Sen. Mary-Dulany James

Maddy summarySB 745 (LEAD Act of 2026) requires Maryland police training programs to include specific modules on interacting with individuals with autism and dementia. It mandates that entrance-level and in-service training cover six key areas: locating missing persons (including wanderers), water safety searches, sensory-aware approaches, reunification, documentation, and interagency coordination. The bill directly affects all Maryland police departments and training schools by adding these requirements to their curricula. It becomes effective October 1, 2026, and amends Maryland’s Public Safety Code (Section 3-207(a)(16)(v)).

Maddy summarySB 651 establishes a legal framework for "transfer-on-death deeds" in Maryland, allowing property owners to designate beneficiaries who automatically inherit real estate upon the owner's death without probate. The bill directly affects Maryland homeowners and their named beneficiaries, providing standardized forms for creating or revoking these deeds and exempting them from property transfer taxes. Key provisions simplify recording requirements (removing tax certification needs) and allow retroactive application to certain existing life estate deeds. This change streamlines property transfer, reduces administrative hurdles, and avoids court involvement for qualifying real estate.

Maddy summarySB 776 establishes the Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children to investigate a historical detention facility in Prince George’s County that operated for over a century. The commission will research the institution’s history, identify children buried in an unmarked cemetery on its grounds (primarily African American boys who died in state care), and provide public accountability. It requires the Attorney General to chair the commission, which includes appointed members from state agencies, historical experts, community representatives, and at least one descendant of those buried. The commission must promote healing through truth-telling and community input while conducting forensic, archaeological, and historical research to the highest professional standards. This bill directly affects Maryland’s state government, descendants of those buried, and historically marginalized communities impacted by the institution’s legacy.

Maddy summarySB 516 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies to provide officers with bullet-resistant vests meeting current national safety standards (NIJ 0101.03) before assigning them to field duties - not just administrative work. Agencies must replace vests before the manufacturer’s expiration date and notify the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission if they fail to do so by the 31st day after expiration. The Commission then alerts the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, which can withhold grant funds from agencies that repeatedly miss replacement deadlines or fail to report. This law directly affects all local law enforcement agencies and their officers who perform active duties, with concrete changes to safety protocols and funding access.

Maddy summarySB 770 establishes the Maryland’s Future Board within the Department of Commerce to create a long-term economic vision for the state. The board must develop, evaluate, and revise a "Visionary Plan" by a specific deadline, focusing on future trends like AI, robotics, and equitable growth, and recommend projects to the Governor and General Assembly. It also creates a nonlapsing "Maryland’s Future Fund" where interest earnings are reinvested to support the plan. The board requires diverse membership (including entrepreneurs, academics, and community leaders) reflecting Maryland’s demographics, with appointments from the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker.

Maddy summarySB 858 establishes the Audit and Finance Compliance Unit within Maryland's Department of Budget and Management. The unit directly affects all Executive Branch state agencies by monitoring their progress in resolving audit findings from the Office of Legislative Audits. Key provisions require the unit to create a public dashboard on its website showing agency audit status (including resolution timelines and repeat findings), form a specialized team to assist agencies with four or more repeat audit issues, and report quarterly to the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. The dashboard must launch by October 1, 2027, and track corrective actions for all agencies annually.

Maddy summarySB 578 requires Maryland's Department of State Police to establish and publish approved rates for police-initiated towing services by January 2024, covering light-, medium-, and heavy-duty towing categories. It bans "per pound billing" by authorized towing companies on the Department's tow list after October 2023 and creates a new committee with industry representatives to set rates and handle complaints. The bill directly affects towing companies contracted by police, vehicle owners whose vehicles are towed, and the Department of State Police. Key provisions include standardizing pricing, prohibiting variable weight-based fees, and creating a formal process for resolving disputes over towing charges.

Maddy summarySB 8 prohibits using personal identifying information (like Social Security numbers or bank details) or AI-generated deepfakes - defined as computer images indistinguishable from real people - to cause harm, such as physical injury, emotional distress, or financial loss. It bans maliciously disclosing personal details via online services, assuming another’s identity for fraud (e.g., accessing healthcare or avoiding debt), and using devices that copy payment card data without consent. The law directly affects individuals or entities exploiting personal data or deepfakes for fraudulent gain, harassment, or harm. Victims may pursue civil lawsuits against violators, and the bill updates Maryland’s criminal law to address emerging threats from AI and deepfake technology.

Maddy summarySB 465 modifies Maryland's evidence rules to allow certain out-of-court statements in second-degree assault cases when the defendant caused the witness's unavailability through wrongdoing. It permits statements made under oath, in writing with the declarant's signature, or recorded verbatim to be admitted if the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the defendant engaged in wrongdoing to make the witness unavailable. Before admitting such a statement, the court must hold a separate hearing outside the jury's presence to verify the defendant's wrongdoing. This bill directly affects defendants charged with second-degree assault and prosecutors seeking to use specific witness statements in trial.

Maddy summarySB 221 amends Maryland's criminal code to strengthen penalties for possessing or viewing child pornography. It specifically defines "indistinguishable from an actual child" (including realistic computer-generated images) and creates two key thresholds: possessing 100+ images of minors in sexual situations or under-13 images triggers felony charges, increasing potential sentences to 10 years. The law directly affects individuals who possess, view, or distribute such images, including both actual child content and realistic digital depictions. Penalties escalate for repeat offenses or cases involving children under 13, with sentences potentially exceeding 10 years for the most severe violations.