Sen. Michael Jackson

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires that naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, be placed in the same location as automated external defibrillators within all public buildings. The State Emergency Medical Services Board, working with the Department of Health, will manage this initiative using existing funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund. To encourage participation, the law grants legal protection from lawsuits to building owners and individuals who provide or administer this naloxone in good faith. These changes aim to increase the availability of life-saving equipment and medication in public spaces to address both cardiac arrest and drug overdoses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a certification requirement for domestic violence programs in Maryland, mandating that they be approved by the federally recognized State domestic violence coalition to operate as comprehensive programs. It creates a special, nonlapsing grant fund within the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services to provide financial support to these certified public and private nonprofit organizations. The fund will be used to cover program operations and establish additional shelters, with interest earnings automatically added to the fund to ensure its growth. Additionally, the legislation sets standards for program supervision and evaluation while allowing the state to seek funding from federal, local, and private sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a mandatory annual funding requirement for the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland to support the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission. It directs the Governor to include a specific appropriation of $1 million in the state budget each year, drawn from the Cigarette Restitution Fund, with an additional option to allocate 5% of Master Settlement Agreement funds. The legislation clarifies that these funds are intended solely for agricultural development activities and must be used in addition to, rather than replacing, any existing funding for the council. This change ensures consistent financial support for the commission's operations starting in fiscal year 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland laws regarding abandoned or sunken vessels and increases funding for maritime heritage preservation. It requires boat owners to provide emergency contact information when applying for vessel numbers and mandates that the Department of Natural Resources notify owners before seizing abandoned boats. Additionally, the bill establishes a voluntary turn-in program for these vessels and allocates at least $250,000 annually from the Waterway Improvement Fund to a nonprofit organization that distributes grants for preserving Maryland's maritime history.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence within Maryland state government by creating a new subcabinet and requiring agencies to conduct annual inventories of their AI systems and impact assessments. It mandates that the Department of Information Technology develop policies for the development, procurement, and deployment of AI while prohibiting certain agencies from using AI in specific high-risk scenarios until further guidelines are set. The legislation also introduces a formal competitive procurement method called "proof of concept" to test new AI products and services, while exempting certain financial and higher education offices from some of these requirements.