Sen. Chris West

Maddy summarySB 126 clarifies that Maryland trustees must provide 30 days' written notice to beneficiaries, the trust creator (if living), other trustees, and anyone who can appoint a successor when resigning. This amendment to Maryland's Trust Act (Section 14.5-705) removes ambiguity about the notice requirement, ensuring clarity for all parties involved. The bill directly affects trustees in Maryland who choose to step down from managing a trust. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 348 amends Maryland's criminal law to clarify and expand protections against surreptitious filming of people's private areas. It directly affects anyone who secretly films another person's genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast (below the areola) without consent in places where privacy is expected, such as residences, dressing rooms, or hotel rooms. Key changes include explicitly defining "private place" to include homes and adding specific examples like tanning rooms, while clarifying that "visual surveillance" covers camera use, mirrors, or direct observation. Violations are punishable by up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both, and victims gain a civil right to sue for damages and attorney fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the required methods for notifying beneficiaries when a trust is "decanted" (restructured under Maryland's existing trust decanting law). It mandates that trust managers must deliver notice via personal delivery, certified mail, or courier service, with email or fax permitted only if beneficiaries agree in writing. The law ensures beneficiaries receive proper notice of trust changes and sets procedures for revoking alternative notice methods or switching to verified delivery if initial notice fails. It directly affects trust beneficiaries and fiduciaries managing trust assets under Maryland's Estates and Trusts code.

Maddy summarySB 334 prohibits intentionally setting fires (malicious or fraudulent burning) that cause death or serious injury to firefighters. It directly affects individuals who commit such acts, making it a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill adds specific language to Maryland’s criminal code clarifying that harming firefighters during fire-related crimes carries enhanced penalties. Sentences under this law may run separately from sentences for the original fire offense. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 333 allows child victims or witnesses under age 13 to have their out-of-court statements to qualified forensic interviewers admitted as evidence in criminal or juvenile court cases involving specific offenses, including child abuse, sexual assault, or crimes of violence. The bill expands existing rules to include statements made to trained forensic interviewers (not law enforcement) employed by child advocacy centers, subject to strict conditions. For admissibility, the statement must be offered by a qualified professional, the child must testify (except in child in need of assistance cases), and the prosecutor must provide advance notice of the statement’s use. This directly affects child victims in cases under Maryland’s Criminal Law Article sections covering abuse, sexual offenses, or violent crimes. The bill does not change the standard of proof but modifies how such statements may be used in court proceedings.

Maddy summarySB 811 extends deadlines for the existing Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services. It changes the report submission deadline from December 31, 2025, to October 31, 2026, and extends the task force’s operational period until June 30, 2027 (from June 30, 2026). The bill modifies two prior laws (Chapters 936 and 937 of 2024) to adjust these timelines without creating new policies or services. This procedural change affects the task force’s schedule but does not alter the scope of reentry services planning.

Maddy summarySB 181 (Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole) requires Maryland’s Parole Commission to consider an incarcerated person’s age when deciding parole eligibility, specifically including age in the assessment of "reasonable probability" of not reoffending. It also clarifies medical parole standards, defining "chronically debilitated" (e.g., severe dementia or permanent disability) and "terminal illness," and mandates that medical parole requests include a licensed medical professional’s evaluation. The bill requires the Commission to develop procedures for reviewing such requests and allows for a direct meeting between the incarcerated person and the Commission under certain medical circumstances. This directly affects older inmates (60+) or those with serious, non-improving medical conditions who are eligible for parole.

Maddy summarySB 46 makes it a crime to illegally occupy residential property with the intent to defraud the owner, prohibiting possession or claiming rights to property you don’t legally own. Property owners can submit a sworn affidavit to their sheriff, triggering removal of the occupant unless they present evidence of lawful possession. Violations carry fines up to $2,500 or jail time (up to 1 year for repeat offenses within 2 years). The law explicitly states it does not replace existing wrongful detainer lawsuits, which remain an option for property owners.

Maddy summarySB 431, the Registered Apprenticeship Investments for a Stronger Economy (RAISE) Act, creates new programs to expand apprenticeships in Maryland. It allows the State Board of Plumbing to waive journey plumber license exams for those completing approved apprenticeships and authorizes the Secretary of Labor to waive exams for other licenses after approved training. The bill establishes the Maryland Apprenticeship Incentive Pay Per Apprentice Program, which provides payments to employers for each apprentice they train, funded by a new nonlapsing special fund. These changes directly affect apprentices, employers offering training, and licensing boards by reducing barriers to entry and incentivizing employer participation in registered apprenticeship programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exception to Maryland's armed trespass law for retired law enforcement officials who meet specific conditions. It allows retired officers (from federal, state, or local agencies in good standing) to carry concealed firearms without violating trespass laws if they: (1) display their badge or credential, (2) keep the firearm concealed under clothing, and (3) legally possess a handgun under state or federal law. The exception applies only when entering dwellings or property where permission is required under existing law. It directly affects retired law enforcement personnel seeking to carry concealed firearms in public spaces.