Sen. Anthony Muse

Maddy summarySB 816 increases the Maryland Public Service Commission from five to seven commissioners and establishes specific geographic residency requirements for each position. The seven commissioners must represent: Western Maryland (one commissioner), Southern Maryland (one), the Eastern Shore (one), Central Maryland (two), and the Capital Region (two). The bill requires the Commission to submit a slate of nominees for two new seats (Western and Southern Maryland) to the Governor by August 1, 2025, and changes the process for appointing the Commission's Chair from among its members. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with no retroactive application.

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 647 (Voting Rights for All Act) removes the voting ineligibility for individuals convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence, directly affecting incarcerated people in Maryland. It amends Section 3-102(b)(1) of the Election Law to allow these individuals to register to vote while incarcerated. The bill also requires the State Board of Elections to establish a toll-free voter hotline (Section 1-306) for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request materials, and report rights violations. This change takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all incarcerated felons serving court-ordered prison sentences.

Maddy summarySB 651 allows Maryland counties to adopt local "good cause eviction" laws, preventing landlords from terminating residential leases or evicting tenants without a valid reason (like nonpayment or lease violations). If a county adopts such a law, landlords must disclose in leases whether they are subject to it and provide detailed ownership information (including all owners and properties they manage) using forms created by the state's Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs. This directly affects tenants and landlords in counties that implement the law, requiring landlords to justify evictions and disclose ownership details. The bill amends Maryland's property code to establish these disclosure requirements and local adoption procedures.

Maddy summarySB 866 establishes an Ombudsman Unit within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to handle complaints from residents of common ownership communities (including condos, co-ops, and homeowners associations). The unit will review final adverse decisions by community governing bodies, refer disputes to local commissions, and provide residents with information about their rights. The bill also requires these communities to file governing documents (like rules and declarations) with the Department of Housing, which must create an online database for public access. Additionally, it mandates counties to establish local commissions to further review disputes involving community governance. These changes directly affect residents, community managers, and local government officials.

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 943 requires petitioners in Maryland domestic violence cases to provide detailed information about respondents' firearms (e.g., make/model, storage locations, access points) when seeking protective orders. This affects both victims seeking protection and alleged abusers facing firearm surrender requirements. The bill also establishes a Task Force to study firearm use in domestic violence situations. These changes aim to improve safety planning by giving courts more specific details about firearm risks.

Maddy summarySB 542 requires Maryland's Governor's Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs to hire an independent consultant to study the state's alcoholic beverages industry, focusing on minority participation and barriers to entry. The study will collect confidential data from license holders (distributors and retailers) on business ownership demographics, brands carried, and industry structure, which must be shared only in anonymized or aggregated form. It will analyze participation rates by race and ethnicity, compare Maryland's system to other states, and identify potential discrimination in the industry. The consultant must submit a final report with recommendations by December 1, 2026, to help inform policies supporting minority-owned businesses in the sector.

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.