Sen. Anthony Muse

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland's State Board of Elections to select, certify, and purchase a telephone voting system for absentee voters who have attested to having a print disability. The system must meet strict security standards, including ballot secrecy, accurate vote recording, voter identity authentication, and the ability to create a paper audit trail. Eligible voters will be placed on a special list and receive accessible communications with instructions and credentials to access the system, while the state will also run a public education campaign about the new voting option.

Maddy summarySB 622 requires the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide loans and grants specifically for building electrification (replacing gas appliances with electric ones) and transportation electrification (such as electric vehicle infrastructure). This policy change directly affects Maryland residents, businesses, and local governments seeking funding to switch to electric systems. The bill amends existing law to mandate these uses of the fund, redirecting resources from previous allocations. It becomes effective October 1, 2026, without creating new programs but altering how existing funds are distributed.

Maddy summarySB 383 allows private career schools in Maryland to advertise programs and collect student contact information before receiving full approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. It directly affects private career schools - non-college institutions training students for specific jobs - and requires them to disclose in all ads that their operating approval is pending. Key provisions mandate schools to include this disclosure and share basic details like opening dates and programs in advertisements. The Secretary of Higher Education will establish the approval process for schools seeking this advertising permission. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 89, the "Voting Rights for All Act," would require Maryland's State Board of Elections to create a toll-free hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights issues. It would remove a previous rule that barred people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote, allowing them to become registered voters while incarcerated. The bill also repeals a law that made voting while incarcerated a felony offense. These changes would directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland convicted of felonies and are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 462 allows Maryland counties to adopt local "good cause eviction" laws that prevent landlords from terminating residential leases or evicting tenants without a valid reason (like nonpayment or lease violations). Landlords in counties with such laws must include specific notices in leases about whether good cause rules apply and disclose ownership details if claiming an exception. The state's Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs must create standardized forms for these disclosures and tenant notifications. This bill modifies Maryland's real property laws to implement this framework, but it only applies in counties that choose to adopt the local ordinances.

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 347 changes how Maryland handles driver's license suspensions for unpaid child support. It requires the Child Support Enforcement Administration to verify suspension is appropriate and send written/electronic notice to the obligor (person owing support) before notifying the Motor Vehicle Administration. The bill adds specific grounds for investigation, including inaccurate arrears, the child living primarily with the obligor, or undue hardship due to disability or inability to pay. It also establishes a formal process for obligors to request an investigation and appeal suspensions through the Office of Administrative Hearings. This directly affects individuals with child support arrears who face potential license suspension.

Maddy summarySB 319 modifies Maryland's child support laws to streamline support rights for children in foster care. It authorizes the Child Support Administration to secure state assignment of child support rights on behalf of children receiving foster care maintenance payments, and requires courts to automatically terminate existing child support orders for these children without needing a "material change of circumstance" after the state determines the order is no longer appropriate. The bill specifically updates sections of the Family Law code (5-525.4 and 12-104.2) to implement this process. It directly affects children in foster care and their parents by changing how support obligations are managed when foster care payments are provided. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 342 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, requiring beverage producers to register with the state, pay fees, and include refund values in product prices. It mandates that containers display refund information, retailers show refund amounts on receipts, and creates a producer-led stewardship group to manage recycling. The program funds water refill stations through a new grant initiative and sets recycling targets to reduce litter and pollution from beverage containers. This directly affects beverage manufacturers, retailers, and communities by changing how containers are sold, priced, and recycled.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits detaining juveniles (under 18) in any facility where they could see, hear, or otherwise have contact with incarcerated adults. It applies to all juveniles awaiting trial, convicted, or held in custody for offenses tried in adult court. The law requires juveniles to be held in secure juvenile facilities unless temporarily held for up to 6 hours in an adult facility - while separated by sight/sound - pending transfer to a juvenile facility. Exceptions for capacity issues or safety risks remain but must be documented by the court.