Sen. Karen Young

Maddy summarySB 338 extends the timeline for a workgroup studying retirement system transfers. It pushes the report deadline from December 1, 2025, to October 1, 2026, and extends the workgroup's operational period to 2 years and 1 month (ending June 30, 2027). The workgroup, convened by the State Retirement Agency, examines processes for transferring member service between state and local retirement systems. Its findings will be submitted to specific legislative committees as required by law.

Maddy summarySB 403 exempts sales tax on in-person book fairs held at Maryland elementary and secondary schools. It applies to sales by schools, parent-teacher organizations (PTOs), or other nonprofit groups operating these events on school premises. The exemption covers sales where students, staff, or PTO members act as agents for vendors, with all net proceeds used solely for the school's educational benefit. This bill adds a new tax exemption provision (Section 11-204(b)(9)) to Maryland’s tax code, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 337 clarifies membership requirements and retirement benefits for correctional officers and specific staff in Maryland's Correctional Officers' Retirement System (CORS). It requires certain employees - such as correctional officers, security attendants at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, and related positions - to join CORS as a condition of employment. The bill also clarifies how unused sick leave accrued in previous retirement systems (like the Employees' Pension System) is counted toward CORS benefits for employees who transferred systems without transferring service credit. This ensures accurate calculation of retirement benefits based on service history and unused sick leave, directly affecting eligible CORS members in designated roles.

Maddy summarySB 724 clarifies how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated for determining cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Maryland state retirees. It specifies that the CPI value for October 2025 will be the average of the CPI for September and November 2025, used to set COLAs effective July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027. This directly affects current and future retirees in the State Retirement and Pension System by standardizing the CPI calculation method for these specific years. The bill amends existing law to clarify the CPI definition and calculation process without changing the overall COLA structure.

Maddy summarySB 385 (The Vax Act) requires Maryland’s Secretary of Health to issue evidence-based recommendations for immunizations, screenings, and preventive services, aligning with guidance from major medical organizations like the CDC and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It expands pharmacists’ authority to administer vaccines (including those recommended by CDC or the Secretary) to patients aged 3+ after completing specific training and certification, while mandating health insurers to cover these services without cost-sharing. The bill also repeals outdated pertussis-related provisions and updates reporting requirements for pharmacists. This directly affects pharmacists, health insurers, and patients seeking preventive care, aiming to improve access to vaccinations and screenings.

Maddy summarySB 262 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for teachers by adding prekindergarten teachers to the list of eligible educators who can deduct up to $250 annually for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses. The bill amends tax code sections to include prekindergarten classroom teachers employed full-time in state programs as "eligible teachers," alongside existing K-12 teachers. This deduction applies only to supplies used by students or for teaching preparation, and excludes expenses already deducted federally. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 7 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the June 30, 2030 cutoff that previously prevented new awards after that date. This change allows the scholarship to be awarded indefinitely to eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents who meet Maryland residency and educational requirements. The bill also removes restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before 2030. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition, fees, and room/board at Maryland public universities, requiring a 2.5 GPA and 5 years of full-time study. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 247 converts Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit into a direct grant program administered by the Department of Commerce. It replaces tax credits with cash grants for qualifying biotechnology companies engaged in research, development, or commercialization of biological technologies. The bill requires the Department to disburse grants within a specified timeframe and allows recipients to deduct these grants from their Maryland income tax for the same year. This change shifts the incentive from tax savings to immediate funding, directly affecting eligible biotech firms in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 328 amends Maryland’s property tax credit for disabled or fallen public safety officers by expanding eligibility. It adds disabled officers who die regardless of cause (not just duty-related deaths) to the definition of "fallen public safety officer," and removes the requirement that a dwelling must have been acquired within 10 years of the disability or death. The bill also allows the tax credit amount for new dwellings to match the original credit for a previous dwelling, and authorizes local governments to set their own acquisition timelines or eligibility limits. This directly affects disabled officers, their surviving spouses, and cohabitants who own qualifying homes, as well as county/municipal tax administrators.

Maddy summarySB 489 modifies Maryland's licensing rules for physicians trained at international medical schools. It exempts applicants who provide evidence of completing two years of postgraduate training accredited by ACGME-I or another board-recognized body from standard educational requirements. These physicians would be permitted to practice medicine only during their initial license term under mandatory supervision, as specified by the Board. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting international medical graduates meeting these specific training criteria.