Sen. Jack Bailey

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies theft of firearms as a felony in Maryland, making it punishable under existing felony theft penalties regardless of the firearm's value. It directly affects individuals who steal firearms by subjecting them to felony charges instead of potential misdemeanor charges under current law. The key mechanism is amending Maryland's theft statute (Section 7-104) to explicitly include firearms in the felony classification, removing a prior exemption that allowed firearm theft to be treated as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500.

Maddy summarySB 325 modifies Maryland's tax credit program for employers hiring apprentices. It removes a requirement that apprentices earn at least 50% of the prevailing wage (previously in section 10-742(a)(iii)), making it easier for employers to qualify for the credit. The bill also extends the period during which the credit remains available. This affects Maryland employers who hire apprentices in registered programs, allowing them to claim a $1,000 credit per youth apprentice or $3,000 per non-youth apprentice (with a $15,000 annual limit per employer). The changes aim to support apprenticeship hiring without altering the credit amounts or application process.

Maddy summarySB 87 expands Maryland's annual juvenile survey for striped bass or rockfish by requiring the Department of Natural Resources to add sampling sites in the central Chesapeake Bay region. Specifically, it mandates conducting surveys at 12-20 locations across seven designated waterways (including the Severn, Chester, and Miles Rivers) in addition to existing northern and southern sites. The bill directly affects the Department of Natural Resources, which must implement these new survey requirements starting June 1, 2025. This change aims to improve data collection on juvenile fish populations across the entire Chesapeake Bay, supporting science-based fisheries management.

Maddy summarySB 112 makes it illegal to intentionally cause physical injury to a sports official (umpire, referee, or judge) while they are officiating a sporting event. This specifically adds sports officials to the list of protected individuals under Maryland’s second-degree assault law, classifying such assaults as misdemeanors (not felonies, unlike assaults against police or first responders). The bill also allows police to make warrantless arrests for this specific assault type if they have probable cause. It amends Maryland’s Criminal Law Article § 3-203(c)(2)(IV) and Criminal Procedure Article § 2-203(b)(12) to implement these changes. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state income tax credit for Maryland residents aged 85 or older with adjusted gross income under $100,000 (single) or $200,000 (joint filers). It allows a credit equal to 100% of eligible long-term care insurance premiums paid for the taxpayer, spouse, parents, or children, capped at 15% of premiums or $1,500 per covered individual. The credit cannot be claimed for individuals covered by pre-2005 policies or for prior years, and unused credit amounts cannot be carried forward. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and requires annual reporting on claim numbers and program impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Maryland's tax break for retired public safety workers from $15,000 to $20,000 annually. It applies to retired correctional officers, law enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel (fire, rescue, EMTs) who are at least 55 years old during the tax year. The change reduces taxable income for retirement earnings specifically tied to their public safety careers. The new $20,000 limit takes effect July 1, 2025, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal framework for religious corporations belonging to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Washington by repealing outdated laws and establishing new rules for their governance. It clarifies that these parishes must adopt bylaws to manage their affairs while remaining subject to the church's national constitution and canons, with specific protections for older parishes that have unique historical charters. The legislation also requires the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to report on the impact of these changes and allows the state to officially record incorporation certificates for these religious groups upon request. Finally, the bill formally recognizes the legal existence of numerous specific parishes within the diocese, ensuring their status as corporate bodies is acknowledged for all official purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland's county mental health advisory committees by adding a specific category for individuals with experience in military or veteran mental health care. It requires that at least one voting member on these committees be selected from a pool that includes people who have received mental health services, parents of individuals with mental disorders, and now, those with military mental health experience. The legislation also clarifies the composition of these committees to ensure representation from various community groups, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services agencies. These changes aim to broaden the perspective of the committees to better address the unique mental health needs of veterans and service members within their counties.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill extends a sales and use tax exemption for parts and equipment used to repair, maintain, or upgrade specific aircraft until June 30, 2030. The exemption applies to planes weighing less than 12,500 pounds or heavier aircraft primarily used in interstate or foreign commerce. Additionally, the legislation removes the requirement for the state Comptroller to annually report the revenue lost from this tax break and its impact on aviation technician employment. By repealing the reporting mandate and extending the sunset date, the bill ensures the tax relief continues without needing further legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Governor of Maryland to allocate state funding for the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program. It mandates that the program receive at least $100,000 annually from fiscal years 2021 through 2024, with the amount increasing to at least $500,000 starting in fiscal year 2025 and continuing thereafter. The legislation also requires that all funds used for this program be subject to audits by the Office of Legislative Audits to ensure proper financial oversight.