Sen. Jason Gallion

Maddy summarySB 2102 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an independent Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Commission, which would take over the process of drawing state legislative and congressional district maps from the General Assembly. The bill requires that all House of Delegates districts be single-member units and sets specific standards for map drawing, including prohibitions against considering political party affiliation or the residence of incumbent officeholders when creating boundaries. If the commission fails to adopt a plan or if the legislature rejects the proposed maps, the Supreme Court of Maryland would gain original jurisdiction to establish the final district plans. The legislation also mandates public hearings and transparency requirements for the redistricting process, with the constitutional changes subject to voter approval in the November 2026 general election.

Maddy summarySB 242, the Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act, allows active-duty service members and their spouses to practice in Maryland under an occupational or professional license issued by another state, without needing to meet all of Maryland’s usual licensing requirements. It also expands eligibility for veterans’ licensing benefits to include former service members who were discharged more than a certain period before applying for a license. The bill creates new provisions (Subtitle 14A) in Maryland law to streamline this process and updates definitions to clarify who qualifies under these rules. These changes directly affect military personnel, their families, and veterans seeking to work in licensed professions across Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 263 allows dependent children of active-duty military members to enroll in Maryland public schools remotely before relocating, using official military orders as proof of eligibility. It requires counties to create a free, no-physical-attendance remote registration process and to note if a child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan from their previous school. The bill ensures children with disabilities receive appropriate education without delay and permits continued enrollment through the school year even if residency changes. Military families can use temporary housing addresses (like base housing) as proof of residence. The Secretary of Veterans and Military Families must publish clear enrollment information on these procedures.

Maddy summarySB 204 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program within the State Department of Education to recognize public school students who demonstrate proficiency in civics and civic literacy. Local school systems can choose to participate, using state-developed guidelines (to be finalized by 2027-2028) to determine student eligibility. Participating schools may award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" and attach it to students' high school diplomas. The program requires annual reports from participating schools starting July 2028, and schools may collaborate with civic organizations to support implementation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

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 summaryThis bill requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to post the statewide IT master plan on its website within 6 months of a new governor's inauguration. If the department misses this deadline, it must notify the governor and specific legislative committees (including Education, Energy, and Environment committees) within 10 days, explaining the delay and providing a new posting date within 3 months. The bill focuses on transparency and accountability for the IT plan's release, with no substantive changes to IT policy.

Maddy summarySB 556 allows water and sewage disposal companies in Maryland to combine rates and costs across multiple systems they own, making billing simpler for customers. It requires the Public Service Commission to approve these rate consolidations and permits gradual rate adjustments over up to three years to avoid sudden changes. The bill also extends existing low-income assistance programs - like payment plans for customers with limited income - to these water and sewage companies. This directly affects regulated water/sewage providers and their residential customers, particularly those qualifying for income-based support. The law updates Maryland’s utility regulations to streamline operations while maintaining protections for low-income households.

Maddy summarySB 968 repeals Maryland's requirement that school buses be constructed with materials meeting the National School Transportation specifications' seat upholstery fire block test. Instead, it directs the Motor Vehicle Administration (with input from the Department) to develop new fire safety regulations for school buses. This change directly affects all school buses operating in Maryland, shifting oversight from a specific federal standard to state-developed regulations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Maryland Code, Education Article, Section 7-808.

Maddy summarySB 848 requires Maryland municipalities to submit specific election information to the State Board of Elections by set deadlines. Municipalities must provide candidate qualification requirements 6 months before candidate filing, then submit a list of qualified candidates and voting procedures/locations (including how/where to vote) one week after filing closes. The State Board must immediately post all submitted information on its website upon receipt. This bill directly affects all Maryland municipalities holding elections and aims to increase voter access to timely election details.

Maddy summarySB 243 expands existing Maryland benefits for military service members to include their spouses. It provides spouses of active-duty service members and veterans with priority enrollment at public colleges, access to community college resources (including dedicated advisors and veteran resource centers), and eligibility for senatorial and delegate scholarships. The bill also extends hiring preferences for spouses in state government roles through the Public Service Commission. These benefits apply within 15 years of the service member’s last active duty and end after the spouse’s fourth academic year. The law amends specific sections of Maryland’s education, labor, and state personnel codes to include "spouse of an eligible service member" as a qualifying status.