Sen. Mary Washington

Maddy summarySB 525 allows individuals with past misdemeanor convictions to petition for record expungement after completing their sentence (5 years) and those with felony convictions after 7 years. Courts may grant expungement if they find "good cause," considering factors like the crime's nature, rehabilitation progress, public safety risk, and how the conviction affects employment, housing, or education. If denied, the petition cannot be appealed, and the person must wait 3 years before reapplying for the same conviction. The bill amends Maryland's criminal procedure code and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 604 prohibits child placement agencies from denying adoption applications based on characteristics like marital status, having other children, not owning a home, or being divorced/separated. It also bans discrimination against adoptive parents or children based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or gender identity. The bill extends these protections to foster care providers, forbidding discrimination against foster parents, prospective foster parents, or children in foster care due to sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. It further requires all entities receiving funds from Maryland’s Department of Human Services - including local agencies and service providers - to avoid discrimination in services and employment based on race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other listed traits, with limited exceptions for valid reasons like criminal history or health concerns. This law aims to ensure fair access to adoption, foster care, and human services across Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 603 establishes a mandatory mattress recycling program in Maryland, requiring mattress producers and their representatives to submit stewardship plans to the Department of the Environment. The bill prohibits landfill disposal and incineration of mattresses after specific dates (with limited exceptions) and mandates an assessment on all mattresses sold in the state to fund recycling. Retailers must provide consumers with information about the program, while the Department must approve plans and oversee the Mattress Stewardship Advisory Board. This aims to divert mattresses from waste streams, aligning with Maryland’s sustainable materials management goals and modeled after successful programs in other states.

Maddy summarySB 405 changes how Maryland distributes sales tax revenue by requiring the Comptroller to pay one-third of sales tax collected from retail sales within Baltimore City directly to the City of Baltimore. This bill specifically affects Baltimore City by increasing its share of local sales tax revenue, which it will receive instead of the funds previously allocated to other state or county accounts. The key mechanism is a permanent reallocation of this specific revenue stream, effective July 1, 2026, with no other changes to tax rates or collection methods. This policy adjustment ensures Baltimore City receives a dedicated portion of tax revenue generated within its boundaries.

Maddy summarySB 421 prohibits Maryland institutions of higher education from denying students access to facilities or services due to a sickle cell disease diagnosis and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to develop an awareness campaign for schools about supporting students with sickle cell disease, create educational materials for faculty/staff, and establish a framework for institutions to assess and support affected students. The law also requires schools to publicly share their policies and reporting procedures for violations. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026, directly impacting students with sickle cell disease, higher education institutions, and state health agencies.

Maddy summarySB 217 amends Maryland’s Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund to clarify its administration and distribution. It requires the Comptroller to manage the Fund under the Office of Social Equity’s direction, mandates counties to consult with community stakeholders and hold public hearings when adjusting fund distribution plans, and updates reporting requirements. The Fund, funded by cannabis tax revenue, directly serves communities disproportionately impacted by pre-2022 cannabis enforcement, directing funds to community-based organizations for programs like behavioral health services, job training, housing, and education initiatives. It prohibits using funds for law enforcement or replacing existing local government programs, while ensuring compliance through the Office of Social Equity. These changes refine how counties allocate funds to address historical inequities tied to cannabis criminalization, as outlined in Section 1-3A-03 of the Maryland Code.

Maddy summarySB 937 requires Maryland's Energy Administration to coordinate with state agencies and neighboring states to advance new nuclear power projects, including cost-sharing agreements and federal site partnerships. It establishes a new process for approving nuclear energy generation projects and mandates that electric companies procure nuclear energy from a special fund. The bill prohibits electricity suppliers from selling power directly to large commercial/industrial customers (defined as those with 100+ megawatt demand) without using the state's transmission system. These changes directly affect electricity suppliers, nuclear developers, and large energy users by restructuring procurement, financing, and sales rules for nuclear power.

Maddy summarySB 369, the "Raymono A. Russell Act," requires public libraries in Maryland (excluding school libraries) to place an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a visible, accessible location, maintain its functionality, and ensure a staff member trained in AED use is present during all open hours starting January 1, 2026. The bill specifically includes state libraries, regional systems (like Enoch Pratt in Baltimore), and specialized libraries (e.g., for the blind or deaf), but explicitly excludes school library media programs. It also grants legal immunity to libraries and trained individuals for using AEDs under the law’s requirements. This is a direct safety mandate targeting public library operators, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summarySB 163 updates Maryland law by replacing all references to "mental hygiene" with "mental health" in specific health statutes, including funding mechanisms and administrative provisions. It directly affects existing laws governing mental health services, community-based funding (like the Mental Health Community-Based Services Fund), and facility management under the Behavioral Health Administration. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to review and revise regulations by October 2026 to ensure consistent terminology. This is a purely terminological change with no new policy or funding provisions, aimed at modernizing legal language. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 788 allows Baltimore City to issue new Class B-D-7 alcoholic beverage licenses in three specific locations within the 43rd alcoholic beverages district: the 2600 block of Huntingdon Avenue, the 2700 block of Huntingdon Avenue (for three licenses), and the 300 block of West 29th Street. To qualify, applicants must earn at least 51% of daily sales from non-liquor items (like food), sign an agreement with the Greater Remington Improvement Association, and not operate a separate liquor package sales department. This bill amends Baltimore City’s licensing rules to permit these specific licenses in areas previously restricted under the 43rd district. It directly affects businesses seeking to operate alcohol-serving establishments in those precise West Baltimore neighborhoods. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.