Sen. Chris West

Maddy summarySB 22 establishes a 10-member Task Force to study how Maryland handles probate and fiduciary matters, such as wills, trusts, and guardianships. The Task Force, including judges, court officials, bar association members, and experts, will examine court efficiency, uniformity, and judge qualifications across Maryland’s orphans’ courts and circuit courts. It will analyze current procedures, compare practices in other states, and seek public input before making recommendations. The Task Force must report its findings to the Governor and legislature by January 1, 2026, but the bill itself does not change any laws - it only creates a study group to inform future policy.

Maddy summarySB 644 requires Baltimore City school resource officers to carry firearms at all times while on school premises, including before/after school hours and on non-school days. This applies specifically to Baltimore City school police officers and school resource officers assigned to schools under Maryland law. The bill amends sections of the Maryland Annotated Code to mandate this firearm requirement, replacing prior language that allowed discretion. It does not change existing training requirements for officers, which include de-escalation and bias awareness. The law directly affects Baltimore City school resource officers and their on-site safety protocols.

Maddy summarySB 528 establishes an annual tax-free day on November 11 (Veterans Day) starting in 2025, exempting sales tax on purchases made by veterans in Maryland. The bill directly affects veterans who shop on Veterans Day, requiring them to present valid identification (like a driver's license or ID card showing veteran status) to qualify for the exemption. Key provisions include defining "veteran" as someone discharged honorably from military service and mandating vendors to verify eligibility through acceptable ID. This policy change removes sales tax from qualifying purchases on Veterans Day but does not alter Maryland's general sales tax rates or apply to other days. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 965 requires Maryland's Department of Health to annually collect and compile anonymized cost data for birth (including complications and neonatal care), postpartum care (including mental health), pregnancy care, and abortion services from hospitals and healthcare providers. This data must be reported publicly by December 1 each year starting in 2025, including regional comparisons, cost trends, and recommendations for improving efficiency. The bill applies directly to licensed healthcare facilities and providers offering these services, while mandating strict privacy safeguards to comply with federal and state laws. The goal is to inform policy decisions about maternal and reproductive healthcare costs without including any personally identifiable information.

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 947 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to create regulations for generating stations co-located with data centers that are not connected to the state's main power grid. It directly affects data center operators seeking to build on-site power generation without grid interconnection. Key provisions define such stations as "independent resources" exempt from standard utility fees and renewable energy mandates, mandate backup power and cybersecurity safeguards, and require annual reports on energy sources, environmental impact, and contributions to state energy goals. The bill aims to establish a regulatory framework for these standalone facilities while ensuring reliability and accountability.

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 952 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to consider "grid enhancing technologies" when reviewing applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity for overhead transmission lines. These technologies include high-performance conductors and storage systems designed to improve grid capacity, efficiency, reliability, and resilience. The bill amends existing law (Section 7-207(f)) to add these considerations to the Commission's decision-making process, directly affecting utility companies seeking approval for new transmission projects. This policy change expands the Commission's evaluation criteria without altering other existing requirements for transmission line reviews.