Sen. Dawn Gile

Maddy summarySB 125 prohibits local governments in Maryland from enacting or enforcing laws that limit how residents can summon law enforcement or emergency services to their homes. Specifically, it bans local ordinances that establish thresholds for calls (e.g., "more than 5 calls = nuisance") or penalize property owners, tenants, or short-term rental operators for calling police or emergency services. The bill exempts short-term rentals (like Airbnb) from this prohibition but protects residential tenants and owners from fines, lease terminations, or license revocations tied to summoning help. It also allows affected individuals to defend against such local laws or seek damages if enforced. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 930 establishes Maryland’s Managed Aquifer Recharge Pilot Program, allowing the Department of the Environment to issue permits for testing treated reclaimed water (from approved facilities) to replenish groundwater. It directly affects water treatment facilities seeking to test this method and the Department, which gains authority to review, permit, and regulate these projects. Key provisions require demonstration facilities to treat reclaimed water to meet strict standards (including pathogen reduction, PFAS limits, and EPA drinking water levels) and address specific groundwater issues like saltwater intrusion anticipated within 25 years. The program is strictly a pilot to test feasibility before potential full implementation, with applicants required to evaluate alternatives to aquifer recharge.

Maddy summarySB 372, the Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025, permanently extends current rules allowing audio-only telephone calls to count as "telehealth" for reimbursement purposes under Maryland's Medicaid program and private insurers. The bill repeals the June 30, 2025, expiration date for this provision in Maryland law, making it permanent. It directly affects the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, private health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that cover telehealth services. The key change is ensuring these entities must continue reimbursing for audio-only telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person care, without requiring video technology, for covered health services.

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 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 1028 requires all gasoline-powered vessels operated on Maryland waters to have carbon monoxide warning labels affixed in conspicuous locations near both the transom and helm. This law directly affects boat operators, including recreational and commercial users, by mandating these labels as a condition of operation. The bill amends Maryland's State Boat Act to prohibit operation without these labels, effective October 1, 2025. It creates a specific, enforceable safety requirement for vessel operators without specifying additional safety outcomes or enforcement details.

Maddy summarySB 400 regulates transportation companies that move children to residential child care programs. It prohibits the use of visual impairments (like blindfolds) or physical restraints (such as handcuffs or chains) during transport, except when necessary to address an immediate serious risk of dangerous behavior with no less restrictive alternatives available. The bill also bans pickups between 9 PM and 6 AM. Individuals and the Attorney General may file civil lawsuits against violating companies, seeking injunctive relief or up to $1,000 in statutory damages for first offenses. This applies specifically to transportation companies serving residential child care programs, excluding hospitals, detention facilities, foster homes, and secure facilities.

Maddy summarySB 47 updates Maryland's Physical Therapy Act by clarifying the definition of "physical therapist assistant" to require national exam passage and board licensing. It revises the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners to include nine members (increasing from eight), with two licensed physical therapist assistants on the board (up from one), alongside five physical therapists and two consumer members. The bill also changes license renewal notices to be sent by email by default (unless a licensee requests first-class mail), updating how the board communicates with license holders. These changes directly affect physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and board members under Maryland's licensing system.

Maddy summarySB 102 amends Maryland law to include "Resilience Authorities" as a type of "public entity" eligible for insurance pooling. This change directly affects Resilience Authorities - local government-created entities focused on infrastructure resilience projects like flood protection or climate adaptation - and allows them to join existing insurance pools with other public entities. The bill updates the definition in the Insurance Article (§19-602) to explicitly list Resilience Authorities, while referencing their definition in the Local Government Article (§22-101). This expands access to shared insurance purchasing without creating new requirements, simply clarifying who qualifies under current pooling rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland public school systems to issue simultaneous bids for boys' and girls' high school sports officiating services for "similar" sports (defined as those with comparable rules, season, official count, and competition time). It prohibits schools from awarding contracts where officials for girls' sports receive different pay rates or fees than those for boys' sports in comparable events. The law applies to new procurement contracts starting July 1, 2025, with existing contracts allowed to be extended until 2029. It directly affects all local school systems purchasing officiating services for high school athletic events.