Sen. Johnny Mautz

Maddy summarySB 104, the "Fair Districts for Maryland Act," reforms how Maryland draws legislative and congressional district lines. It requires all legislative districts to be divided into three single-member delegate districts and establishes an independent Redistricting Commission to create these maps, replacing the previous process involving the Governor and General Assembly. The bill bans consideration of political party affiliation, past voting patterns, or individual residences when drawing districts, and gives the Maryland Supreme Court original authority to review plans if the Commission fails to act. This directly affects all Maryland voters by changing how district boundaries are determined, aiming to create more equitable maps based on population and community boundaries rather than political strategy.

Maddy summarySB 869 increases annual licensing fees for most alcohol businesses in Dorchester County, Maryland, while creating new application and transfer fees. It raises the annual fee for a Class A beer license from $200 to $250, a Class D beer and wine license from $275 to $350, and a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license from $1,000 to $1,250. The bill also establishes a $150 non-refundable application fee for new beer/wine licenses and $200 for beer/wine/liquor licenses, plus a $50 transfer fee for license changes. These changes affect bars, restaurants, and retailers holding alcohol licenses in Dorchester County, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 740, the "SFC Matthew Fast Act for Warrior Healthcare," requires all health care facilities in Maryland to screen every patient for military connection and document whether they are a "warrior community member" (defined as a service member, veteran, spouse, child, or stepchild of military personnel) in their medical record. Facilities must identify these patients as a vulnerable population and follow The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care equity. Starting in 2026, the state health department must annually report to the Governor and legislature on meeting the needs of military-connected patients. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to improve health care equity through standardized screening and reporting.

Maddy summarySB 981 requires Maryland hospitals to provide free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and reduced-cost care to those between 200-500% FPL who face financial hardship (defined as medical debt exceeding 25% of family income over 12 months). It mandates a 75% reduction in patient costs for individuals earning 201-250% of the poverty level and prohibits hospitals from filing lawsuits to collect debts under a specified low threshold. The bill also extends the time before interest accrues on medical debt and adds requirements for hospitals to clearly explain financial assistance policies to patients. These changes directly affect low- and middle-income patients with hospital bills and hospitals operating in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 962 exempts small Maryland municipalities with annual revenues under $100,000 from annual financial audits, while allowing those with revenues between $100,000 and $250,000 to audit every four years instead of annually. It clarifies that this audit exemption does not remove the requirement for these municipalities to file annual financial reports with the state. The bill also grants the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee authority to request a review or audit if financial reports reveal irregularities, even for exempt municipalities. This change directly affects small municipalities with limited revenue, reducing their audit burden while maintaining oversight mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 376 allows counties to conduct nursing home inspections upon request, shifting this responsibility from the state health department. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health and the requesting county to share the costs of these inspections equally. It does not change existing requirements for annual inspections, unannounced visits, or complaint investigations (which remain under state oversight), but instead modifies how inspections are administered by adding county delegation as an option. This directly affects nursing homes (through potential county inspections) and counties (which gain new inspection authority).

Maddy summarySB 547 establishes a 18-member Commission to study whether pooling public employee health insurance purchasing across Maryland's State, counties, municipalities, and school boards would save costs while maintaining benefits. The Commission includes representatives from state agencies (like Budget and Management, Insurance Commissioner), local governments (counties, cities, school boards), labor unions (AFSCME, SEIU), and healthcare experts. It will analyze existing health insurance data to assess fiscal impacts and barriers to implementing a shared purchasing system. This bill creates a study group but does not change current insurance policies or require immediate action.

Maddy summarySB 407 requires Maryland's State Board of Nursing to discuss reciprocity agreements with nursing boards in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The goal is to create mutual recognition of advanced practice nursing licenses (like nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists), making it easier for these nurses to practice across state lines and improving telehealth access. The Board must report annually starting November 2025 to legislative committees on progress, challenges, and needed changes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, but does not create new licensing rules - only establishes a process for future agreements.

Maddy summarySB 374, the James "Jimmy" Malone Act, requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs in Maryland to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters - defined as those employed by state, county, or municipal entities - without copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. The bill mandates coverage aligns with guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters and applies to all health plans, including self-insured county/municipal programs and the state employee health program. It prohibits cost-sharing for these screenings, with limited exceptions for high-deductible health plans. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 795 requires Maryland state agencies and entities to include in janitorial maintenance contracts a provision mandating contractors to procure janitorial products packaged or repackaged by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) when those products are available. This applies specifically to products made, manufactured, remanufactured, or handled by BISM in packaging/repacking, directly affecting state procurement contracts and contractors for janitorial services. The law amends Maryland’s procurement code to prioritize BISM’s packaging/repacking services in eligible contracts, effective July 1, 2025. It does not mandate purchasing BISM products if unavailable but requires inclusion when feasible and accessible.