Sen. Ron Watson

Maddy summarySB 759 prohibits Maryland state agencies and local governments from restricting certain digital asset activities, including accepting digital assets as payment, using self-hosted or hardware wallets, operating blockchain nodes, or participating in digital asset staking. It clarifies that "staking as a service" (where providers operate nodes for users) is exempt from Maryland's securities registration requirements under the Maryland Securities Act. The bill does not affect existing regulations for money transmission or consumer protection enforcement. This law directly impacts digital asset users, service providers, and financial institutions operating within Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 711 amends Maryland's definition of child neglect to explicitly include the failure or refusal to provide a child with education required by law. This change directly affects parents or caregivers who have legal responsibility for a child's education but do not enroll them in school as mandated. The bill alters Section 5-701(s) of Maryland's Family Law code to add that "neglect" now encompasses this educational neglect. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2026, updating how child neglect is legally defined under Maryland law.

Maddy summarySB 885 authorizes Maryland's State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses for online gaming and bingo operations, while establishing new regulations for these activities. It directly affects former video lottery facility employees through a new "Video Lottery Facility Employee Displacement Fund" to support them, and impacts school funding by requiring counties to use revenue from online gaming to offset local education tax calculations starting in fiscal year 2028. Key provisions include mandating that counties subtract gaming revenue from their education funding calculations and instead appropriate that revenue directly to school budgets, as specified in revised sections of Maryland law. The bill also requires the Commission to regulate online gaming operations and submit the law to a voter referendum.

Maddy summarySB 935 creates a new $1,000 annual income tax deduction for Maryland taxpayers who donate food or cash specifically designated for food purchases to qualifying charitable entities. It directly affects Maryland residents who make such donations to defined organizations like food banks, homeless shelters, or religious groups providing free food to those in need. The bill requires taxpayers to submit proof of donations with their tax return and establishes criteria for entities to qualify as "qualified charitable entities" through Comptroller registration. The provision takes effect July 1, 2026, and expires June 30, 2029, unless renewed.

Maddy summarySB 749 defines "residential retail customer" as individuals using electricity or gas at a home, excluding businesses mislabeled as residential. It requires electricity suppliers to price non-green power at or below the utility's standard offer service rate, allows consolidated billing for electricity and gas, and mandates that suppliers marketing electricity as "green" must meet a 51% renewable energy standard (or 1% above the state's portfolio standard). The bill also adds requirements for the Public Service Commission to approve green power pricing and restricts automatic renewals for green power contracts. These changes directly affect residential electricity suppliers and their customers in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 622 requires the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide loans and grants specifically for building electrification (replacing gas appliances with electric ones) and transportation electrification (such as electric vehicle infrastructure). This policy change directly affects Maryland residents, businesses, and local governments seeking funding to switch to electric systems. The bill amends existing law to mandate these uses of the fund, redirecting resources from previous allocations. It becomes effective October 1, 2026, without creating new programs but altering how existing funds are distributed.

Maddy summarySB 383 allows private career schools in Maryland to advertise programs and collect student contact information before receiving full approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. It directly affects private career schools - non-college institutions training students for specific jobs - and requires them to disclose in all ads that their operating approval is pending. Key provisions mandate schools to include this disclosure and share basic details like opening dates and programs in advertisements. The Secretary of Higher Education will establish the approval process for schools seeking this advertising permission. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 617 repeals a Maryland law that previously banned video lottery license applicants, license holders, and owners of video lottery facilities from making campaign contributions to candidates for nonfederal public office. The bill removes this restriction, allowing those in the video lottery industry to directly or indirectly contribute to political campaigns. It specifically targets Section 13-237 of the Election Law, which previously prohibited such contributions. The change takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 382, the "Retire in Maryland Tax Relief Act," provides a state income tax credit for Maryland residents aged 77 or older with federal adjusted gross income under $175,000 (for individuals or certain filing statuses). The credit amount increases with age: 25% of state tax for 77-year-olds, rising to 100% for those 80 or older. Married couples filing jointly must both be 77+ to qualify for the tiered credit, and unused credit amounts cannot be carried forward to future years. The bill applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 50, the "Fairness in Girls' Sports Act," requires public and certain nonpublic high schools to explicitly designate interscholastic and intramural sports teams as "boys'/male," "girls'/female," or co-ed. It prohibits male students from participating on teams designated for "girls, females, or women" and bars government entities or athletic associations from penalizing schools for maintaining separate teams for female students. The law allows students denied athletic opportunities due to the law's provisions to file civil lawsuits against their school, and protects students reporting violations from retaliation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.