Sen. Will Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exception to Maryland's armed trespass law for retired law enforcement officials who meet specific conditions. It allows retired officers (from federal, state, or local agencies in good standing) to carry concealed firearms without violating trespass laws if they: (1) display their badge or credential, (2) keep the firearm concealed under clothing, and (3) legally possess a handgun under state or federal law. The exception applies only when entering dwellings or property where permission is required under existing law. It directly affects retired law enforcement personnel seeking to carry concealed firearms in public spaces.

Maddy summarySB 444 requires all gun buyback programs operating in Maryland to permanently destroy traded-in firearms (including all attached components) to make them inoperable and unrepairable. It applies to both public and private entities running these programs and allows them to contract with law enforcement agencies or businesses for destruction. Violations carry fines up to $10,000 per offense, and program operators holding a dealer’s license face license revocation for non-compliance. The bill amends Maryland’s Public Safety Code to establish these requirements under a new "Gun Buyback Programs" subtitle.

Maddy summarySB 1040 (FEDERAL Jobs Act of 2025) creates an Expedited Hiring Program within Maryland's Department of Budget and Management to recruit former federal employees for state government positions. It directly affects eligible applicants who previously worked for the federal government for at least one year and left after January 15, 2025, as well as state appointing authorities responsible for filling vacancies. Key provisions require appointing authorities to fill eligible vacancies within 40 days, modify job descriptions to appeal to former federal workers, and implement marketing, applicant rating, and referral processes. The program aims to leverage federal expertise for state roles while operating under the State Personnel Management System.

Maddy summarySB 828 (Protecting Sensitive Locations Act) requires Maryland's Attorney General to develop guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and disaster response sites. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or provide written notice to the Attorney General explaining why they won't adopt such policies, including copies of existing policies. The bill directly affects state agencies managing facilities like hospitals, schools, and shelters by mandating policy alignment or transparency regarding immigration enforcement. It does not create new enforcement powers but sets procedural requirements for state agencies to follow. The guidelines must be developed in consultation with stakeholders and are designed to limit immigration enforcement at these locations "to the fullest extent possible" under federal and state law.

Maddy summarySB 683 (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility. The bill allows Maryland to use funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to assist federal workers affected by closures, relocations, or mass layoffs of federal offices (beyond just government shutdowns). It specifically adds these new circumstances to the Fund’s purpose, enabling loans to Maryland-resident federal employees who lost pay during shutdowns *or* were terminated due to federal facility changes beyond their control. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 7-324 and 7-327) to formalize these changes, ensuring the Fund remains continuously available for these purposes.

Maddy summarySB 1007 modifies Maryland's evidence rules to allow intercepted communications (like phone calls or texts) as court evidence under specific conditions. It permits such evidence if at least one party was outside Maryland during the communication, the interception wasn’t conducted by Maryland law enforcement, or all parties were co-conspirators in a violent crime. Courts must also determine the evidence is more probative than alternatives and serves justice, and the defense must receive advance notice of its use. The law applies to all Maryland courts and legal proceedings, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1046 allows Maryland correctional officers to use body-worn digital recording devices to capture conversations during their duties under specific conditions. It permits recording only when officers are in uniform, notify individuals being recorded (unless unsafe), and are participating in the conversation. The bill also requires the Maryland Correctional Training Commission to create a detailed policy by 2026 covering camera use, notification rules, recording storage, and access to recordings for all correctional facilities. This directly affects correctional officers and the individuals they interact with in state correctional facilities.

Maddy summarySB 925 allows individuals aged 21 or older to manufacture small amounts of cannabis products or concentrated cannabis for personal use or adult sharing at home, provided no volatile solvents (like butane) are used. It defines "personal use" as up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, 12 grams of concentrate, or 750mg of THC in products, and prohibits manufacturing with volatile solvents. The bill also raises felony thresholds for cannabis offenses (e.g., 50+ pounds) and adjusts penalties for "volume dealers" and "drug kingpins" involving cannabis or cocaine. It does not change firearm laws but modifies existing penalties for certain drug-related crimes. The bill focuses on clarifying home manufacturing rules and adjusting sentencing for large-scale cannabis offenses.

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.