Sen. Jack Bailey

Maddy summarySB 623 authorizes St. Mary’s County to borrow up to $71 million through general obligation bonds to fund public facilities like schools, roads, bridges, parks, and community infrastructure. The county may use these bonds to finance construction, improvements, or repairs of facilities listed in the bill, including public works projects and operational buildings. To repay the bonds, the county is required to levy annual property taxes sufficient for principal and interest payments, with the bonds and their interest exempt from state and local taxes. The bonds may mature within 30 years, and the county has full discretion over bond terms like interest rates and sale methods.

Maddy summarySB 603 authorizes an annual $350,000 appropriation starting in fiscal year 2027 for the University of Maryland, College Park’s TerpsEXCEED Program. This program provides educational and employment support specifically to students with intellectual disabilities. The funding covers direct services like academic advising, career development courses, internship coordination, and connections to disability support agencies. It aims to create sustainable support for the program’s operations and future expansion. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 363 creates a loan program allowing the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation to provide up to $250,000 in financing for oyster shucking businesses to support seasonal full-time job creation (defined as 420 hours over 12 weeks in a 3-month period). The program reduces eligibility requirements from 5 to 3 years of being a licensed seafood dealer and offers loan forgiveness based on returning oyster shells to the Chesapeake Bay or planting spat-on-shell, verified by the Department of Natural Resources. It appropriates $1 million for fiscal year 2024 to fund the program, targeting job retention and environmental restoration in Maryland's oyster industry.

Maddy summarySB 502 expands Maryland's existing property tax credit program to include judicial officers, their surviving spouses, and cohabitants - previously, the credit only covered law enforcement officers and rescue workers. The bill modifies the law to define "public safety officer" to include judicial officers and requires counties or municipalities to establish by law who qualifies as a judicial officer. It allows disabled judicial officers, their surviving spouses (if unmarried), and cohabitants to claim the credit against property taxes on their primary residence, with specific residency and disability criteria. The credit applies retroactively to qualifying individuals who met the requirements before the bill's enactment.

Maddy summarySB 186 creates a new commercial license for fishing blue and flathead catfish using trotlines in the Chesapeake Bay. It specifically prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from banning license holders from fishing in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The license requires a $15 annual fee, is valid from September 1 to August 31, and does not require a separate tidal fishing license. This bill directly affects commercial fishermen seeking to target invasive catfish species in that specific Bay area, removing regulatory barriers to their fishing activities.

Maddy summarySB 279, the "Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act," expands protections for service members and veterans by broadening definitions and regulations across Maryland law. It updates terms like "uniformed services" to cover all military personnel (not just the armed forces) and requires businesses, insurance providers, and labor laws to apply equally to all service members and veterans. Key changes include new provisions for veteran-owned small business loans, updated insurance regulations, and revised employment protections to prevent discrimination. The bill directly affects service members, veterans, and businesses operating under Maryland’s licensing and insurance rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows authorized deer hunters in Maryland to pursue and kill a deer they've wounded during legal hunting hours after hours end, provided they use only the hunting methods permitted for that specific season or permit. It directly affects licensed deer hunters who wound deer during legal time but cannot complete the harvest before closing. The law requires hunters to follow existing season/permit restrictions during post-hour pursuit and directs the Department of Natural Resources to create implementing regulations. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 394 prohibits individuals from intentionally concealing a death by failing to report it to emergency services or law enforcement, cutting up or destroying human remains, or burying/disposing of a dead body. It directly affects people who attempt to hide a death, such as in cases of homicide or accidental death. The bill adds these actions as felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison, with sentences served consecutively to other related crimes. The law aims to prevent the obstruction of death investigations by requiring timely reporting and prohibiting the alteration or disposal of remains.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes penalties for oyster fishing violations in Maryland. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to suspend (not revoke) oyster licenses for certain offenses instead of permanently removing them, with suspensions lasting up to 2 years for first violations or 10 years for repeat offenses. The bill also creates specific conditions for reinstating revoked licenses: after at least 2 years for a first offense or 10 years for a second or subsequent offense. It applies directly to oyster harvesters who hold licenses under Maryland's oyster fishery regulations. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

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.