Sen. Pam Beidle

Maddy summarySB 606 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to analyze unused E-ZPass commuter trips from 2023-2025 and submit a report by September 2026. The report must include data on unused trips (numbers, costs, demographics) and recommend solutions like extending usage windows or offering rollovers to reduce forfeited funds. It also mandates a corrective action plan if over 25% of discount plans had unused trips during those years. The bill directly affects E-ZPass commuters, particularly low-income residents and those in communities with limited banking access, by addressing financial losses from unused prepaid trips. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and expires June 30, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 594 modifies Maryland's cannabis advertising rules to update restrictions on signage and audience targeting. It repeals the previous ban on building-side advertising, allowing standard dispensaries to display limited exterior signage (max 900 sq in per sign, 1,200 sq in total) for identifying the business, providing contact information, poison center details, and emergency guidance. The bill requires the Maryland Cannabis Administration to accept recent audience composition data from ad platforms for digital/online ads and establish an alternative verification method by January 2027. These changes directly affect licensed cannabis businesses, particularly dispensaries, by clarifying permitted advertising methods while maintaining prohibitions on targeting minors or using child-oriented imagery.

Maddy summarySB 741 amends Maryland's financial laws to clarify regulations for virtual currency kiosks. It expands the definition of "virtual currency kiosk operator" to include software providers enabling devices to offer virtual currency services, while explicitly excluding cash transactions tied to bank accounts (like credit or deposit services) from the definition of "virtual currency services." The bill also requires kiosks to operate solely for virtual currency transactions and prohibits them from duplicating Automated Teller Machine (ATM) functions. These changes directly affect businesses operating or enabling virtual currency kiosks, taking effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 249 modifies Maryland's tobacco licensing rules to allow existing tobacco product license holders (e.g., businesses selling cigarettes or traditional tobacco) to manufacture, distribute, or sell electronic smoking devices without obtaining a separate license or paying an additional fee. The bill repeals provisions requiring dual licensing and exempts current tobacco licensees from extra costs when expanding into e-cigarette sales. Key mechanisms include clarifying that tobacco license holders can operate as e-device manufacturers or retailers under their existing licenses, and updating definitions to include e-cigarettes and related accessories (excluding FDA-approved products or standalone batteries). This affects tobacco businesses seeking to offer e-cigarettes and streamlines oversight for the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission.

Maddy summarySB 233 allows "Descendant Community Organizations" (groups with cultural ties or ancestors buried in a cemetery) to legally challenge proposals to sell, transfer, or repurpose cemetery land. The bill requires courts to consider the cemetery's role as a permanent sacred space for honoring the dead and preserving community history when reviewing such proposals. It amends Maryland law to clarify who can bring these legal actions and what courts must evaluate. The bill directly affects cemetery owners proposing land changes and descendant groups seeking to protect burial sites. It does not change burial practices or fees but adds a legal safeguard for cemeteries facing potential sale or redevelopment.

Maddy summarySB 388, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and adjust eligibility for tax incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the Strategic Closing Fund within the Department of Commerce, alters how video lottery proceeds are distributed, and modifies rules for several tax credits - including Job Creation, Research and Development, and film production credits - to expand access for businesses and investors. Key changes include allowing pass-through entities to allocate biotechnology tax credits differently, enabling film producers to amend credit applications, and extending the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill directly affects businesses seeking economic development tax credits and state agencies managing these programs.

Maddy summarySB 415, the "Franchise Reform Act," updates Maryland’s franchise law to better protect franchisees and streamline regulation. It requires franchise registration exemptions to adjust for inflation or deflation using a specific index, shortens the time frame for franchise-related lawsuits to be filed, and prohibits franchisors from blocking franchisees from forming associations. The bill also creates a "Fast-Track Review Pilot Program" to expedite renewal applications for franchise disclosure documents. These changes directly affect franchisors (who sell franchises) and franchisees (who buy them), aiming to improve transparency and reduce barriers in franchise transactions.

Maddy summarySB 579 requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, based on guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit updated lists of their members to the county, which must then keep these records. Counties can meet this requirement by offering annual exams including cancer screenings or applying for specific grants to fund innovative screening technologies. The bill directly affects volunteer firefighters and counties, creating a structured process for access to preventive care without cost to the firefighters.

Maddy summarySB 326 expands the authority of physician assistants (PAs) in Maryland by allowing them to perform specific healthcare actions currently restricted to physicians. The bill directly affects PAs, patients requiring guardianship, inmates needing infirmary care, and mental health facilities by adding PAs to certification requirements for treatment incapacity (Section 5-606), guardianship petitions (Section 13-705), and inmate infirmary admissions (Section 9-601.1). It also requires the Maryland Department of Health to cover PA examinations for emergency evaluations and adds PAs to the Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunization. These changes aim to align PA practice with other licensed healthcare professionals in defined clinical scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers regulatory oversight of crematories and natural organic reduction facilities from Maryland's Office of Cemetery Oversight to the State Board of Morticians, Funeral Directors, and Crematories. It renames the board to explicitly include crematory oversight and modifies board procedures, allowing the governor to remove members with fewer restrictions and requiring only a simple majority vote for decisions. These changes affect cremation facilities and natural organic reduction businesses operating in Maryland, which previously fell under cemetery oversight. The bill also updates related sections of Maryland law to reflect these structural and procedural shifts.