Sen. Antonio Hayes

Maddy summarySB 550 allows Baltimore City to impose a higher property tax rate on vacant or abandoned properties owned by nonprofit organizations that are no longer used for the charitable purposes for which the nonprofit was established. Specifically, it authorizes the city to create a special tax subclass for properties unused for at least three consecutive taxable years. The special rate can be up to 10 times the standard city property tax rate for these properties. This bill directly affects nonprofit organizations owning such properties, aiming to encourage their reuse or sale. It takes effect for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 4 creates the West North Avenue Development Authority to revitalize a specific corridor in Baltimore City. It defines the "West North Avenue Corridor" as the area between the 600 and 3200 blocks of West North Avenue, plus a 250-yard buffer zone, and establishes the Authority as a state instrumentality with special powers to manage development there. The bill modifies Maryland law to exempt the Authority from certain taxes, require specific financial management practices, and create a dedicated nonlapsing fund for its operations. This authority will directly affect residential and commercial development efforts within the defined corridor, aiming to address blight and stimulate economic growth. The bill focuses on structural changes to the Authority's governance and funding mechanisms, not on specific projects or outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 1008 amends Maryland's Small Business Guaranty Fund law to expand how loan guarantees can be secured, allowing them to be backed either by the state's full faith and credit or through alternative financial instruments like irrevocable letters of credit, treasurer's checks, or escrow accounts. This change aims to provide more flexibility for financial institutions offering loans to small businesses, potentially making it easier for them to participate in the program. The bill also requires the Maryland Economic Development Authority to assess whether a loan will have a substantial economic impact, considering factors like job creation and loan terms before approving guarantees. The amendment will take effect on October 1, 2025, directly affecting small businesses seeking loans and the financial institutions providing them.

Maddy summarySB 1040 (FEDERAL Jobs Act of 2025) creates an Expedited Hiring Program within Maryland's Department of Budget and Management to recruit former federal employees for state government positions. It directly affects eligible applicants who previously worked for the federal government for at least one year and left after January 15, 2025, as well as state appointing authorities responsible for filling vacancies. Key provisions require appointing authorities to fill eligible vacancies within 40 days, modify job descriptions to appeal to former federal workers, and implement marketing, applicant rating, and referral processes. The program aims to leverage federal expertise for state roles while operating under the State Personnel Management System.

Maddy summarySB 683 (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility. The bill allows Maryland to use funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to assist federal workers affected by closures, relocations, or mass layoffs of federal offices (beyond just government shutdowns). It specifically adds these new circumstances to the Fund’s purpose, enabling loans to Maryland-resident federal employees who lost pay during shutdowns *or* were terminated due to federal facility changes beyond their control. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 7-324 and 7-327) to formalize these changes, ensuring the Fund remains continuously available for these purposes.

Maddy summarySB 433 establishes the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within Maryland’s Department of Disabilities and creates the "Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative" to improve hiring, retention, and advancement of people with disabilities in state government. The office will develop employment strategies, collect data from state agencies on disability workforce outcomes, and oversee the initiative, which requires agencies to set hiring/retention goals and implement best practices. State agencies must report annually on progress and barriers to employment for people with disabilities starting in 2026. The bill does not create new benefits or entitlements but mandates policy coordination and transparency for state government employment practices.

Maddy summarySB 342, the "Voting Rights Act of 2025," prohibits counties and municipalities from using election methods that dilute or abridge voting rights for protected classes (defined as racial, color, or language minority groups under federal law). It directly affects voters in these local jurisdictions by requiring election systems to allow members of protected classes to elect candidates of their choice. The key mechanism establishes that a violation occurs if elections show "polarized voting" (where voting patterns differ between protected classes and the broader electorate) and the election method dilutes their voting strength. Courts must evaluate this using federal methodologies for enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, applying only to local county and municipal elections - not statewide contests.

Maddy summarySB 8 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program, a voluntary initiative for public school systems in Maryland to recognize student civic engagement. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, participating schools must award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" to students who pass a government assessment, earn A or B grades in U.S. history, modern world history, and American government, and complete 75 hours of community service (including at least 30 hours on a civic project). Schools may also earn a "Center of Civic Excellence" designation if 50% or more of their graduating students receive the seal. Participating school systems must submit annual reports on the program starting in 2027.

Maddy summarySB 940 updates Maryland's family planning laws to include providers who lost federal Title X funding due to service scope (e.g., abortion-related care or referrals). It requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to reimburse these providers for services, ensuring continued access to family planning care when federal funding changes. The bill also mandates that state funding must match prior total funding levels if Maryland declines Title X funds. This directly affects family planning providers previously excluded from federal programs but still offering covered services.

Maddy summarySB 490 eliminates citizenship requirements for members of certain Maryland state boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups. It replaces these requirements with a new mandate that members must "reflect the full diversity of the State to the extent practicable," affecting bodies across health, environment, labor, and public safety sectors. The bill achieves this by repealing and revising specific sections in Maryland’s code (including Business Occupations, Health, Environmental, and Public Safety laws) that previously required citizenship. Key provisions remove barriers for non-citizens to serve on these groups while requiring diversity considerations in appointments. This change applies to over 30 existing state entities as detailed in the bill’s code revisions.