Sen. William Folden

Maddy summarySB 222 establishes strict qualifications for individuals appointed by Maryland courts to conduct child custody evaluations. It requires custody evaluators to be licensed professionals (such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or marriage and family therapists) with specific training and experience in areas like child development, domestic violence, trauma, and family dynamics. The bill mandates completion of court-approved training, ongoing continuing education, and demonstrated expertise in key topics before appointment. Courts may only waive these requirements for existing court employees with at least 14 years of prior experience who complete additional training. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 679, the "Vincent Anthony Fisher III Act," allows certain individuals to request a reduction in their prison sentence. It applies to people convicted as adults for offenses committed when they were minors (before October 1, 2021) and imprisoned for at least 20 years, or those convicted between ages 18-24 (not life without parole, not sex offenders, and not convicted of specific violent crimes like murder of first responders or hate crimes) with 20+ years served. The bill requires a court hearing where the person must show they are not a public danger and that a reduced sentence serves justice, considering factors like their age at the offense, rehabilitation efforts, victim input, and family circumstances. The court must consider these factors before deciding whether to shorten the prison term.

Maddy summarySB 436 creates a legal pathway for minors convicted as adults in Maryland to be transferred to juvenile court under specific circumstances. It requires courts to transfer a minor to juvenile court if they have clear and convincing evidence the victim of the minor's offense previously committed a sex crime or human trafficking act against the minor within three months before the offense. If transferred, the juvenile court must then determine an appropriate juvenile disposition. This bill directly affects minors convicted as adults who are victims of recent sexual abuse or trafficking by the person they harmed, modifying sentencing rules to prioritize juvenile court oversight in these cases.

Maddy summarySB 144 modifies Maryland's Public Information Act to clarify that certain records of elected officials (like misconduct investigation records) are not considered "personnel records" and thus subject to public disclosure. It also establishes specific conditions under which records of the State Ethics Commission and Joint Ethics Committee become publicly accessible, such as when an elected official consents or the committee votes to release them. The bill directly affects elected officials, the public seeking transparency, and ethics oversight bodies by changing access rules for sensitive records. Key provisions include removing confidentiality for ethics-related complaints when consent is given and requiring the Joint Ethics Committee to disclose certain conflict-of-interest forms. These changes aim to balance privacy concerns with public access to government ethics processes.

Maddy summarySB 991 requires Maryland government agencies to allow inspectors general (IGs) created under state or local law to inspect public records when state law authorizes their access and they need the records for their duties. The bill specifies that agencies must permit this access unless the records are legally privileged or confidential. It also restricts how IGs can share any public records they receive under this provision. This bill directly affects state and local IG offices and the agencies that must comply with their record requests, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 329 (Opting in on Opportunity Act) requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to certify nonprofit organizations as scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) if they meet specific criteria, such as being organized under Maryland law and providing scholarships to eligible students. It mandates the Department to annually submit a list of certified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury starting in 2027 and directs the Comptroller to provide online guidance helping taxpayers claim federal tax credits for donations to these SGOs. The bill directly affects nonprofit scholarship organizations seeking certification and Maryland taxpayers who contribute to them. Key provisions include standardized certification rules, annual reporting requirements, and public reporting of scholarship data (e.g., numbers awarded, amounts, schools attended). It aims to align Maryland’s process with the federal tax credit program under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code.

Maddy summarySB 896 updates Maryland's vehicle registration fee structure for multiple vehicle classes, directly affecting all vehicle owners in the state. It increases annual fees for passenger cars (e.g., from $50.50 to $80.50 for lighter vehicles after July 2025), for-hire vehicles (e.g., rideshares from $150 to $180), ambulances/funeral vehicles (from $100 to $130), and motorcycles (from $35 to $65). Truck fees are revised based on gross weight, with a new $63.75 base fee for smaller trucks under 7,000 lbs and updated rates for construction vehicles. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 677 modifies Maryland's requirements for handgun permit applicants by increasing the mandatory firearms training course duration. It requires a minimum of 16 hours of in-person instruction for new applicants (up from 8 hours) and maintains 8 hours for renewals, both including specific classroom content. The training must cover state and federal firearm laws, safe storage, prohibited possession scenarios, self-defense, and locations where firearms are banned. This directly affects individuals applying for or renewing handgun permits in Maryland. The bill does not change other permit criteria like age, criminal history, or background checks.

Maddy summarySB 716 amends Maryland law to expand the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include special police officers for the Maryland Judiciary. It requires the State's Attorney to investigate and recommend to a court before a statement of charges can be filed against law enforcement officers, emergency services personnel, or child welfare workers for crimes committed while performing their duties. The bill mandates that such applications must be immediately forwarded to the State's Attorney, who must then investigate and provide a recommendation to the District Court Commissioner before charges proceed. This change applies to cases filed on or after October 1, 2026, and does not affect the State's Attorney's authority to file formal charges or convene a grand jury.

Maddy summarySB 718 creates a new "Class L" permit in Frederick County for alcohol manufacturers. It allows businesses with a manufacturer's license and either a Class DBR brewery license or Class DDS distillery permit to sell beer, wine, and liquor by the glass for on-premises consumption. The permit includes specific tasting limits (e.g., 6 ounces of beer or wine per visit, 1.5 ounces of liquor), requires compliance with alcohol awareness training, and carries a $250 annual fee. The bill modifies Maryland's alcohol laws to establish this permit type, effective July 1, 2026.