Sen. Mary Beth Carozza

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 157 establishes the Maryland Disability Service Animal Program within the Department of Disabilities. The program directly affects eligible individuals with disabilities (defined per the ADA) who need service animals trained to perform specific tasks. Key provisions include creating a dedicated fund to pay nonprofit training organizations (selected by the Department) for service animal training, referring eligible individuals to these organizations, and providing additional funding mechanisms to support program participants. The program does not cover emotional support animals, which must be individually trained to perform tasks for a disability.

Maddy summarySB 946 establishes a new permit process allowing incidental taking (unintentional harm or killing) of certain bat species in Maryland. It requires applicants, such as developers or landowners, to submit a detailed conservation plan outlining impacts, mitigation steps, funding, and alternatives considered. The Secretary of Natural Resources must then verify the taking won’t harm bat recovery, the plan is fully funded and implementable, and federal permits are secured. This directly affects entities working in areas with protected bat populations and the state agency overseeing wildlife permits.

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 summaryThis bill requires Maryland public school systems to issue simultaneous bids for boys' and girls' high school sports officiating services for "similar" sports (defined as those with comparable rules, season, official count, and competition time). It prohibits schools from awarding contracts where officials for girls' sports receive different pay rates or fees than those for boys' sports in comparable events. The law applies to new procurement contracts starting July 1, 2025, with existing contracts allowed to be extended until 2029. It directly affects all local school systems purchasing officiating services for high school athletic events.

Maddy summarySB 491 defines "honorable discharge" for Maryland state benefits to include discharges solely based on sexual orientation or gender identity, discharges related to statements/acts about orientation/identity (if prohibited at the time), or discharges tied to PTSD/TBI diagnoses or disclosed sexual trauma at VA facilities. This change directly affects veterans applying for Maryland state programs like housing, education, or employment benefits. Veterans must now submit documentation explaining their discharge basis to qualify under this expanded definition. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 309 requires Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families to create an online registry for veterans, military service members, and their families. The registry will collect basic contact information (name and email) and optional status details (such as veteran status, active duty service, or family relationship). It must provide updates on available services, benefits, and news relevant to these groups. The department must also report annual metrics on registry participation - including total users, status breakdowns, and new/removed users - to the Governor and legislature by December 31 each year. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 680 modifies continuing education requirements for Maryland real estate licensees (brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons). It increases the required hours for fair housing and ADA training from 1.5 to 2 clock hours every two years, while maintaining other existing requirements like 3-hour ethics courses and 3-hour law updates. The bill also adjusts broker supervision course requirements and clarifies substitution rules for out-of-state continuing education. These changes directly affect all licensed real estate professionals renewing their licenses in Maryland. The bill focuses on updating specific course hour mandates without altering the overall structure of continuing education rules.

Maddy summarySB 718 legalizes the 2025 Edition of the Somerset County Code of Public Local Laws and any supplements containing laws enacted by Maryland's General Assembly. This procedural bill ensures the code is recognized as official law in all state courts and by public officials, replacing prior editions. It takes effect July 1, 2025, without changing existing laws or creating new requirements. The bill directly affects Somerset County's legal documentation and enforcement processes.

Maddy summarySB 717 increases annual salaries for specific Somerset County officials: the sheriff ($85,000 to $105,000), regular county commissioners ($10,000 to $12,000), commissioners' president ($11,000 to $13,000), county roads board members ($10,000 to $12,000), and roads board president ($11,000 to $13,000). The bill amends Maryland Code sections governing these positions, specifically modifying Sections 2-333(b)(1), 2-101, and 9-104 of Somerset County's public local laws. These salary changes take effect October 1, 2025, applying to the next term of office after that date. The bill directly affects all current and future holders of these specific Somerset County elected or appointed roles.

Maddy summarySB 719 authorizes Somerset County commissioners to impose an annual property tax to fund emergency services (fire, rescue, emergency medical) for all properties subject to county property tax. It requires the county to hold a public hearing before initially imposing or increasing the tax, coinciding with the annual budget hearing, and mandates advance public notice of this hearing. The tax is collected like other county taxes, with unpaid amounts becoming a legal lien on property that accrues interest and penalties at the same rate as unpaid property taxes. Property may be sold to enforce unpaid taxes under existing county property tax laws. The bill takes effect June 1, 2025, applying to all taxable years after June 30, 2025.