Sen. Ron Watson

Maddy summarySB 130 requires all Maryland county school boards to create and enforce a policy banning student use of cellular devices (including smartphones and tablets) during instructional time, defined as the school day except lunch. The policy must mandate secure storage of devices and include disciplinary measures for violations, while allowing exceptions for students with documented health needs, IEP/504 accommodations, or educator-directed educational use. It affects all public school students, parents, and school staff in Maryland’s 24 county school districts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all county boards of education.

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 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 15 modifies Maryland's rules for suspending driver's licenses due to unpaid child support. It requires courts to send child support calculation details and orders to the Child Support Administration after establishing a payment order. The bill adds safeguards: before suspending a license, the Administration must notify the obligor (parent owing support) about their right to request an investigation for inaccuracy, employment impact, or hardship, and gives them a chance to appeal. It also allows work-restricted licenses during suspension and sets clear conditions for reinstating driving privileges, such as paying arrears in full or participating in approved employment programs. This directly affects parents with child support arrears who face license suspension.

Maddy summarySB 427, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland’s economic development structure by replacing the Maryland Economic Development Commission with the Maryland Economic Competitiveness Fund and creating new programs like the Strategic Closing Fund. It modifies eligibility and funding rules for tax credits (including film production and biotechnology incentives), prioritizes applications in RISE zones for development projects, and waives filing fees for businesses in Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise zones. The bill alters how certain economic development funds are distributed, repeals outdated programs like the Small Business Development Financing Authority, and adjusts tax credit calculations for businesses and investors. These changes directly affect state agencies managing economic development, businesses seeking incentives, and communities participating in RISE zones.

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 815 prohibits the Maryland Department of Labor from requiring applicants for occupational licenses to disclose certain criminal history details, including arrests without conviction, deferred adjudications, diversion program participation, and some sealed or expunged convictions. It specifically bans asking about misdemeanor convictions without physical harm, convictions over 3 years old without imprisonment, and most other offenses after 7 years if no new charges occurred. The law requires the department to consider rehabilitation, job history, and public safety risks before denying a license, rather than automatically denying based on past criminal records. This directly affects individuals seeking state-licensed jobs (like cosmetologists, contractors, or healthcare workers) who have specific non-violent criminal histories.

Maddy summarySB 649 expands Maryland's expungement eligibility to include charges dismissed without a conviction. It specifically allows expungement for cases where the court issued a "no finding" (meaning no guilt was determined) or designated a case as "terminated without finding" (similar to a dismissal). This applies to both misdemeanor and felony charges that otherwise qualify under existing law but were resolved without an unequivocal conviction. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Procedure law to explicitly include these dispositions, making it easier for affected individuals to clear their records.

Maddy summarySB 715 (2025) requires Maryland county boards of education to allow high school students to count hours from approved financial literacy courses toward their graduation requirement for student service hours, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. An "eligible" course must be offered by a higher education institution or approved organization, and approved by the county board. County boards determine how many hours of such a course fulfill the service requirement. The bill directs the State Board to create implementing regulations and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects high school students and county education systems in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 819 allows Maryland county school boards to adopt open enrollment policies, enabling students to attend public schools in a different county (where they are not domiciled) without cost, subject to specific requirements. The bill requires counties to include these students in full-time equivalent enrollment counts and directs state funding to the county where the student is enrolled (the "receiving county") rather than their home county ("sending county"). It mandates that open enrollment policies include an application process with preferences for zoned students and siblings, a transparent selection method like a lottery if capacity is exceeded, and regular public reporting of enrollment capacity data online.