Sen. Johnny Mautz

Maddy summarySB 276 updates Maryland's education laws to include all uniformed services members (not just military personnel) in eligibility for educator certification. It revises definitions to clarify that "veteran" includes those discharged within one year of applying for certification, and expands "eligible spouse" to cover spouses of uniformed services members. The bill creates an expedited process for service members, veterans discharged within one year, and their spouses to obtain teaching licenses, requiring only a valid out-of-state license and meeting basic qualifications. This affects applicants for educator certificates across Maryland's public schools and aligns state law with broader federal definitions of uniformed services.

Maddy summarySB 186 creates a new commercial license for fishing blue and flathead catfish using trotlines in the Chesapeake Bay. It specifically prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from banning license holders from fishing in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The license requires a $15 annual fee, is valid from September 1 to August 31, and does not require a separate tidal fishing license. This bill directly affects commercial fishermen seeking to target invasive catfish species in that specific Bay area, removing regulatory barriers to their fishing activities.

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 792 updates Maryland's rules for expanded function dental assistants (EFDAs). It requires the State Board of Dental Examiners to approve specific educational programs for certification, including online options when appropriate, and sets clear conditions for renewing expired certifications (completing continuing education, timely application, and paying fees). The bill also mandates that continuing education programs for EFDAs must offer online courses and be provided by approved entities like dental societies or specific training programs. These changes directly affect dental assistants seeking initial certification or renewal of their licenses. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 279, the "Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act," expands protections for service members and veterans by broadening definitions and regulations across Maryland law. It updates terms like "uniformed services" to cover all military personnel (not just the armed forces) and requires businesses, insurance providers, and labor laws to apply equally to all service members and veterans. Key changes include new provisions for veteran-owned small business loans, updated insurance regulations, and revised employment protections to prevent discrimination. The bill directly affects service members, veterans, and businesses operating under Maryland’s licensing and insurance rules.

Maddy summarySB 101 prohibits individuals from standing in roadways, median dividers, or intersections in Wicomico County to solicit money or donations from vehicle occupants. This bill amends Maryland’s vehicle laws (Section 21-507(c)) to explicitly include Wicomico County in the existing prohibition, which previously applied to Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Harford, and Washington counties. The law directly affects people attempting to solicit funds from drivers at road intersections or along roadways in Wicomico County. The prohibition will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 797 exempts Dorchester County from standard notice requirements when leasing county property for terms of five years or less. Specifically, it amends Maryland law to allow the county to enter such short-term leases without publishing weekly notices in local newspapers for three weeks, as required for other property dispositions. This change applies only to Dorchester County and only to leases with five years or fewer remaining on the term. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal right for individuals to control the use of their voice or visual likeness in digital replicas (computer-generated, realistic representations). It applies to all people, living or deceased, and grants perpetual rights that don't expire at death - allowing heirs or licensees to transfer or license these rights after death. Online platforms hosting user-generated content must designate an agent to handle violation notices, and the Secretary of State must maintain records of related claims. The law explicitly excludes standard copyright uses like sampling music or remixing, focusing only on unauthorized digital replicas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors to hold a valid license from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission to install residential solar power systems. It amends the definition of "home improvement" to explicitly include solar installations (specifically, "installation of solar power system equipment that is used to generate electricity for use on the property"), making such work subject to the state's existing contractor licensing rules. The law applies to any person (excluding property owners' employees) who performs or offers to perform these installations for residential properties. The requirement will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1001 (PACE Act) prevents criminal or juvenile courts from using a defendant’s creative works - like music, poetry, art, or film - against them unless the court makes four specific findings: (1) the work was meant literally, not figuratively; (2) it directly references the crime’s facts; (3) it’s relevant to a disputed fact; and (4) no other evidence can substitute for it. The law directly affects defendants and juvenile respondents in court cases involving their creative expression. It does not apply to juvenile cases where creative works are used for mental health evaluations or diversion programs. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.