund for the existing Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Tracking System. This directly affects victims of past sexual assaults, law enforcement agencies, and state offices handling sexual assault cases.

Maddy summarySB 356 repeals Maryland's criminal law (Section 18-601.1 of the Annotated Code) that previously prohibited individuals with HIV from knowingly transferring the virus to others, making such acts a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a $2,500 fine. The bill directly affects people living with HIV who could have faced criminal charges under this provision. It removes the criminal penalty for knowingly transmitting HIV, shifting focus from criminalization to public health approaches. The repeal takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter other HIV-related public health or medical regulations.

Maddy summarySB 455 allows licensed security guard agencies in Maryland to apply for the appointment of special police officers to protect property owned or leased by their clients. This directly affects security companies and their clients (such as businesses or property owners), expanding eligibility beyond existing categories like government entities or schools. The bill requires applicants to complete 80 hours of approved training covering criminal law, constitutional procedures, and use of force. It amends Maryland’s Public Safety law to explicitly include security agencies as qualifying applicants under section 3-303(a)(5).

Maddy summarySB 765 modifies Maryland's child placement rules to allow out-of-home care providers (like foster homes or group facilities) to temporarily exceed standard child-to-provider ratios for youth enrolled in accredited higher education or vocational programs. Specifically, it exempts these youth from placement limits when they cannot remain on campus due to breaks, closures, or temporary leaves, provided the child, provider, and agency mutually agree to the arrangement. This policy change directly affects foster care providers, youth in care attending college/vocational training, and the Department of Human Services, which must adopt regulations implementing this exemption. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 390 allows technicians (not just police officers) to legally certify speeding violations based on speed monitoring system footage, after completing required training. It updates Maryland law to require all certified individuals - whether law enforcement officers or contracted technicians - to undergo specific training before verifying violations. This directly affects drivers caught by speed cameras and the agencies operating the monitoring systems, ensuring certification is based on verified footage rather than just automated records. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 533 establishes a one-year-and-one-day deadline for Maryland law enforcement agencies to file administrative charges related to police misconduct complaints, starting from when the agency becomes aware of the incident. This applies to most cases, including those not requiring an administrative committee review, and ensures timely action on complaints from the public. For incidents tied to ongoing criminal investigations, the deadline extends until the criminal case concludes or the prosecutor declines charges. The bill aims to prevent indefinite delays in holding officers accountable while aligning administrative processes with criminal proceedings.