Sen. Arthur Ellis

Maddy summarySB 593 increases the annual revenue threshold for small municipalities and special taxing districts to qualify for a reduced audit requirement from $250,000 to $700,000 in prior fiscal years. This means local governments with revenue under $700,000 can now receive approval to conduct financial audits only once every four years, instead of annually. The bill maintains existing requirements that audits must be performed by certified public accountants and comply with Maryland’s Public Accountancy Act. The Legislative Auditor retains authority to require more frequent audits if needed. This change directly affects smaller local governments with annual revenues below $700,000.

Maddy summarySB 1016 requires Maryland's Governor to include at least $5 million annually in the state budget for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting fiscal year 2027. This funding must continue each year until a total of $321,181,312 is appropriated to UMES, directly addressing a historical funding disparity between UMES (Maryland's 1890 land-grant institution) and the University of Maryland, College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution). The bill specifies that these funds must be supplemental (not replacing existing funding) and can be used for infrastructure, faculty investment, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The legislation aims to remediate a documented funding gap that existed from 1987 through 2020.

Maddy summarySB 526 requires Maryland counties to annually identify areas where public school students live too far from school to qualify for bus transportation and map safe walking/biking routes (with sidewalks and crosswalks) for those students. County governments must post these route reports online and construct necessary sidewalks and crosswalks to make the identified paths safe. The bill directly affects students living beyond bus service distance and county governments responsible for infrastructure. It amends Maryland law to mandate this annual reporting and infrastructure planning process, effective July 2025.

Maddy summarySB 565 (Mateo's Law) requires drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents that cause death or life-threatening injury to submit to mandatory breath and blood testing for alcohol or drug impairment. It directly affects drivers in these specific accident scenarios, removing the prior requirement for police to have reasonable suspicion of impairment before ordering testing. The bill mandates breath tests for alcohol concentration and blood tests to detect alcohol or drugs, with options for both tests. Medical personnel performing these tests are protected from civil liability for non-gross-negligent actions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 855, the Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025, establishes new safety rules for railroads operating in Maryland. It requires freight trains to have at least two crew members, limits how long trains can block grade crossings (to 5 minutes), and caps train length at 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. The bill also creates a state reporting system for hazardous materials transport by rail and mandates railroads to install wayside detectors that scan for equipment defects like overheating wheels or shifted loads. These provisions directly apply to railroad companies operating in Maryland, focusing on operational safety standards rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 430 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development and Department of Planning to annually calculate regional housing infrastructure gaps - measuring the shortage of housing units needed to achieve a 1.5 jobs-to-housing ratio in each designated region. It apportions these gaps to specific counties and cities, creating an "affirmative obligation" for jurisdictions with gaps to expedite approvals of housing projects and prohibiting denials without specific justifications. The law directly affects all Maryland counties and cities, particularly those in six defined regions (like Baltimore and Washington suburbs), by mandating state-level gap calculations and altering local housing approval processes to address housing shortages near job centers.

Maddy summarySB 726 requires cannabis licensees in Maryland to sign and maintain a "labor peace agreement" with a bona fide labor organization before their license can be renewed. This agreement prohibits strikes, picketing, or boycotts against the business. The bill defines "bona fide labor organizations" as those actively organizing cannabis workers and complying with federal labor law, and allows such groups to file protests with the Maryland Cannabis Administration if a licensee fails to maintain the agreement. It directly affects cannabis businesses seeking license renewal and labor organizations representing their workers. The law amends Maryland’s cannabis licensing code (Sections 36-101, 36-202, 36-401, and 36-411) to implement these requirements.

Maddy summarySB 494 requires Maryland state agencies managing public-private partnerships (like infrastructure projects) to consider using contractors participating in registered apprenticeship programs when selecting partners. It mandates that agencies make project-by-project decisions about this consideration before choosing a contracting method, weighing factors like labor stability, project costs, workforce development, and support for minority/women-owned businesses. The bill applies to defined "reporting agencies" (including state departments and specific universities) and focuses on ensuring projects advance state interests in skilled labor and community benefits. It does not mandate the use of apprenticeship programs but requires documented consideration of them as part of procurement decisions.

Maddy summarySB 434, the ENERGIZE Maryland Act, renames Maryland’s "renewable energy portfolio standard" to "clean energy portfolio standard" and adjusts annual clean energy requirements for utilities. It updates definitions for "qualified offshore wind projects," expands the definition of "clean energy source" to include modular nuclear reactors, and establishes new rules for nuclear energy project approvals and sales. The bill also renames the "Maryland Offshore Wind Business Development Fund" to the "Clean Energy Business Development Fund" and requires nuclear projects to distribute proceeds from energy sales. These changes directly affect energy providers, offshore wind developers, and nuclear project applicants, aiming to accelerate clean energy adoption while including minority business participation requirements.

Maddy summarySB 159 designates the American persimmon as Maryland's official state fruit, replacing the current designation. This symbolic bill makes no new regulations or funding changes; it simply updates state law to formally recognize the American persimmon. The designation takes effect October 1, 2025. This bill affects no specific groups or policies, as it is purely a ceremonial designation.