Sen. Mary Washington

Maddy summarySB 313 requires Maryland's State Board of Elections, working with local election boards, to conduct risk-limiting audits after every statewide election instead of the previous manual audit requirement. These audits use statistical methods to verify election results by examining a statistically significant sample of votes, focusing on at least one statewide contest and one local contest per county. The bill also allows but does not require an automated software audit of electronic ballot images after statewide elections. This change directly affects election officials responsible for post-election verification and aims to improve the accuracy verification process for statewide election results.

Maddy summarySB 354 establishes a Maryland Inventory of Cemeteries and Burial Sites Workgroup to study how to create a statewide cemetery inventory system. The workgroup, including representatives from historical trusts, cemetery oversight, cultural commissions, preservation groups, and local communities, will standardize cemetery definitions, review current documentation practices, and study systems in other states. It will evaluate existing local inventories, recommend data categories and maintenance methods, identify the best entity to manage the system, and propose funding options for a state system starting in 2027. The workgroup must submit its recommendations to the Governor and legislature by December 1, 2025, and the bill expires June 30, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 365 creates a "Nonprofit Organizations Navigator" position within Maryland's Department of Commerce to help nonprofits access state grant programs. The navigator provides direct technical assistance to nonprofits, resolves bureaucratic hurdles in grant applications, and shares information about federal, state, and local grant opportunities. This position also serves as a nonvoting member on the Maryland Efficient Grant Application Council, representing nonprofit interests in council discussions. The bill directly affects nonprofits seeking state funding by streamlining their access to grant resources and improving coordination with state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 894 shifts administration of Maryland's Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund from the Comptroller to the Office of Social Equity. It removes requirements for the Office to report annually on fund allocations and solicit public input, while adding new duties like overseeing fund distribution, training recipients, and requiring counties to create plans for distributing funds to community-based organizations. The bill establishes a Community Reinvestment and Repair Advisory Board and limits administrative costs for managing the fund. These changes directly affect counties, community organizations receiving funds, and the Office of Social Equity, streamlining oversight without altering the fund's core purpose.

Maddy summarySB 891 requires counties and municipalities to adopt local laws allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary homes on single-family zoned lots - by a set deadline. It sets specific rules for zoning permits, development fees, parking requirements, and prohibits utilities from charging extra fees for ADU connections. The bill also blocks property transfer agreements from restricting ADU development and lets homeowners associations treat ADUs as separate lots for voting and fees. This directly affects homeowners seeking to build ADUs, local governments required to update zoning, and homeowners associations managing community rules. The law aims to expand housing options by removing barriers to ADU construction on single-family residential land.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal structure in Maryland for "limited worker cooperative associations," allowing employee-owned businesses where workers democratically control operations. It establishes specific rules for forming, governing, converting, and dissolving these cooperatives, requiring a "cooperative agreement" as part of their governing documents. The bill adjusts fees to align with other business entities, including a $25 fee for reserving a cooperative name and a $300 annual report fee. This directly affects workers and businesses in Maryland seeking to establish or convert to a worker cooperative model.

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 summarySB 130 requires all Maryland county school boards to create and enforce a policy banning student use of cellular devices (including smartphones and tablets) during instructional time, defined as the school day except lunch. The policy must mandate secure storage of devices and include disciplinary measures for violations, while allowing exceptions for students with documented health needs, IEP/504 accommodations, or educator-directed educational use. It affects all public school students, parents, and school staff in Maryland’s 24 county school districts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all county boards of education.

Maddy summarySB 632 (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act) requires Maryland to establish a dedicated facility for female incarcerated individuals eligible for prerelease, located in Baltimore City on at least 3 acres to serve the zip codes with the highest release rates. The bill mandates the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide comprehensive support services - including education, vocational training, family reunification programs, trauma-informed healthcare, housing assistance, and job placement - tailored to women’s needs. It sets deadlines for facility planning (by December 2025), construction (by July 2026), and operation (by 2027), with reporting requirements to the Governor and legislature. The law directly affects female inmates in prerelease status and aims to improve reentry outcomes through structured, gender-responsive programming.

Maddy summarySB 1040 (FEDERAL Jobs Act of 2025) creates an Expedited Hiring Program within Maryland's Department of Budget and Management to recruit former federal employees for state government positions. It directly affects eligible applicants who previously worked for the federal government for at least one year and left after January 15, 2025, as well as state appointing authorities responsible for filling vacancies. Key provisions require appointing authorities to fill eligible vacancies within 40 days, modify job descriptions to appeal to former federal workers, and implement marketing, applicant rating, and referral processes. The program aims to leverage federal expertise for state roles while operating under the State Personnel Management System.