Sen. Johnny Mautz

Maddy summarySB 914 amends Maryland's vehicle laws by removing motorcycle riders from the legal definition of "vulnerable individual." This change specifically excludes individuals operating or riding motorcycles on roads from being considered "vulnerable" under the statute that prohibits causing serious injury or death to such individuals through traffic violations. The bill modifies Section 21-901.3 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, deleting motorcycle riders from the list of protected groups (which previously included pedestrians, cyclists, and others). The amendment does not alter penalties for causing injury or death but narrows the scope of who qualifies under this specific legal provision. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 702 streamlines the relocation process for existing behavioral health programs in Maryland. It requires the Behavioral Health Administration to adopt regulations creating an expedited approval path separate from new program applications. Key provisions include allowing programs to reuse unchanged prior documentation, granting temporary approval at new sites meeting life safety standards, and mandating clear timelines for relocations. This directly affects current behavioral health programs seeking to move locations without restarting full licensing. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates election laws to require voters to present specific proof of identity at polling places before receiving a regular ballot. To qualify, a voter must show a valid government-issued photo ID or, if that is unavailable, a non-government photo ID along with a current document like a utility bill or bank statement that lists their name and address. If a voter cannot provide the required identification, the election judge will instead issue a provisional ballot for later verification. The legislation also reinforces existing rules that prohibit anyone from suggesting how a voter should mark their ballot and restricts who can assist voters with disabilities or language barriers.

Maddy summarySB 918 would repeal the existing time restriction that limited Sunday hunting of game birds and mammals in Wicomico County to 30 minutes before sunrise until 10:30 a.m. This change would directly affect hunters on private property and public land designated for Sunday hunting in Wicomico County, allowing them to hunt beyond 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The bill specifically targets Section 10-410(a) of Maryland's Natural Resources Code, removing Wicomico County's specific time limitation while leaving hunting rules for other counties unchanged. The policy change removes a defined daily cutoff time for Sunday hunting in this county.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland's Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Natural Resources to jointly convene a temporary workgroup by June 1, 2026, to examine challenges and opportunities in the state's seafood marketing sector. The workgroup must include two Senate members, two House members, agency representatives, seafood industry stakeholders, and other necessary stakeholders. The agencies must provide staff support, and the workgroup must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2027, with no further legislative action required. It does not create new laws or funding but establishes a process for examining seafood marketing issues.

Maddy summarySB 875 establishes a 5-year pilot program for rotating oyster harvesting in four designated areas of the Chesapeake Bay, managed by Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. The program requires the Department to open different oyster bars each season, collect baseline data before opening and monitor after closing, and mandate that harvested oyster shells be replaced in the same area to support habitat restoration. This directly affects oyster harvesters in those four areas by changing seasonal harvesting access and requiring shell recycling. The policy aims to promote sustainable oyster populations through data-driven management and habitat conservation.

Maddy summarySB 701 modifies Maryland law to remove the requirement for pier builders to obtain permission from private wetlands owners under specific conditions. It directly affects owners of lighthouses or structures connected to lighthouses seeking to build piers that are entirely within private wetlands, connected only to the lighthouse, and not linked to the shore. The bill achieves this by adding Section 16-105.1 to the law, which prohibits requiring such permission for these designated piers. However, builders must still secure all necessary approvals from the Board and Department before construction begins. The change takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 911 prohibits anyone in Maryland from injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals, substances, or devices into the atmosphere to alter weather, climate, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It requires the Department of the Environment to create a public reporting system for suspected weather engineering activities and establish a process for evaluating and investigating reports in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. Violations carry fines up to $100,000 for most offenders or up to $5,000 and 5 years in prison for aircraft operators, with all fines directed to the Bay Restoration Fund. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 609 requires state procurement units and contractors to pay undisputed retention funds within 90 days after a construction project reaches substantial completion. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and state agencies like the Maryland Transportation Authority that withhold retention payments under state procurement contracts. The bill amends Maryland law to establish this 90-day deadline for undisputed retention proceeds, which are funds held as security during construction. This change applies to all state construction contracts governed by Title 17 of Maryland's Annotated Code.

Maddy summarySB 367, the Wicomico County Highway Pedestrian Safety Act, prohibits people from standing in roadways, shoulders, median dividers, or intersections in Wicomico County that the county or a local municipality has officially designated as "inherently dangerous" (meaning posing a serious injury risk that cannot be avoided with ordinary care). The law directly affects pedestrians and drivers in Wicomico County by restricting standing in these high-risk areas. Key enforcement requires police to have proper traffic signs meeting state specifications installed before issuing citations, ensuring public notice of prohibited zones. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026, and applies only to Wicomico County.