Sen. Shaneka Henson

Maddy summarySB 888 modifies Anne Arundel County's alcohol licensing rules by creating an exception for businesses near schools at Annapolis Mall. It allows the county liquor board to issue Class H beer/wine or beer/wine/liq licenses (for on-sale establishments) within 1,000 feet of schools located at Annapolis Mall - previously prohibited under general rules. This change specifically applies to the Annapolis Mall area, while maintaining distance restrictions for all other schools and places of worship. The bill amends Maryland’s Alcoholic Beverages Code to clarify this exception in Sections 11-1102(d)(4)(II) and 11-1603(b)(8).

Maddy summarySB 721 allows an individual subject to an existing protective order to consent to having that order become permanent, rather than requiring a court hearing based on conviction or new abuse. It directly affects individuals already under temporary or final protective orders who choose to waive their right to contest a permanent order. The bill specifies that if consent is given, the permanent order can only include the same protections granted in the original order (e.g., no-contact or relocation requirements). It does not change the existing requirements for permanent orders based on criminal convictions or new acts of abuse. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 858 would bar individuals alleged by a public transit operator to have committed assault or caused bodily injury on a state transit service (like buses, trains, or light rail) or at a transit station from using those services for specific periods. First offenses would trigger a 30-day exclusion, second offenses 180 days, and third offenses or offenses involving weapons would result in a lifetime ban. The exclusion period can be adjusted by the Secretary of Transportation, and the bill specifies that this does not prevent prosecution for trespassing or other state laws. The bill directly affects people accused of such acts while using Maryland's state-operated transit systems. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 513 modifies notice requirements for counties and municipalities seeking to record changes to unlawfully restrictive covenants on property. These covenants are recorded restrictions that limit property ownership based on race, religion, or national origin. The bill requires government entities to provide written notice to property owners via first-class mail, newspaper publication for four weeks, courthouse posting, or official website posting at least 30 days before recording a modification. Property owners with an interest in the property can decline the change by notifying the county or municipality within 30 days of receiving the notice.

Maddy summarySB 50 renames the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau to "Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Inc." for all legal and administrative references. The bill updates specific sections of Maryland law (Article 20, Section 603) to reflect this new name, including provisions related to how hotel tax revenue is distributed. This change affects the organization itself, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (which receives separate hotel tax funds), and county/city officials who receive annual reports on fund usage. The bill does not alter funding percentages, reporting requirements, or the organization's responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 856 (Maryland Tenant Mold Protection Act) requires landlords of rental properties to provide tenants with mold prevention information at lease signing and every two years, using either a state-developed pamphlet or the EPA’s "Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home." Landlords must conduct mold assessments and remediation within 45 days of receiving written notice about mold from tenants, local housing agencies, or building occupants. The bill mandates that remediation follow industry standards and best practices while requiring landlords to maintain proper ventilation, low humidity, and compliance with housing codes. This law directly affects Maryland landlords and tenants by establishing clear, time-bound requirements for addressing mold hazards in rental units.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames Maryland's Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program to honor former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. It updates the program's official name throughout state law to "Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Program" without changing the program's structure, funding, or operations. The renaming applies to all references in Maryland's Natural Resources and State Government codes, including funding provisions and program administration details. The program - administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and focused on environmental conservation projects - remains unchanged in its purpose and implementation.

Maddy summarySB 548 modifies Maryland's child custody laws to require courts to consider additional factors when determining custody arrangements. It expands the definition of abuse to include harm to other parents, spouses, or children in the household (Section 9-101.1), mandates denial of custody to parents convicted of murder (with supervised visitation as an exception, Section 9-101.2), and adds 16 specific factors courts must weigh - including child safety from conflict/violence, developmental needs, and parental communication (Section 9-201). The bill directly affects parents involved in custody disputes, particularly those with histories of abuse or criminal convictions. These changes aim to strengthen child safety protections and provide clearer guidelines for judicial decisions.

Maddy summarySB 326 establishes confidentiality rules for peer support programs in Maryland law enforcement agencies. It requires that communications between officers and peer support specialists (trained law enforcement staff or Fraternal Order of Police members) remain private, with limited exceptions for threats of suicide, imminent harm to others, child/vulnerable adult abuse, or criminal admissions. Before any session, specialists must provide written notice of these confidentiality rules to participants. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and officers using these peer support services, ensuring their counseling discussions are protected unless specific safety or legal thresholds are met.

Maddy summarySB 722 defines "ecological restoration" in Maryland law as activities aimed at recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. The bill specifies this includes improving physical/chemical/biological processes, restoring natural functions, or protecting ecosystem resilience. It requires the Department of the Environment to update relevant regulations to either incorporate this definition or align with it. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting the Department and entities regulated under its environmental rules.