Sen. Cory McCray

Maddy summarySB 283 prohibits county boards of education in Maryland from charging exam fees to students with financial need for college preparatory programs, such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Cambridge AICE. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly ban these fees, ensuring students qualifying for financial need assistance can access college readiness programs without additional costs. This directly affects low-income students enrolled in public schools who participate in these specific exam-based programs. The change removes a financial barrier to college preparatory opportunities, aligning with existing requirements that such programs be provided at no cost to students.

Maddy summarySB 370 removes criminal penalties for possessing or using drug paraphernalia (like syringes or containers) to administer controlled substances. It repeals laws that treated this as a criminal offense, replacing it with civil penalties limited to fines (up to $1,000 for first offenses) instead of jail time. The bill directly affects individuals who use or possess such items for drug administration, including those using syringes or packaging materials. Key changes include reducing maximum penalties, removing imprisonment options for most violations, and altering the legal definition of "controlled paraphernalia" to exclude common drug-use items.

Maddy summarySB 20 requires Maryland to automatically adjust annual funding for local transit systems based on inflation. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the base $80.5 million grant will increase each year by the lesser of the inflation rate (using the Consumer Price Index) or 5%, but will not decrease if inflation is flat or negative. This applies directly to all locally operated transit providers across Maryland, including city bus systems and regional services. The bill ensures funding for these essential public transportation services grows to keep pace with rising operational costs.

Maddy summarySB 324 allows counties and municipalities in Maryland to impose an admissions and amusement tax on sales of food or beverages at venues where customers consume them on-site (like restaurants or bars), but prohibits taxing certain sales (e.g., at venues with only mechanical music or radio/TV entertainment). It sets a maximum tax rate for these food and beverage sales and clarifies that this rate does not include other existing taxes. The bill directly affects local governments (as tax-imposing entities) and businesses selling qualifying food or beverages on-premises. It modifies existing tax code sections to establish these new rules and exclusions.

Maddy summaryMaryland's Senate Joint Resolution 1 formally ratifies a 1924 constitutional amendment proposal that would grant Congress authority to regulate child labor for minors under 18. This resolution completes Maryland's approval of the amendment, which requires ratification by 10 additional states to become part of the U.S. Constitution (as 28 states had ratified it by 1937). The bill corrects Maryland's 1927 rejection of the same proposal and aligns with recent state efforts to revive ratification. As a procedural ratification resolution, it does not create new child labor laws but advances the constitutional process.

Maddy summarySB 288, the "Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2025," alters how state employee collective bargaining agreements are negotiated and funded. It requires state agencies (including universities and Maryland Environmental Service) and employee representatives to use a neutral arbitrator selected from a specific panel if negotiations reach an impasse by September 15, with strict timelines for discussions starting July 1. The bill also mandates that each annual budget must include full funding for all terms in existing written agreements between the state and employee representatives. This directly affects all state employees covered by collective bargaining, as it changes the process for resolving disputes and ensures budgetary support for negotiated terms.

Maddy summarySB 97 establishes Maryland's Youth Enhancement Program within the State Department of Education to provide grants to Baltimore City-based nonprofit organizations. The program directly serves early adolescents and young adults in Baltimore City or Baltimore County who qualify for free/reduced school meals, are from historically disadvantaged groups, and face achievement barriers. Grants fund nonprofits to deliver year-round services including health/wellness, mental health support, character development, and college/career readiness during out-of-school time, with some staff previously receiving the same services. The program requires annual $1 million funding starting in 2027, mandates service reports from nonprofits, and requires the Department to submit annual progress reports to the General Assembly.

Maddy summarySB 342 modifies Maryland's renters' property tax relief program by changing how a person's assets are counted to determine eligibility. The bill specifically excludes the cash value of qualified retirement savings plans and individual retirement accounts from the list of assets used in these calculations. This change ensures that renters who have saved for retirement are not disqualified from receiving tax credits solely because of those specific savings. The update applies to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2024, and does not alter the existing income or net worth limits for the program.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill extends a sales and use tax exemption for parts and equipment used to repair, maintain, or upgrade specific aircraft until June 30, 2030. The exemption applies to planes weighing less than 12,500 pounds or heavier aircraft primarily used in interstate or foreign commerce. Additionally, the legislation removes the requirement for the state Comptroller to annually report the revenue lost from this tax break and its impact on aviation technician employment. By repealing the reporting mandate and extending the sunset date, the bill ensures the tax relief continues without needing further legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Governor of Maryland to allocate state funding for the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program. It mandates that the program receive at least $100,000 annually from fiscal years 2021 through 2024, with the amount increasing to at least $500,000 starting in fiscal year 2025 and continuing thereafter. The legislation also requires that all funds used for this program be subject to audits by the Office of Legislative Audits to ensure proper financial oversight.