Maddy summarySB 143 requires contractors and subcontractors working on public works projects valued at $500,000 or more to employ a certain percentage of qualified apprentices or journeyworkers, replacing previous options to pay into apprenticeship funds instead. The bill establishes an annual "applicable percentage" for labor hours on covered projects, set by the Secretary of Labor, and applies to the University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College. It directly affects contractors with four or more employees on qualifying projects, mandating actual apprenticeship participation rather than financial contributions. Key provisions include defining "covered projects," "qualified apprentices," and creating a State Apprenticeship Training Fund to support workforce development.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers and sellers in Maryland to label products made using modern biotechnology (like gene editing or RNA interference) that alter gene structure or function. Such products must display the phrase "Gene Structure- or Function-Modifying Product" prominently, along with information about potential effects on users or others who may contact them. Businesses violating this rule face misdemeanor charges, fines up to $25,000 for repeat offenses, or civil penalties of $5,000 per violation. The law, effective October 1, 2026, directly affects companies selling these biotech products within Maryland.
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 summarySB 79 requires Maryland county school boards to create and adopt policies restricting student use of personal electronic devices (like phones, tablets, or laptops) during school hours. It mandates a complete ban for elementary and middle school students, while allowing limited use for high school students under specific exceptions - such as for documented health needs, individualized education plans (IEPs), or educational purposes. Policies must be published online and in student handbooks, reviewed every two years, and include disciplinary measures for violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting all public school districts and students in Maryland.
Maddy summarySB 103 requires Maryland public middle schools to begin instruction no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m., starting in the 2028-2029 school year. It directly affects all public middle, high, and charter schools in Maryland, with limited waivers allowed only for emergencies like natural disasters. The bill also mandates that county school boards and charter schools implement a public awareness campaign starting in 2027-2028 to educate communities about sleep deprivation impacts and the benefits of later start times. These provisions aim to align school schedules with adolescent sleep health needs through concrete policy changes.
Maddy summarySB 1005 expands Maryland's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Grant Program to include funding for the acquisition of land specifically for constructing or operating FQHCs. It directly affects counties, cities, and nonprofit organizations that operate or plan to establish FQHCs by adding "acquisition of land" as a new eligible use for program grants. The bill amends existing law to explicitly allow grants under the program for land purchases, alongside existing uses like building renovation, equipment, or new construction. This change provides a new funding mechanism for FQHCs to secure land for facilities, improving access to primary healthcare services in underserved communities.
Maddy summarySB 396 expands death benefit eligibility to include 9-1-1 specialists as public safety officers, adding them to the existing categories of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and hazardous material response team employees. It maintains a $125,000 death benefit for qualifying survivors, adjusting this amount annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill also modifies disability benefit eligibility criteria and clarifies the definition of "performance of duties" for public safety roles. These changes directly affect current and future public safety officers, including newly covered 9-1-1 specialists, by expanding their access to death and disability benefits. The provisions amend specific sections of Maryland’s Public Safety and State Personnel laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill renames Maryland's Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program to honor former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. It updates the program's official name throughout state law to "Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Program" without changing the program's structure, funding, or operations. The renaming applies to all references in Maryland's Natural Resources and State Government codes, including funding provisions and program administration details. The program - administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and focused on environmental conservation projects - remains unchanged in its purpose and implementation.
Maddy summarySB 911 increases Maryland's property tax exemption for blind individuals and their surviving spouses from $15,000 to $40,000 on their primary residence. The bill defines a "blind individual" as someone with a permanent visual impairment meeting specific medical criteria and clarifies that the exemption applies to the assessed value of a dwelling house (including the lot and necessary structures). Surviving spouses who haven't remarried become eligible for the exemption after the blind individual's death. The bill also specifies that individuals cannot claim both this exemption and another specific property tax exemption, though they may use it alongside other available exemptions.
Maddy summarySB 278 expands Maryland's definition of "uniformed services" to include members of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), previously limited to only the armed forces. This change updates how "veteran" status is defined in state law, ensuring these service members qualify for state benefits. The bill requires Maryland's tax and pension programs to apply equally to all uniformed services, eliminating prior exclusions for non-military personnel. It directly affects service members in the Public Health Service and NOAA, granting them parity in state tax relief, pensions, and other benefits.