Sen. Cory McCray

Maddy summarySB 825 increases penalties for assaulting specific Baltimore City officers by upgrading the offense to a felony. It directly affects Special Enforcement Officers (under Baltimore City Code §16-16A), Special Parking Enforcement Officers (§16-16B), and Special Traffic Enforcement Officers (§16-16C) when they are performing official duties. The bill amends Maryland’s assault statute to impose a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or a $5,000 fine (up from $2,500) for intentionally causing physical injury to these officers. This change applies to assaults that cause any impairment of physical condition (excluding minor injuries), effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 761 allows drivers to pay civil penalties from automated traffic enforcement (like red-light camera or speed camera citations) in installments through the court system. It expands existing payment plan rules to explicitly include these automated penalties, which were previously excluded from installment agreements. The bill applies to penalties totaling at least $150 that a driver certifies they cannot pay in full, requiring courts to post these options and handle address changes during the plan. This changes how courts process automated enforcement fines, making payment more flexible without altering the penalties themselves.

Maddy summarySB 724 requires Baltimore City to withhold from tax sales certain residential properties occupied by heirs of deceased owners, preventing these homes from being sold to satisfy unpaid taxes. It directly affects heirs living in inherited properties who meet eligibility criteria set by Baltimore City’s mayor and city council. The bill creates a new registry system where property owners can formally request protection from tax sales, with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation required to assist Baltimore City in establishing and maintaining this registry. This change modifies existing tax sale rules to specifically protect heir-occupied homes in Baltimore City, effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 403 requires Maryland state procurement contracts for construction and services to include specific clauses enabling fair adjustments when costs rise due to statutory changes (like new wage laws) or collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects state contractors by mandating these contract modifications to address increased compensation or benefit costs. The bill amends Maryland’s procurement code to add these requirements to all new contracts, effective October 1, 2025. This ensures contracts can be adjusted equitably without requiring renegotiation for every cost change.

Maddy summarySB 490 eliminates citizenship requirements for members of certain Maryland state boards, committees, commissions, task forces, and workgroups. It replaces these requirements with a new mandate that members must "reflect the full diversity of the State to the extent practicable," affecting bodies across health, environment, labor, and public safety sectors. The bill achieves this by repealing and revising specific sections in Maryland’s code (including Business Occupations, Health, Environmental, and Public Safety laws) that previously required citizenship. Key provisions remove barriers for non-citizens to serve on these groups while requiring diversity considerations in appointments. This change applies to over 30 existing state entities as detailed in the bill’s code revisions.

Maddy summarySB 500 increases the allowable number of speed monitoring systems on Interstate 83 in Baltimore City from two to four, making this authorization permanent. The bill amends Maryland’s Transportation Article (Section 21-809) to remove the temporary 2021 law’s expiration date (June 2026) and updates the system limit to four. Baltimore City’s governing body (the City Council) must still authorize placement through local law after a public hearing, as required by existing state law. This change directly affects drivers using I-83 in Baltimore City and the city’s traffic enforcement planning.

Maddy summarySB 501 requires Baltimore City speed monitoring system citations to include specific information about late fees. It authorizes the Baltimore Police Department to charge a late fee if drivers fail to pay the $40 civil penalty or contest liability within the timeframe set by the agency. The bill directly affects drivers cited for speed violations caught by Baltimore City's automated systems. Key provisions include adding clear late fee warnings to citations and establishing that non-payment or missed deadlines may trigger this additional charge.

Maddy summarySB 573 amends Baltimore City's charter to increase the maximum civil and criminal fine for ordinance violations from $1,000 to $10,000. This change directly affects Baltimore City authorities enforcing local ordinances and individuals or businesses subject to those ordinances. The bill modifies Section 48 of the city charter to authorize higher penalties while maintaining a 12-month maximum imprisonment limit for violations. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 289 proposes removing the requirement that Baltimore City must seek voter approval for certain debts created by the Mayor and City Council. It directly affects Baltimore City officials, eliminating the need for a majority vote at elections to authorize debt for projects like development districts. The bill replaces voter approval with a requirement that debt ordinances must either be approved by Baltimore City's representatives in the Maryland General Assembly or authorized by an act of the legislature. This change streamlines debt authorization while maintaining the existing 40-year repayment limit for city debt.

Maddy summarySB 402 increases the maximum civil penalty for speed violations recorded by cameras in Baltimore City from $40 to $60 per offense. It directly affects drivers who exceed speed limits in Baltimore City and are caught by speed monitoring systems. The bill amends Maryland law to specify this higher penalty specifically for Baltimore City violations, while keeping the $40 limit for other areas. The change applies to civil penalties assessed without an officer issuing a ticket at the time of the violation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.