Sen. Charles Sydnor

Maddy summarySB 274 updates Maryland's fair housing laws to address discriminatory practices regardless of intent. It defines "discriminatory effect" as actions creating segregated housing patterns based on protected characteristics like race, disability, or sexual orientation, even without malicious intent. The bill requires housing authorities and political subdivisions to actively "affirmatively further fair housing" and prohibits practices with disparate impacts on protected groups. These changes apply to all housing providers, landlords, and government entities involved in housing decisions. The law removes intent as a defense for discriminatory housing practices, aligning enforcement with federal standards.

Maddy summarySB 661 modifies Maryland law to clarify when intercepted communications (like phone calls or texts) can be used as evidence in criminal court. It allows such evidence if: (1) at least one party was outside Maryland during the communication, (2) the interception wasn’t done by Maryland law enforcement, and (3) all parties were co-conspirators in a violent crime. For other cases, it sets strict conditions for admissibility, including requiring prosecutors to notify defendants 14 days in advance and proving the evidence is more relevant than alternatives. The bill directly affects criminal defendants, prosecutors, and law enforcement handling wiretap evidence in Maryland courts. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 689 (Bri's Law) creates a task force to study postrelease services for people leaving prison in Maryland, focusing on programs designed to prevent re-arrest. The task force, composed of legislative members, corrections officials, and state's attorneys, must examine all release types and existing post-release requirements by July 2027. It will recommend improvements to these programs based on its findings. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2028, with no further legislative action required. This study directly affects individuals transitioning from incarceration back into communities.

Maddy summarySB 464 establishes a 10-member Commission to review Maryland's current expungement laws and processes, focusing on improving efficiency and equity. The Commission includes representatives from state government (like the Public Defender and State Court Administrator), legal advocates, workforce organizations, crime victims' groups, and two individuals with criminal records currently ineligible for expungement. It must examine existing laws, compare them with other states, and propose a streamlined, broader-expungement system by December 31, 2027. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2028, without requiring further legislative action. This process directly affects how Maryland might reform its criminal record clearance system for residents.

Maddy summarySB 483 (Clean Slate Act of 2026) automatically removes certain criminal records from public view without requiring individuals to apply. It affects people with eligible misdemeanor convictions (excluding domestic violence cases and specific assaults) that are at least 7 years old, or cases where all charges were dismissed (with at least 3 years elapsed since the outcome). The law requires the Department of Public Safety and the Judiciary to expunge all currently eligible cases by July 1, 2028, and then automatically process newly qualifying cases monthly starting August 1, 2028. Expungement means permanently removing all references to the case from electronic court records and the central repository, with no need for manual redaction.

Maddy summarySB 40 changes how Baltimore County School Board members are elected by replacing the current system of seven elected members from council districts with a new system requiring seven elected members from geographically defined school board districts. Starting with the 2034 election, these districts will be redrawn after each U.S. census (beginning after the 2030 census) to ensure population equality, and the Baltimore County delegation chair must introduce redistricting legislation following each census. The bill also establishes term limits (max three consecutive terms), residency requirements for candidates, and clarifies that incumbents remain in office if district boundaries change during their term. This directly affects Baltimore County residents who vote for the school board and the elected members themselves, altering the electoral map for school governance.

Maddy summarySB 387 prohibits large food retailers (15,000+ sq ft) in Maryland from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data (like location or biometric tracking) to set prices for individual customers. It also bans using protected class data (e.g., race, gender) to deny accommodations or advantages to consumers. The bill further prevents retailers from reducing union-guaranteed employee benefits without negotiating with union representatives. These provisions aim to regulate pricing practices, prevent discriminatory data use, and protect collective bargaining agreements, with violations subject to enforcement under Maryland’s consumer protection laws.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 962 prohibits individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack from holding specific government positions. The bill applies to those convicted regardless of subsequent pardons and bars them from serving on state boards/commissions, in executive government roles, or in special appointments. Appointing authorities must immediately remove anyone violating this law. It does not apply to standing committees or committees established under Title 2 of state law. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 988 prohibits law enforcement from stopping, detaining, or arresting individuals for civil offenses (such as traffic tickets or unpaid fines) within judicial facilities (like courthouses) or within one mile of them while traveling to attend a court proceeding. Police must notify the judge beforehand and avoid disrupting court activities to stop someone for a civil matter in these areas. Evidence obtained from violating this law is inadmissible in court, and affected individuals can sue for damages or seek court orders. The Attorney General may also file lawsuits to stop ongoing violations of the law.

Maddy summarySB 992 requires large commercial and industrial electricity customers (defined as those with at least 25 megawatts of monthly demand) to register with Maryland's Public Service Commission before connecting to the power grid. The registration process mandates disclosure of interconnection plans, backup power details, water usage, and financial commitments for infrastructure development. The bill also directs the Commission to establish a Demand Response Program, allowing large customers to reduce usage during peak times to support grid stability. Additionally, it updates tax exemption rules for qualifying data centers under specific circumstances.