Maddy summarySB 683 (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility. The bill allows Maryland to use funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to assist federal workers affected by closures, relocations, or mass layoffs of federal offices (beyond just government shutdowns). It specifically adds these new circumstances to the Fund’s purpose, enabling loans to Maryland-resident federal employees who lost pay during shutdowns *or* were terminated due to federal facility changes beyond their control. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 7-324 and 7-327) to formalize these changes, ensuring the Fund remains continuously available for these purposes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 541 allows veterans' organizations and eligible fraternal organizations (like nonprofit groups with 300+ members) to operate up to five instant lottery machines at their main meeting location in most Maryland counties, with restrictions in nine specific counties. It changes revenue distribution: veterans' groups keep 50% of sales after costs, while fraternal groups send all proceeds to the state for allocation. The bill removes the prior requirement that veterans' groups must purchase or lease machines. This directly affects how these organizations raise funds through lottery machines statewide.
Maddy summarySB 342, the "Voting Rights Act of 2025," prohibits counties and municipalities from using election methods that dilute or abridge voting rights for protected classes (defined as racial, color, or language minority groups under federal law). It directly affects voters in these local jurisdictions by requiring election systems to allow members of protected classes to elect candidates of their choice. The key mechanism establishes that a violation occurs if elections show "polarized voting" (where voting patterns differ between protected classes and the broader electorate) and the election method dilutes their voting strength. Courts must evaluate this using federal methodologies for enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, applying only to local county and municipal elections - not statewide contests.
Maddy summarySB 472 allows Baltimore City or Maryland counties to establish a special property tax rate for improvements on land within 1 mile of a rail station (including MARC, Metro, or Light Rail stations). This special rate must be lower than or equal to the standard county tax rate and applies only to properties near rail infrastructure. Property owners in these designated areas would pay this reduced rate, while a 50% tax penalty on the special rate's total liability would fund the Transportation Trust Fund. The bill also requires annual reports on the tax rate's impact, including revenue changes and property reuse plans.
Maddy summarySB 270 requires Maryland's State Board of Trustees to automatically enroll new state employees hired on or after January 1, 2026, into supplemental retirement plans. Employees are enrolled by default, with employers deducting the minimum contribution amount from wages unless the employee opts out within 90 days of their first automatic deduction. The bill mandates that employees receive clear notice explaining their enrollment terms, contribution options, and rights to adjust or stop contributions within the 90-day window. It applies only to new hires starting in 2026, not current employees, and takes effect October 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 7, the "See Someone, Save Someone Act," requires Maryland transportation sector employees (including state workers and contractors at transit stations, airports, ports, and rest stops) to complete human trafficking identification and reporting training by 2026. Employers must certify training completion annually, establish reporting procedures for suspected trafficking to local agencies, and implement prevention policies with victim recognition and response guidance. The law also protects employees reporting in good faith from civil/criminal liability and mandates frequent multilingual public service announcements about trafficking resources at transportation hubs. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all relevant transportation employers and their staff.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,000 refundable state income tax credit for Maryland parents who experience a stillbirth. It directly affects parents who receive a certificate of stillbirth (per Maryland Health-General Article § 4-213.1 or equivalent from another state) for a birth that results in stillbirth. The credit can be claimed only in the tax year the stillbirth occurred, and if the credit exceeds the parent's state income tax liability for that year, they receive a refund for the excess amount. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 706 requires the Maryland Department of Health to conduct prevalence studies measuring problem and pathological gambling rates for both in-person and mobile gambling, with the initial in-person study due by July 1, 2009 (likely a typo in the bill text), and the initial mobile study due by July 1, 2030. The bill modifies how gambling proceeds are distributed, directing 6.25% of the state's share (after operators retain 84%) to the Problem Gambling Fund for treatment and prevention programs, while 93.75% goes to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. It mandates annual reports to the General Assembly on fund expenditures and requires replication studies every five years to track trends. This bill directly affects gambling operators, the Problem Gambling Fund, and Maryland residents seeking gambling treatment services.
Maddy summarySB 8 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program, a voluntary initiative for public school systems in Maryland to recognize student civic engagement. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, participating schools must award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" to students who pass a government assessment, earn A or B grades in U.S. history, modern world history, and American government, and complete 75 hours of community service (including at least 30 hours on a civic project). Schools may also earn a "Center of Civic Excellence" designation if 50% or more of their graduating students receive the seal. Participating school systems must submit annual reports on the program starting in 2027.
Maddy summarySB 330 expands Maryland's property tax credit for dwellings owned by disabled or fallen law enforcement officers/rescue workers. It directly affects disabled officers who die (regardless of cause), their surviving spouses, and cohabitants by broadening the definition of "fallen officer" to include disabled officers who pass away. Key changes include removing the previous 10-year deadline for purchasing a home after disability or death, allowing the tax credit amount for new homes to align proportionally with credits for prior dwellings, and giving counties flexibility to set their own acquisition timelines or eligibility limits. The bill amends Maryland's Property Tax Code (Section 9-210) to implement these policy adjustments.