Sen. Chris West

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 299 requires Maryland county boards of education to allow therapy dogs in public schools, subject to specific policies. The bill mandates that each county adopt a policy covering therapy dog certification, handler guidelines, school access rules, parent/student notifications, and accommodations for allergies or discomfort. Therapy dogs must be accompanied by a certified handler and meet defined emotional support criteria for students. This law applies directly to all public schools in Maryland, effective July 1, 2026. It establishes concrete requirements for school policies but does not specify outcomes or funding.

Maddy summarySB 381 requires Maryland county school boards to collect monthly energy usage data for all school buildings and report it to the state Interagency Commission on School Construction. The commission must then create rules for what data to collect and how often to report it, analyze the collected data, and provide specific recommendations to improve school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school boards and the state commission, aiming to make school energy use more efficient through data-driven insights. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows homeowners whose property value decreases due to an overhead transmission line built within 300 feet of their residence to sue for damages. It specifically permits property owners to recover attorney fees if they win their case and requires utilities or government entities to pay the homeowner's legal costs if a court later finds the property was overvalued during condemnation. These provisions apply to transmission line projects under Maryland's condemnation laws, amending Sections 12-104, 12-105, and 12-107 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The law aims to address compensation gaps for residential property owners affected by utility infrastructure projects.

Maddy summarySB 840 requires Maryland’s Power Plant Research Program to identify 5-10 suitable sites for new electricity generating facilities (over 3,000 megawatts total capacity) by October 2027, prioritizing locations with the highest potential generation. The Governor’s Energy Subcabinet must then assess these sites and recommend specific locations to the Maryland Stadium Authority by December 2027. The Authority must complete feasibility studies for those sites by June 2028, evaluating how each facility would provide affordable, clean energy meeting Maryland’s environmental goals and emissions standards below the PJM regional average. This bill directly affects the Stadium Authority, the Power Plant Research Program, and the Energy Subcabinet by establishing a structured planning process for future electricity infrastructure.

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 759 prohibits Maryland state agencies and local governments from restricting certain digital asset activities, including accepting digital assets as payment, using self-hosted or hardware wallets, operating blockchain nodes, or participating in digital asset staking. It clarifies that "staking as a service" (where providers operate nodes for users) is exempt from Maryland's securities registration requirements under the Maryland Securities Act. The bill does not affect existing regulations for money transmission or consumer protection enforcement. This law directly impacts digital asset users, service providers, and financial institutions operating within Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 711 amends Maryland's definition of child neglect to explicitly include the failure or refusal to provide a child with education required by law. This change directly affects parents or caregivers who have legal responsibility for a child's education but do not enroll them in school as mandated. The bill alters Section 5-701(s) of Maryland's Family Law code to add that "neglect" now encompasses this educational neglect. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2026, updating how child neglect is legally defined under Maryland law.

Maddy summarySB 919 requires Maryland homeowners associations (HOAs) with 100 or more lots to post specific documents online within 30 days of creation or receipt. These include declarations, bylaws, meeting minutes (for the past 5 years), recordings of virtual meetings (past 12 months), and other records typically available to lot owners. The bill also clarifies that HOAs may secure loans for reserve funding under certain circumstances and mandates electronic meeting notices and voting options. Smaller HOAs are not subject to the online posting requirement, which applies only to qualifying large associations. This aims to increase transparency in HOA operations through accessible digital records.

Maddy summarySB 680 reclassifies the offense of intercepting, disclosing, or using unauthorized wire, oral, or electronic communications from a felony to a misdemeanor under Maryland law. It directly affects individuals who unlawfully intercept, share, or use private communications obtained through illegal means. The bill changes the penalty from potential felony charges to a maximum of 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine for violations of Section 10-402(a). This is a straightforward penalty adjustment without altering the prohibited conduct itself. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.