Sen. Joanne Benson

Maddy summarySB 688 (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act) requires contractors and subcontractors working on Maryland public works projects to employ a specific percentage of qualified apprentices or journeyworkers, replacing previous options to pay apprenticeship programs instead of hiring. It expands these requirements to include projects involving the University System of Maryland and Baltimore City Community College. The bill directs the Secretary of Labor to set annual apprenticeship percentage targets and allows limited waivers for specific circumstances. This changes existing law to strengthen on-the-job training opportunities in public construction projects.

Maddy summarySB 468 requires all public middle schools in Maryland to begin instruction no earlier than 8:00 AM and public high schools no earlier than 8:30 AM starting with the 2027-2028 school year. The bill directly affects every public middle and high school, as well as charter schools, by establishing these minimum start times unless the State Board of Education grants a waiver for compelling reasons. It also mandates that county boards and charter schools implement public awareness campaigns about sleep deprivation and the benefits of later start times. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to enforce these requirements while allowing limited waivers for specific circumstances like natural or civil disasters.

Maddy summarySB 859, the "Fair Share for Maryland Act of 2025," is a comprehensive tax code revision affecting Maryland taxpayers and businesses. It modifies estate tax rules (capping the exemption at $2 million for decedents dying in 2016-2017), adjusts child tax credits by changing income thresholds and phase-out amounts, and imposes new business transportation fees on corporations and pass-through entities. The bill also limits net operating loss deductions, requires certain corporations to file combined tax returns, and adjusts income tax brackets for high earners. These changes directly impact estates, families claiming child credits, and businesses operating in Maryland, with automatic annual inflation adjustments for credit thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJ 4) is a symbolic statement urging federal action on nuclear weapons, not a binding law. It asks Maryland's congressional delegation to cosponsor a federal resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the "Back from the Brink" policy goals. The resolution specifically requests the U.S. President and Senate endorse the treaty, which bans nuclear weapons development and use. It does not change Maryland law or impose requirements, but formally joins over 75 localities and 7 states in calling for reduced nuclear risks.

Maddy summarySB 935 establishes three regional transportation authorities for the Baltimore, Capital, and Southern Maryland regions, creating dedicated funding streams for transportation planning. It authorizes counties within these regions to impose specific sales tax surcharges, hotel surcharges, and transfer tax surcharges, with revenues directed into special "nonlapsing" transportation funds for each region. The bill also allows these authorities to issue bonds payable from regional revenues and requires interest earnings on the funds to be credited back to them. This directly affects counties in the designated regions by providing a structured way to fund local transportation projects through targeted tax collections.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJ 3) is a symbolic statement affirming Maryland's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as foundational to the American Dream. It does not create new laws or policies but encourages state, local, and federal entities - including educational institutions and workplaces - to adopt DEI principles that promote inclusivity and remove barriers to opportunity. The resolution specifically urges organizations to uphold DEI values while protecting freedom of expression, referencing historical DEI milestones like the Civil Rights Act. It directs certified copies to federal officials, including the President and congressional leaders, as a gesture of Maryland's stance.

Maddy summarySB 702 restricts the placement of pregnant incarcerated individuals in restrictive housing (locked cells for 17+ hours daily) in Maryland correctional facilities, barring most involuntary placements. It allows exceptions only for immediate risks of physical harm, flight, or communicable disease spread that cannot be managed otherwise, requiring facility staff to document why less restrictive options weren't possible. The bill mandates medical assessments every 8 hours, housing in the least restrictive setting, and specialized treatment plans developed by women’s health staff. It also requires written reviews of placements every 24 hours, detailed reporting to oversight officials, and specific infirmary care protocols for pregnant individuals.

Maddy summarySB 694 requires Maryland's Office of the Correctional Ombudsman to hire an independent consultant by October 1, 2026, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state's correctional system. The assessment must cover infrastructure (facilities, cell design, technology), staffing ratios and training, programming effectiveness, health services compared to national standards, and restrictive housing policies. It also mandates including stakeholder input (via interviews, surveys, and public hearings) and producing a report with cost-benefit analysis, comparisons to states like New York and New Jersey, and actionable recommendations with implementation timelines. This bill directly affects the Correctional Ombudsman's office, the state correctional system, and incarcerated individuals through the assessment process. The findings must be included in the Ombudsman's annual report to the Governor and General Assembly starting in 2027.

Maddy summarySB 827 limits the use of restrictive housing (like solitary confinement) for minors in Maryland juvenile facilities. It prohibits placing minors in restrictive housing solely for discipline, punishment, staff convenience, or retaliation. The bill requires facilities to justify such placement only when there’s an immediate safety risk, with no other alternatives, and mandates mental health screening within one hour. Minors can be placed in restrictive housing at their request (and can revoke this request), but such placement cannot exceed six hours, and facilities must develop a plan to return them to general population quickly. The bill directly affects all minors held in Maryland juvenile correctional facilities.

Maddy summarySB 804 (Better Buildings Act of 2025) requires new buildings and major renovations (costing 50% or more of a building's replacement value) in Maryland to meet specific energy standards. It mandates that these buildings must provide all laundry, water, and space heating without fossil fuels, adopt stricter energy conservation measures than the baseline International Energy Conservation Code, and include "electric-ready" and "solar-ready" design features. "Electric-ready" means having sufficient electrical capacity and space for future high-efficiency appliances, while "solar-ready" requires at least 40% of the roof area to be unobstructed for potential solar panel installation. These standards apply to buildings seeking permits after August 1, 1995 (as referenced in the bill, though implementation timelines are defined by the Maryland Department of Labor). The bill updates building codes to prioritize fossil fuel-free operations and renewable energy infrastructure in new construction.