Sen. Anthony Muse

Maddy summarySB 863 creates an alternative registration process for rental car companies owning five or more vehicles in Maryland. Under this bill, the Motor Vehicle Administration must issue special "Fleet Vehicle" registration plates and eliminate the requirement for validation tabs (like stickers) on these vehicles. Rental fleet owners pay a one-time $8.50 registration fee plus annual fees based on existing rules. This directly affects commercial rental companies with 5+ vehicles, streamlining their registration while maintaining fee structures.

Maddy summarySB 949 establishes rules for operating fully autonomous vehicles (level 4 or 5 systems) on Maryland highways without a human driver. It requires these vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" if the system fails, display manufacturer certification labels, and meet federal safety standards. Transportation companies using autonomous vehicles must submit law enforcement interaction plans (detailing communication, towing, and recognition protocols) and proof of security to the state administration. The bill directly affects manufacturers, ride-hailing services, and other ground transportation companies operating autonomous fleets in Maryland. It treats the automated driving system as the legal "operator" for compliance with vehicle laws and crash reporting.

Maddy summarySB 18 modifies Maryland's election law by changing the closing date for early voting centers from the Thursday before a primary or general election to the second Monday before the election. This directly affects all Maryland voters participating in these elections by reducing the early voting period by two days. The key provision amends Section 10-301.1(d) of the Annotated Code of Maryland to specify that early voting centers must remain open from the second Thursday through the second Monday before the election. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 346 establishes a refund program for beverage containers to boost recycling and reduce litter. It requires all redeemable containers sold in the state to display refund information, includes the refund value in both wholesale and retail prices, and mandates retailers to show this on customer receipts. Producers must register with the state, pay fees, and join a stewardship organization to manage the program, while counties can create redemption facilities to help meet recycling targets. The law aims to increase container reuse and recycling rates, reduce pollution from discarded containers, and fund public water refill stations through a new grant program. This directly affects beverage producers, retailers, consumers, and local governments managing redemption sites.

Maddy summarySB 650 requires individuals convicted three or more times of a "domestically related crime" (including domestic violence offenses or crimes against someone with whom they had a recent sexual relationship) to register with their county sheriff within 10 days of release, probation, or a suspended sentence. The registry, maintained by Maryland’s Department of Public Safety, will include registrants’ names, addresses, crime details, and photos, and remain public online, by phone, and in person. Registration lasts 15 years from the latest conviction or release date, extending by 20 years per additional conviction. Individuals may seek court exemptions if convictions are overturned, pardoned, or if a circuit court grants relief under Section 11-1207. This bill directly affects repeat domestic violence offenders, not new offenses or general public safety measures.

Maddy summarySB 490 eliminates citizenship requirements for members of certain Maryland state boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups. It replaces these requirements with a new mandate that members must "reflect the full diversity of the State to the extent practicable," affecting bodies across health, environment, labor, and public safety sectors. The bill achieves this by repealing and revising specific sections in Maryland’s code (including Business Occupations, Health, Environmental, and Public Safety laws) that previously required citizenship. Key provisions remove barriers for non-citizens to serve on these groups while requiring diversity considerations in appointments. This change applies to over 30 existing state entities as detailed in the bill’s code revisions.

Maddy summarySB 539 requires healthcare providers who prescribe medications for children in shared custody arrangements to issue two separate prescriptions. Each prescription must cover the medication amount proportional to the time each parent spends with the child under a court-approved custody or visitation schedule. Pharmacists must fill prescriptions only for the portion matching the parent’s scheduled time with the child. This law directly affects healthcare providers (doctors, pharmacists) and parents in shared custody cases in Maryland, taking effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 484 establishes legal protections for unhoused individuals in Maryland by guaranteeing their right to engage in life-sustaining activities (like sleeping, resting, or sheltering in public) without penalty when adequate indoor alternatives are unavailable. It defines "adequate alternative indoor space" (e.g., 400+ sq. ft. tiny homes with basic amenities) and prohibits local governments or officials from penalizing unhoused people for these activities or offering them aid. The bill also repeals vagrancy laws, creates a civil lawsuit pathway for harmed individuals or the Attorney General, and allows an "affirmative defense of necessity" in criminal trespass cases. It directly affects unhoused residents, local law enforcement, and municipal governments by shifting penalties from individuals to government entities for enforcing prohibitions on basic survival activities.

Maddy summarySB 90 modifies Maryland law regarding the dismissal of criminal charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial. It sets specific time limits for dismissal (10 years for murder/rape, 5 years for other felonies/crimes of violence, and 3 years for other offenses) and requires courts to provide advance notice and an opportunity to be heard to the State’s Attorney and victims or their representatives before dismissing charges. The bill also allows the State to petition for "extraordinary cause" to extend these time limits and mandates victim notification if charges are dismissed. This affects defendants in criminal cases found incompetent, prosecutors, and victims who have requested notification under existing law. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 133 prohibits drivers from stopping, standing, or parking any vehicle in a bike lane or bicycle path. This bill directly affects drivers who might use designated bike lanes for parking, as well as local enforcement agencies responsible for traffic violations. The key provision (added as Section 21-1003(gg) in Maryland’s transportation code) explicitly bans these actions, applying to all vehicles on public roads. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and amends existing vehicle traffic statutes to clarify this restriction.