Sen. Mary-Dulany James

Maddy summarySB 883 establishes clear rules for liens held by towing companies that remove vehicles from privately owned parking lots. It states that a lien automatically forms when towing, recovery, storage, or notice charges are incurred, directly affecting towing companies, parking lot owners, and vehicle owners/occupants. The lien ends if the vehicle is reclaimed and charges are paid by the owner, lessee, operator, insurer, secured party, or their authorized agent. The lien is also subordinate to any pre-existing security interest on the vehicle. This law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 710, the Sergeant Patrick Keep Act, creates a new criminal misdemeanor for driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel in a criminally negligent manner - defined as failing to recognize a serious danger a reasonable person would have seen. It distinguishes criminal negligence (a new offense) from ordinary negligence (which remains a civil matter under Maryland’s transportation law). Penalties include up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine for driving negligently, and up to one year in jail or $5,000 for causing a life-threatening injury through such negligence. This law applies to all drivers and vessel operators in Maryland who act with criminal negligence, not to those who are merely negligent.

Maddy summarySB 466 prohibits caregivers, family members, or household members from knowingly taking property from vulnerable or senior adults with the intent to deprive them of it. The bill makes such exploitation a violation of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, allowing the Attorney General’s Senior and Vulnerable Adult Asset Recovery Unit to pursue civil cases for asset recovery. It also disqualifies convicted individuals from inheriting or benefiting from the victim’s estate, insurance, or property. This law directly protects vulnerable seniors and their families while strengthening enforcement through existing consumer protection and criminal justice mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 179 exempts one vehicle owned or leased by an unemployable disabled veteran with a service-connected disability from Maryland's motor vehicle registration fees. It adds this group to existing fee exemptions by amending Maryland's transportation code (Section 13-903(a)(11)). The exemption applies only to vehicles personally used by the veteran and requires the veteran to be declared unemployable due to a disability connected to military service. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible disabled veterans who qualify under this specific criterion.

Maddy summarySB 648 repeals the requirement for the Governor to approve medical parole decisions for incarcerated individuals serving life sentences. It removes a provision that previously allowed the Governor to disapprove such decisions within 180 days of receiving the Parole Commission's recommendation. The bill maintains existing medical parole criteria (e.g., chronic debilitation, no public safety risk) and all other procedural requirements, including medical evaluations, community support planning, and victim notification. This change directly affects life-sentence inmates who qualify for medical parole by streamlining the process to eliminate gubernatorial review. The bill focuses on policy implementation rather than outcome speculation.

Maddy summarySB 44 (Sherry and Christian's Law) requires individuals charged with reckless or negligent driving that causes a death to appear in court instead of paying fines upfront. It directly affects drivers convicted of causing fatal accidents through reckless or careless driving. The bill mandates court appearances and prohibits prepayment of fines, though judges may waive the appearance requirement for "good cause" after setting a court date. The law amends Maryland's transportation code to enforce these specific procedural changes for such offenses.

Maddy summarySB 545 amends Maryland's criminal code to prohibit possessing or viewing images depicting minors in sexual conduct, sadomasochistic abuse, or sexual excitement - whether actual or computer-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children under 16. It specifically targets material that looks like real children (excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings) and adds penalties: up to 5 years for first-time possession/viewing (misdemeanor) and up to 10 years for repeat offenses (felony). The bill includes exceptions for parents possessing non-exploitative images of their own children and allows a defense if someone destroys the material or reports it to police. These changes update sections 11-207, 11-208, and add new section 11-208.2 to the Maryland Annotated Code.

Maddy summarySB 783 requires Maryland public school principals to investigate every student fight or physical struggle. It prohibits school staff from disciplining students who, after such an investigation, more likely than not used reasonable force necessary to protect themselves or escape an attack. If a student was wrongly disciplined during the investigation but later determined to have used justified force, the school must expunge all disciplinary documentation from their record. The law directly affects students involved in school conflicts, school administrators, and staff responsible for discipline, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 546 changes Maryland's process for unincorporated areas seeking to become municipalities. It requires petitioners to gather signatures from at least 25% of registered voters in the proposed area (or 20% plus property owners representing 25% of the area's assessed value) within 18 months. County officials must verify petitions within 60 days, appoint a county liaison, and post verification reports online. The organizing committee must then determine the fiscal impact on residents and services within 90 days before the county can approve a referendum for incorporation. This bill directly affects unincorporated communities and county governments in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 954 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how circuit court judges are selected in Maryland, replacing their current election system with an appointment process. The Governor would appoint judges to fill vacancies, but they require Senate confirmation by majority vote (80% for a full 15-year term; majority for a temporary term subject to voter approval). Judges confirmed by less than 80% must face a voter approval vote in the next general election after one year in office, where they compete in a contested election with other qualified candidates. This bill directly affects circuit court judges and the Governor, Senate, and voters in jurisdictions where vacancies occur, but does not apply to district court judges.