Maddy summarySB 568 would allow licensed psychologists in Maryland to prescribe certain medications under specific conditions, but only after obtaining certification from the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The bill creates new requirements for certification, establishes a Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee to oversee implementation, and adds new sections (18-3B-01 to 18-3B-09) to the health occupations code. It directly affects licensed psychologists who meet the new certification standards and complete required training, expanding their scope of practice beyond traditional psychological services. The policy change modifies existing licensing rules to include prescriptive authority as a defined part of "practice psychology" under specific board-certified conditions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 888 is a constitutional amendment that temporarily establishes Maryland’s 8 congressional districts for elections held after the 2026 general election and before the 2030 census redistricting. It uses 2026 boundary data (election districts, wards, and precincts) to define these districts, including specific counties and parts of Anne Arundel County. The bill also clarifies that certain districting rules apply only to state legislative seats, not congressional seats, and gives the General Assembly power to allow the Supreme Court to review congressional districting. This framework expires once the state passes permanent congressional districts after the 2030 census.
Maddy summarySB 571 requires large broadband providers (serving 10,000+ customers) in Maryland to establish a low-cost broadband program for eligible low-income residents by December 1, 2026. The program must offer at least 100 Mbps download speed (200 Mbps for households of three or more), 1.2 terabytes of data, and limit annual network outages to an average of 48 hours. Eligibility is defined by income (at or below 350% of federal poverty guidelines) or participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or free school meals. Providers may adjust prices every three years by up to 2% or the Consumer Price Index change, with 30 days' notice to customers.
Maddy summarySB 570 amends Maryland’s definition of "baby food" to explicitly include infant formula and infant cereal (previously excluded), affecting all baby food manufacturers in the state. It requires manufacturers to test each batch of baby food for toxic heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) starting January 1, 2025, using accredited labs at least monthly. Manufacturers must publicly post test results online and include QR codes on labels linking to FDA safety information for each product sold in Maryland. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, with compliance for labeling and transparency requirements beginning January 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 73 requires Maryland polling places and early voting centers to implement specific accommodations for elderly voters (65+) and voters with disabilities, as defined by federal law. Key provisions include dedicated expedited voting lines, clear signage for these services, priority seating in waiting areas, and special protocols for high-traffic locations. Local election boards must implement these guidelines, collect real-time feedback from affected voters during voting, and make immediate adjustments to the process. The State Board of Elections must monitor compliance and submit annual reports to the legislature detailing effectiveness, challenges, and recommendations. This bill directly affects voters with mobility or age-related needs at in-person voting locations statewide.
Maddy summarySB 569 limits how businesses (called "controllers") in Maryland can collect, process, or share personal data. It specifically prohibits selling or collecting sensitive data unless strictly necessary for a requested service, bans using precise geolocation data for targeted ads without consent, and forbids processing data for targeted advertising or selling data of consumers under 18. The bill also prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics when handling data and bans denying services to consumers who exercise privacy rights. These changes directly affect businesses that collect personal data in Maryland, requiring them to adjust data practices to comply with the new restrictions starting October 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 34 updates Maryland's requirements for becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). It increases the required practical work experience from 1,000 hours to 2,000 hours for most applicants (applying on or after October 1, 2000), and to 4,000 hours for those seeking licensure under a specific pathway. The bill also mandates a 150-semester-hour educational requirement, including an accounting concentration, and specifies accredited institutions for degree validation. These changes directly affect individuals seeking CPA licensure in Maryland, effective October 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 95 regulates parametric insurance policies in Maryland, requiring insurers to provide clear disclosures about how payouts work and potential mismatches with actual losses (called "basis risk"). It mandates annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner on policy details, trigger events, and disputes, and requires policies to use objectively measurable triggers (like floods or hurricanes) verified by independent sources. The law directly affects insurers selling these policies in Maryland and policyholders - especially low- and moderate-income households - by ensuring transparency through plain-language fact sheets and requiring two numerical examples of basis risk. Key provisions include banning vague triggers, requiring written explanations of coverage at application and renewal, and prohibiting insurers from changing underwriting rules without prior approval.
Maddy summarySB 156 requires that any freight train operating in Maryland on shared rail corridors with passenger trains must have at least two crew members. It directly affects railroad companies operating freight services, excluding light rail systems, rapid transit, and specific yard/utility operations. The bill takes effect only if neighboring states (New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia) enact similar laws by October 1, 2056, with implementation set for October 1, 2026, if the condition is met. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $25,000 for the railroad company. The law aims to establish minimum crew requirements for freight train safety under Maryland’s transportation regulations.
Maddy summarySB 78, the "Protect Our Prostate Act," requires healthcare providers and clinical laboratories to provide standardized information to patients receiving prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. It mandates that providers give written preparation instructions before testing, while labs must use FDA-approved tests, calibrate using WHO standards, report results in nanograms per milliliter with reference ranges, and disclose test details to ordering doctors. The law directly affects patients undergoing PSA testing, healthcare providers ordering tests, and clinical laboratories administering the tests. It aims to improve transparency and accuracy of PSA results to help patients understand potential risks like false positives, without changing treatment protocols.