Sen. Jim Rosapepe

Maddy summarySB 882 imposes a $13 fee per short ton on carriers transporting coal within Maryland. Revenue from this fee flows into a new "Fossil Fuel Mitigation Fund," which is a nonlapsing special fund administered by the state department. The fund must be used to support programs reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing health impacts like asthma in overburdened communities - defined as areas meeting specific environmental health indicators (e.g., high pollution levels, asthma ER visits). The bill directly affects coal transporters and targets funding toward communities disproportionately impacted by fossil fuel pollution.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 346 establishes a refund program for beverage containers to boost recycling and reduce litter. It requires all redeemable containers sold in the state to display refund information, includes the refund value in both wholesale and retail prices, and mandates retailers to show this on customer receipts. Producers must register with the state, pay fees, and join a stewardship organization to manage the program, while counties can create redemption facilities to help meet recycling targets. The law aims to increase container reuse and recycling rates, reduce pollution from discarded containers, and fund public water refill stations through a new grant program. This directly affects beverage producers, retailers, consumers, and local governments managing redemption sites.

Maddy summarySB 659 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Financial Regulation to create consumer protection rules for electronic money transfers initiated by banks and credit unions operating in the state. These regulations must align with federal standards for electronic funds transfers under 15 U.S.C. § 1693(a)(7). The law applies to all financial institutions conducting domestic electronic transfers in Maryland and takes effect October 1, 2025. It focuses on standardizing protections without specifying additional elder-focused measures beyond the federal baseline.

Maddy summarySB 490 eliminates citizenship requirements for members of certain Maryland state boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups. It replaces these requirements with a new mandate that members must "reflect the full diversity of the State to the extent practicable," affecting bodies across health, environment, labor, and public safety sectors. The bill achieves this by repealing and revising specific sections in Maryland’s code (including Business Occupations, Health, Environmental, and Public Safety laws) that previously required citizenship. Key provisions remove barriers for non-citizens to serve on these groups while requiring diversity considerations in appointments. This change applies to over 30 existing state entities as detailed in the bill’s code revisions.

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 59 changes Maryland's definition of "resident" for income tax purposes by reducing the required time an individual must maintain a place of abode in the state from more than six months to more than three months of the taxable year. This directly affects non-domiciled individuals who spend part of the year in Maryland but do not live there full-time. The bill amends Section 10-101(k)(1)(i) of Maryland's tax code to reflect this lower threshold. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 325 modifies Maryland's tax credit program for employers hiring apprentices. It removes a requirement that apprentices earn at least 50% of the prevailing wage (previously in section 10-742(a)(iii)), making it easier for employers to qualify for the credit. The bill also extends the period during which the credit remains available. This affects Maryland employers who hire apprentices in registered programs, allowing them to claim a $1,000 credit per youth apprentice or $3,000 per non-youth apprentice (with a $15,000 annual limit per employer). The changes aim to support apprenticeship hiring without altering the credit amounts or application process.

Maddy summarySB 70 increases the maximum county income tax rate from 3.2% to 3.7% for Maryland counties that impose income tax. It limits counties to no more than eight income tax brackets and requires all counties to use standardized bracket thresholds: for individuals, brackets start at $0-$25,000 and go up to $1 million+; for joint filers, brackets start at $0-$50,000 and go up to $1.25 million+. Counties may apply rates above 3.2% only on income exceeding $250,000 for individuals or $300,000 for joint filers, with revenue from these higher rates required to fund public education and transportation. The bill affects all Maryland counties that levy a county income tax, directly changing how local income tax is calculated and collected.

Maddy summarySB 143 requires Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to create and maintain a statewide database of geographic images (including aerial photography and mapping tools) for property valuation. It mandates the Department of General Services to procure a uniform system for this database and requires all counties and Baltimore City to reimburse the state for associated costs. Reimbursement is structured as 100% coverage for costs up to $1 million, and 50% for costs exceeding $1 million annually. This directly affects local governments' budgets by establishing a new cost-sharing mechanism for property appraisal technology. The bill modifies existing tax code sections (2-106 and 2-210) to implement these requirements, effective June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland's county mental health advisory committees by adding a specific category for individuals with experience in military or veteran mental health care. It requires that at least one voting member on these committees be selected from a pool that includes people who have received mental health services, parents of individuals with mental disorders, and now, those with military mental health experience. The legislation also clarifies the composition of these committees to ensure representation from various community groups, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services agencies. These changes aim to broaden the perspective of the committees to better address the unique mental health needs of veterans and service members within their counties.