Sen. Dawn Gile

Maddy summarySB 749 defines "residential retail customer" as individuals using electricity or gas at a home, excluding businesses mislabeled as residential. It requires electricity suppliers to price non-green power at or below the utility's standard offer service rate, allows consolidated billing for electricity and gas, and mandates that suppliers marketing electricity as "green" must meet a 51% renewable energy standard (or 1% above the state's portfolio standard). The bill also adds requirements for the Public Service Commission to approve green power pricing and restricts automatic renewals for green power contracts. These changes directly affect residential electricity suppliers and their customers in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 406 redefines "drug trafficking crime" in Maryland law to include misdemeanor violations of cannabis possession (specifically § 5-602(b)(1) and § 5-603(b)), not just felonies. This means individuals charged with misdemeanor cannabis offenses - like possessing quantities suggesting intent to distribute - will now be subject to firearm restrictions during those offenses. The bill adds that possessing a firearm during such a misdemeanor cannabis violation constitutes a separate felony, carrying a mandatory minimum 5-year prison sentence for a first offense. It directly affects people facing misdemeanor cannabis charges by expanding the scope of offenses triggering enhanced firearm penalties. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 958 establishes a new Class L license for manufacturers of beer, wine, and liquor in Maryland. It allows existing manufacturer license holders to sell their own products and provide free samples for on-premises consumption at their production facilities. The license requires an annual $250 fee and matches the sales hours of the underlying manufacturer’s license. This bill directly affects beverage manufacturers seeking to sell directly to customers at their production sites, not restaurants or retailers.

Maddy summarySB 563 adds crisis pregnancy clinics to Maryland’s definition of "health care provider" under confidentiality laws. This means these clinics must now follow the same medical record privacy rules as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. The bill specifically covers clinics providing pregnancy-related care, including mobile facilities, even if they’re not subject to federal HIPAA rules. It applies directly to crisis pregnancy clinics operating in Maryland, requiring them to protect patient records like other healthcare providers. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 382, the "Retire in Maryland Tax Relief Act," provides a state income tax credit for Maryland residents aged 77 or older with federal adjusted gross income under $175,000 (for individuals or certain filing statuses). The credit amount increases with age: 25% of state tax for 77-year-olds, rising to 100% for those 80 or older. Married couples filing jointly must both be 77+ to qualify for the tiered credit, and unused credit amounts cannot be carried forward to future years. The bill applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps interest rates at 6% annually on loans held by active-duty military members (or jointly with their spouses) during active service. Creditors must reduce rates to 6% and forgive excess interest charges, while recalculating payments due during service at the lower rate. Service members must provide military orders to creditors within 180 days of returning from duty to qualify. Courts may override this cap if they determine active duty did not materially affect the member's ability to pay higher interest.

Maddy summarySB 295, the "Stop Silencing Survivors Act," protects individuals who in good faith disclose information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior from liability. It establishes that such disclosures - like reporting misconduct to employers or authorities - cannot be used against the discloser in court, unless proven to be false or made with malicious intent. The bill also requires courts to award attorney fees to those successfully defending against claims that they disclosed information without good faith. It defines "sexually assaultive behavior" to include specific criminal offenses under Maryland law, such as sexual crimes, abuse of minors, or violations of federal law. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a Maryland income tax break for retirees by including retirement income from the District of Columbia. It modifies the tax code to allow Maryland residents who are retired fire, rescue, or emergency services personnel (including those who worked for DC fire/rescue organizations) to subtract up to $15,000 of that retirement income from their taxable income. The change applies to individuals aged 55 or older as of the end of the tax year. This adjustment aligns DC-based public safety retirees with existing eligibility for the state's tax subtraction benefit. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 32 modifies Maryland's property law to provide expedited procedures for landlords who are active-duty military members or their spouses. If the landlord or spouse is on active duty (and meets specific relocation/occupancy conditions), the court must schedule a hearing within 45 days of the landlord's complaint, instead of standard timelines. The bill also allows private process servers to deliver court documents if sheriff's offices fail to serve summons within 10 days. This directly affects military-connected landlords seeking to evict tenants who remain in property after lease expiration and their tenants.

Maddy summarySB 357 creates a process for Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set price limits ("upper payment limits") on prescription drugs causing affordability challenges for Marylanders. The Board must consider costs like administration and delivery when setting limits, and must reconsider or suspend limits if a drug faces a shortage (defined as appearing on the federal shortage list or determined by the Board). The bill prohibits applying these limits to drugs on federal shortage lists, Medicare Part C/D reimbursements, or pharmacy dispensing fees. This directly affects all Maryland residents using prescription drugs, insurers, and health plans through changes to how drug costs are managed in the state.