Sen. Mary Beth Carozza

Maddy summarySB 816 increases the Maryland Public Service Commission from five to seven commissioners and establishes specific geographic residency requirements for each position. The seven commissioners must represent: Western Maryland (one commissioner), Southern Maryland (one), the Eastern Shore (one), Central Maryland (two), and the Capital Region (two). The bill requires the Commission to submit a slate of nominees for two new seats (Western and Southern Maryland) to the Governor by August 1, 2025, and changes the process for appointing the Commission's Chair from among its members. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with no retroactive application.

Maddy summarySB 836 reduces Maryland's corporate income tax rate over a five-year period, directly affecting corporations operating in Maryland that pay state income tax. It lowers the rate from 8.25% (for 2025) to 7.75% (2026-2027), then to 7.25% (2027-2028), 6.75% (2028-2029), and finally 6.25% (starting in 2029). The bill phases these changes through specific tax year ranges, with the full reduction effective July 1, 2025. This policy aims to adjust Maryland's corporate tax structure without altering the tax base or other provisions.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new transmission lines whenever specific conditions are met, such as preserving historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, or avoiding conflicts with planned residential zones. The bill expands the Commission's review to include options like using existing utility corridors, reconductoring older lines, or undergrounding existing infrastructure instead of constructing new routes. This directly affects utility companies planning new transmission projects and the Commission, which must now consider these alternatives before approving new construction. The law applies to all new transmission line projects within Maryland starting October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 675 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to conduct a detailed analysis comparing the full costs and benefits of different electricity generation sources for ratepayers. The study must evaluate three specific scenarios: current natural gas and nuclear capacity, plus 8,500 megawatts of offshore wind (with energy storage to address intermittency), and compare costs using the Levelized Full System Cost model. It specifically examines how energy storage affects reliability costs for each source and identifies the most cost-effective options. The Commission must submit findings and policy recommendations to relevant legislative committees by December 1, 2026. This analysis directly affects Maryland electricity ratepayers by informing potential future energy policy decisions based on cost comparisons.

Maddy summarySB 950 authorizes the construction, permitting, and operation of natural gas generating facilities in Maryland until the state meets 50% of its energy needs from renewable resources (including nuclear energy). Once this 50% threshold is reached, the Maryland Energy Administration must work with facility owners to decrease natural gas production at the same rate that renewable energy production increases. The bill directly affects natural gas facility owners and operators, requiring them to adjust operations as renewable energy grows. It includes specific permitting requirements (certificate of public convenience or commission approval) and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 772 expands eligibility for Maryland's Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to include veterans' dependents (spouses or children) who were eligible for Chapter 35 veterans' educational benefits under federal law. It adds a new category to the program's eligibility criteria (section (d)(2)(vii)) and simplifies verification by allowing school officials to confirm Chapter 35 eligibility if applicants cannot obtain the required federal certificate (section (f)(1)). This change directly affects dependents of veterans with service-connected disabilities who previously faced barriers proving eligibility. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or existing eligibility groups but makes the application process more accessible for this specific population.

Maddy summarySB 953 establishes a 19-member Task Force to study Maryland's electricity needs through 2040, focusing on limiting out-of-state electricity imports to 25% by 2030 and analyzing costs for ratepayers. The bill temporarily halts the Public Service Commission from approving new or expanded transmission lines from July 1, 2025, through May 1, 2026. The Task Force, including utility representatives, environmental groups, and ratepayer advocates, must report findings by December 2025, examining scenarios for energy reliability and cost. This directly affects utilities planning infrastructure, ratepayers facing potential bill changes, and state energy planners developing long-term strategies. The moratorium expires automatically on June 30, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 643 allows natural gas energy generating systems to be constructed, permitted, and operated in Maryland, subject to two requirements: obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or Commission approval for construction. The bill explicitly states the General Assembly's support for developing additional nuclear energy (including small modular reactors and nuclear-natural gas combinations) and urges PJM Interconnection to expedite grid connections for new thermal power plants. It directly affects energy developers seeking to build natural gas or nuclear facilities and the PJM grid operator. The law modifies Maryland’s public utilities code to streamline permitting for these energy sources while maintaining key regulatory approvals. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 588, the "Fairness in Girls' Sports Act," requires Maryland public and certain nonpublic high schools to explicitly designate interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams as "boys'/male/men's," "girls'/female/women's," or "coed." It prohibits male students from participating on teams designated for females and prevents governmental entities or athletic associations from penalizing schools for maintaining separate teams for students of the female sex. The bill also allows students who lose athletic opportunities due to violations to file civil lawsuits against their schools, and protects students from retaliation for reporting violations. This law directly affects high schools in Maryland that sponsor competitive sports teams and applies to all such teams designated for females.

Maddy summarySB 959 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to update the landward boundaries of wetlands on precise maps after shoreline stabilization improvements (like marsh creation) are completed. It affects landowners with tidal wetlands licenses who implement such improvements. The bill mandates these boundary updates be shown on maps at a 1-inch-to-200-feet scale. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and modifies existing wetlands statutes to clarify this process.