Sen. Will Smith

Maddy summarySB 466 prohibits caregivers, family members, or household members from knowingly taking property from vulnerable or senior adults with the intent to deprive them of it. The bill makes such exploitation a violation of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, allowing the Attorney General’s Senior and Vulnerable Adult Asset Recovery Unit to pursue civil cases for asset recovery. It also disqualifies convicted individuals from inheriting or benefiting from the victim’s estate, insurance, or property. This law directly protects vulnerable seniors and their families while strengthening enforcement through existing consumer protection and criminal justice mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 179 exempts one vehicle owned or leased by an unemployable disabled veteran with a service-connected disability from Maryland's motor vehicle registration fees. It adds this group to existing fee exemptions by amending Maryland's transportation code (Section 13-903(a)(11)). The exemption applies only to vehicles personally used by the veteran and requires the veteran to be declared unemployable due to a disability connected to military service. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible disabled veterans who qualify under this specific criterion.

Maddy summarySB 873 redefines "assault in the third degree" in Maryland law as a misdemeanor, replacing the previous "assault in the second degree." It defines "offensive contact" as nonconsensual physical touch a reasonable person would find offensive, excluding injuries, domestic crimes, or sexual offenses. The bill establishes District Court as the exclusive court for these cases, removes assault in the third degree as a lesser-included offense for other crimes, and adds it to the list of offenses eligible for expungement. It also repeals the existing "assault in the second degree" statute and clarifies that certain defenses (like bias based on race or gender) cannot be used in assault cases.

Maddy summarySB 927 allows Maryland nonstock housing corporations to convert into limited equity housing cooperatives (LEHCs), where residents own shares rather than renting units. It requires LEHCs to provide notice and reimburse moving expenses for low-income households displaced during conversion, and exempts LEHC-owned property from state property tax (with limitations). The bill also authorizes state grants to support LEHC establishment, prohibits local governments from restricting LEHCs, and sets rules for member voting and resale of housing shares. These changes aim to make cooperative housing more accessible while protecting current residents during transitions.

Maddy summarySB 648 repeals the requirement for the Governor to approve medical parole decisions for incarcerated individuals serving life sentences. It removes a provision that previously allowed the Governor to disapprove such decisions within 180 days of receiving the Parole Commission's recommendation. The bill maintains existing medical parole criteria (e.g., chronic debilitation, no public safety risk) and all other procedural requirements, including medical evaluations, community support planning, and victim notification. This change directly affects life-sentence inmates who qualify for medical parole by streamlining the process to eliminate gubernatorial review. The bill focuses on policy implementation rather than outcome speculation.

Maddy summarySB 926, the End-of-Life Option Act, allows terminally ill Maryland residents to request and self-administer physician-prescribed medication to end their life under specific conditions. It requires patients to have a confirmed terminal illness (with a prognosis of six months or less), undergo a mental health assessment, receive two physician confirmations (including a consulting physician), and make an informed decision with capacity to understand the process. The bill protects healthcare providers from criminal liability for participating in this process and clarifies that such deaths are deemed natural causes for insurance purposes. It also prohibits pharmacists from dispensing the medication except to qualified patients and ensures insurance policies cannot be denied based on this choice.

Maddy summarySB 8 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program, a voluntary initiative for public school systems in Maryland to recognize student civic engagement. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, participating schools must award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" to students who pass a government assessment, earn A or B grades in U.S. history, modern world history, and American government, and complete 75 hours of community service (including at least 30 hours on a civic project). Schools may also earn a "Center of Civic Excellence" designation if 50% or more of their graduating students receive the seal. Participating school systems must submit annual reports on the program starting in 2027.

Maddy summarySB 545 amends Maryland's criminal code to prohibit possessing or viewing images depicting minors in sexual conduct, sadomasochistic abuse, or sexual excitement - whether actual or computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children under 16. It specifically targets material that looks like real children (excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings) and adds penalties: up to 5 years for first-time possession/viewing (misdemeanor) and up to 10 years for repeat offenses (felony). The bill includes exceptions for parents possessing non-exploitative images of their own children and allows a defense if someone destroys the material or reports it to police. These changes update sections 11-207, 11-208, and add new section 11-208.2 to the Maryland Annotated Code.

Maddy summarySB 928 prohibits non-V.A. accredited individuals or entities from charging fees for preparing, presenting, or advising on veterans benefits claims or appeals. It requires all service providers charging fees to provide written disclosures stating that free VA-accredited services are available, and mandates that advertisements for appeals services must include this disclosure. The bill also bans non-accredited providers from making guarantees about claim outcomes or receiving compensation for referrals. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, enforced under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. This directly affects veterans seeking benefits and non-accredited claim servicers who previously offered paid services.

Maddy summarySB 690 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program for public safety workers to include correctional officers. It modifies eligibility criteria to cover both current correctional officers pursuing degrees and students training to become correctional officers. The bill allocates $2.5 million annually for scholarships for students preparing for correctional officer careers and another $2.5 million for current officers seeking further education. To qualify, recipients must be Maryland residents or graduates, enroll in eligible programs, and agree to work as correctional officers for at least 5 years after graduation. The program requires repayment if these service obligations aren't met.