Sen. Steve Hershey

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 774 modifies Maryland's property tax valuation rules for rural broadband service providers. It requires the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to use only actual operating income (not projected earnings) when valuing their property under the income approach, and to reduce property value by any government subsidies or tax credits received under the replacement cost approach. This change directly affects rural broadband companies by potentially lowering their property tax burden. The bill ensures these providers are taxed based on real operational income and government benefits received, rather than full market value.

Maddy summarySB 844 amends Maryland's storage lien laws to strengthen notice requirements before self-service storage operators can sell a customer's stored property. It directly affects storage facility operators (who must follow new notice rules) and customers (who receive clearer warnings before their belongings are sold). Key provisions require operators to provide written notice detailing charges and a 14-day payment deadline via hand delivery, verified mail, or email (with strict prior consent for email), plus a second notice by mail if email isn't confirmed. The bill also mandates 3 days of public advertising for sales through local newspapers, email, or online. These changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 561) exempts unclaimed capital credits from Maryland's abandoned property rules for electric cooperatives. Specifically, it defines "nonescheat capital credits" as funds due to past members (unclaimed for at least 5 years after retirement) and prevents cooperatives from turning these funds over to the state. Cooperatives may only use these funds to assist current members or make approved charitable donations, not for general operations. It directly affects Maryland electric cooperatives and their past members whose unclaimed credits meet the 5-year threshold.

Maddy summarySB 843 adjusts the local cost-share requirement for school construction projects in Maryland counties meeting specific criteria. It reduces the county's local contribution (e.g., from 50% to a lower percentage) and increases state funding for projects in counties with: 1) Bottom-quartile median household income and a 50/50 cost-share formula, 2) Over 50% of students qualifying for free/reduced meals (with all schools in USDA Community Eligibility), or 3) Projects at schools with high poverty concentration (80%+), high facility ratings, or net-zero building goals. This directly affects school districts in qualifying counties by lowering their financial burden for construction projects.

Maddy summarySB 878 repeals Maryland’s current ban on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production, authorizing the activity for the first time. It directly affects oil and gas companies seeking to operate in Maryland by allowing them to conduct hydraulic fracturing under new regulations. The bill requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to adopt specific rules governing how fracturing is conducted, including safety and environmental protections. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, replacing the existing prohibition with a regulated authorization framework.

Maddy summarySB 1034 proposes constitutional amendments to change how the Governor and legislature handle budget vetoes. It removes the Governor's authority to veto most budget items, allowing vetoes only for executive department appropriations that the legislature increased. If the legislature overrides such a veto with a 3/5 vote, the item reverts to the original legislative version and becomes law immediately. This directly affects budget negotiations between the Governor and General Assembly, specifically altering the process for approving or rejecting state spending.

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 482, the "Right to Teach Act of 2025," allows teachers in Maryland public middle and high schools to remove disruptive students from classrooms under specific conditions. Teachers may remove students who repeatedly interfere with learning (and have documented prior incidents) or exhibit unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior that significantly hinders classroom instruction. After removal, teachers must document the behavior, notify the principal, and send the student to the principal or guidance counselor. The bill prohibits county boards from disciplining teachers for following these procedures and prevents students removed under this law from being counted toward certain school reporting requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 791 increases the minimum classroom teaching time requirement for Maryland public school teachers on career ladder levels 1-3 from 60% to 80% of their working time. This change directly affects teachers pursuing or holding these career ladder levels, requiring them to spend more time in classrooms and less on non-instructional duties. The bill specifies that the remaining 20% of time must be used for activities like improving instruction, tutoring struggling students, working with high-need populations, or participating in professional development. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025, without altering the career ladder's structure or progression requirements.