Sen. Cory McCray

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration dates of two specific alcohol beverage licenses in Baltimore City until July 1, 2025, to allow for their transfer or renewal under new conditions. The extension applies to a license on Harford Road and another on East Fayette Street, but only if the current license holder signs an agreement with their respective local community associations. These agreements require a public input process for the transfer, restrict the new owner to selling only beer and wine for the first year, and mandate specific public safety measures such as improved lighting, noise control, and trash management. The law is set to expire automatically on July 31, 2025, without needing further legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law allows tobacco tax stamp buyers to get a refund for stamps lost due to theft, expanding previous rules that excluded theft from covered losses. To qualify, the taxpayer must submit a police report detailing the stolen items and a notarized affidavit confirming the claim is true. The law also requires that if the stolen property is later recovered, the taxpayer must return the refund and faces a fine of double the refund amount for making a false claim.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law expands a state income tax break for law enforcement officers to include those who live in areas with higher crime rates than the state average. Under the new rules, eligible officers can subtract up to $5,000 of their income from their state tax calculation if they meet specific residency and employment criteria. The bill applies to various police forces, including county and municipal officers, state units, and members of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Police Force. To determine eligibility, the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission must certify which local areas have crime rates exceeding the state average, with these certifications occurring every three years. The changes take effect for tax years starting after December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law authorizes the state to provide up to $1 million annually in grants to nonprofit organizations that offer automotive repair training to incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals. To qualify for these funds, organizations must train at least 50 people each year and be able to issue nationally recognized automotive repair certificates to participants. The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services will manage the distribution of these grants and require recipients to report how the money was used and the outcomes achieved. The program is set to run from fiscal year 2026 through 2028, with the goal of improving employment opportunities for people reentering society.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private agencies monitoring individuals released on bail or probation to immediately report specific violations to the court or the Division of Parole and Probation. The law mandates that companies notify authorities within 24 hours if a person goes missing, within one hour if monitoring equipment is tampered with, and immediately if the person enters a prohibited area. To ensure compliance, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Public Safety to impose daily civil penalties of up to $1,000 for the first day and $250 for each subsequent day of failure to report. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that people subject to this monitoring are released rather than committed to custody and establishes a new workgroup to oversee home detention practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for nonprofit organizations that maintain memorials on property owned by the State of Maryland. To qualify for this exemption, the organization must be exempt from federal taxation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), and any money raised from the sale of items must be used specifically to maintain the memorial on state-owned land. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, allowing these organizations to sell goods without paying sales tax as long as the proceeds support the upkeep of the memorial.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to submit an annual report on shootings involving juveniles under its care. The report must detail how many youths were nonfatally shot, shot someone else, or were victims of homicide, along with their ages and counties of residence. It also mandates that the department explain the specific steps taken after each incident and include a description of its standard procedures for handling such events. These reports will be sent to the Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and the Maryland General Assembly starting December 1, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 45 updates the rules for when businesses with B-D-7 licenses can sell beer, wine, and liquor in specific neighborhoods of Baltimore City. The bill changes the allowed operating hours for stores in two distinct areas, shifting the limit from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Park Heights region and redefining the boundaries for another zone where the 10 p.m. limit applies. All other locations in the city will continue to allow sales from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. the following day. This law takes effect on June 1, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 59, known as the Safe Sleep Act of 2024, requires Maryland hospitals and birthing centers to educate parents on safe infant sleep practices before discharge and to obtain written confirmation that this education occurred. The law mandates that healthcare facilities provide both oral and written resources explaining how to create a safe sleep environment, which includes using a firm mattress, avoiding soft bedding, and keeping the baby in a smoke-free area. Additionally, the bill establishes the Maryland Safe Sleep Certification Program, which will require all child care centers to be certified to ensure they follow these safety guidelines. To support these efforts, the state health department must launch a public awareness campaign and create a list of local resources that help families purchase necessary items like safe sleep sacks.

Maddy summarySB 966 amends several existing state debt authorizations to update the names of grant recipients and modify the intended uses of those funds. The bill specifically alters provisions related to local projects such as a turf field in Carroll County, an amphitheater in Prince George's County, and a medical facility in Baltimore City. These changes include correcting organizational titles, adjusting project descriptions, and extending the termination dates for certain grants. By repealing and reenacting previous legislation with these amendments, the bill ensures that the legal framework for these public works projects remains accurate and current.