Sen. Chris West

Maddy summarySB 180 modifies Maryland's handgun permit rules for retired law enforcement officers who retired in good standing. It changes the expiration period from 2 years to 5 years after issuance and sets renewal periods at 5 years (instead of 3 years). Retired officers are also exempt from renewal fees under this provision. The bill specifically targets this group, altering their existing permit terms without affecting other permit holders.

Maddy summarySB 426, the Procurement Reform Act of 2025, reorganizes Maryland's state procurement system by giving the Chief Procurement Officer more authority to delegate tasks and manage contracts. It modifies thresholds for public notices, reports, and small business preferences, and requires contractors over a certain value to submit workforce diversity plans. The bill establishes a new preference for businesses with "good labor practices," transfers the Employment Works Program to a new office, and clarifies rules for expedited contracts and apprenticeship requirements. These changes directly affect state agencies, contractors, and small businesses participating in Maryland procurement.

Maddy summarySB 549, the "Stop Silencing Survivors Act," creates legal immunity for individuals who in good faith disclose information about alleged sexually assaultive behavior. It protects such disclosures from liability, presuming good faith unless proven otherwise (e.g., with actual malice or reckless falsehoods), and requires courts to award attorney fees to successful defenders. The bill directly affects people making disclosures (e.g., employers, schools, or colleagues reporting allegations) and those facing lawsuits over such disclosures. It amends Maryland’s Courts and Judicial Proceedings code to establish these protections, focusing on concrete legal changes rather than outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 300 creates a specific felony offense for the theft of a handgun in Maryland, separate from general theft statutes. It directly affects anyone who steals a handgun or knowingly possesses one they believe was stolen. The bill amends the criminal law to establish that stealing a handgun automatically qualifies as a felony, regardless of the handgun's value, with penalties ranging from 5 years to 20 years in prison and restitution requirements based on the handgun's value. This replaces the standard theft thresholds (like the $1,500 minimum for other property) and applies strict penalties for handgun theft.

Maddy summarySB 141 allows incarcerated individuals aged 60+ who have served 20+ years to file a motion requesting a reduced sentence. The court must hold a hearing (with options for video attendance) and consider specific factors like the person’s age, rehabilitation efforts, completion of educational programs, and whether they pose no public safety risk. A sentence reduction is only permitted if the court determines the individual isn’t a danger to the public and reducing the sentence better serves justice. The bill applies to current sentences and consecutive terms, requiring courts to document their reasoning based on the 10 listed factors before granting relief.

Maddy summarySB 332 establishes a 5-member task force to study the premature retirement of electricity generation facilities in Maryland. The task force, including members from the Environment Secretary’s office, Public Service Commission, PJM Interconnection, and industry experts, will assess cost impacts on customers, reliability risks, environmental effects, economic challenges for generators, and potential solutions by January 2026. It will not enact new policies but will provide recommendations to balance energy reliability with cleaner energy goals. The task force will conclude its work by June 2026, after which the bill expires. This is a procedural study bill with no direct regulatory changes.

Maddy summarySB 551 prohibits Maryland insurers from raising premiums, adding surcharges, or removing discounts for private passenger auto insurance policies after collisions with free-roaming wild animals when the driver was not at fault. It directly affects car insurance policyholders in Maryland who experience such non-fault accidents. The key provision amends insurance law to block insurers from treating these incidents differently than other non-fault claims. This ensures drivers cannot be penalized financially for unavoidable encounters with wildlife like deer or coyotes. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies theft of firearms as a felony in Maryland, making it punishable under existing felony theft penalties regardless of the firearm's value. It directly affects individuals who steal firearms by subjecting them to felony charges instead of potential misdemeanor charges under current law. The key mechanism is amending Maryland's theft statute (Section 7-104) to explicitly include firearms in the felony classification, removing a prior exemption that allowed firearm theft to be treated as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500.

Maddy summarySB 287 prohibits physically blocking access to or exit from religious facilities, such as places of worship, cemeteries, religious schools, or their adjacent grounds. It makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally detain, obstruct, or hinder someone’s entry or exit through physical means. The law excludes facility leaders, their agents, law enforcement, and protects free speech and labor picketing. Violators face up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill directly affects individuals who physically interfere with access to these religious spaces.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate Joint Resolution (not a bill) urging the U.S. Congress to pass federal legislation establishing a National Infrastructure Bank. It references H.R. 4052, a proposed bill that would create a $5 trillion bank to fund infrastructure projects like bridge repairs, water system upgrades, broadband expansion, and affordable housing. The resolution cites Maryland’s specific infrastructure challenges - including 1,595 bridges needing repair and aging water systems - as justification for supporting this federal approach. It does not create funding or policy changes itself, but formally requests Congress act on the referenced federal proposal.