Sen. Justin Ready

Maddy summarySB 482, the "Right to Teach Act of 2025," allows teachers in Maryland public middle and high schools to remove disruptive students from classrooms under specific conditions. Teachers may remove students who repeatedly interfere with learning (and have documented prior incidents) or exhibit unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior that significantly hinders classroom instruction. After removal, teachers must document the behavior, notify the principal, and send the student to the principal or guidance counselor. The bill prohibits county boards from disciplining teachers for following these procedures and prevents students removed under this law from being counted toward certain school reporting requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 791 increases the minimum classroom teaching time requirement for Maryland public school teachers on career ladder levels 1-3 from 60% to 80% of their working time. This change directly affects teachers pursuing or holding these career ladder levels, requiring them to spend more time in classrooms and less on non-instructional duties. The bill specifies that the remaining 20% of time must be used for activities like improving instruction, tutoring struggling students, working with high-need populations, or participating in professional development. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025, without altering the career ladder's structure or progression requirements.

Maddy summarySB 644 requires Baltimore City school resource officers to carry firearms at all times while on school premises, including before/after school hours and on non-school days. This applies specifically to Baltimore City school police officers and school resource officers assigned to schools under Maryland law. The bill amends sections of the Maryland Annotated Code to mandate this firearm requirement, replacing prior language that allowed discretion. It does not change existing training requirements for officers, which include de-escalation and bias awareness. The law directly affects Baltimore City school resource officers and their on-site safety protocols.

Maddy summarySB 557 prohibits Maryland state and local governments from imposing a vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) tax, mileage-based user fee, GPS toll, or similar tax. It also bans requiring the installation of tracking devices in privately owned vehicles to report mileage. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly block these measures under the "Transportation Freedom Act of 2025," with one exception allowing existing fuel tax agreements under Section 9-205. This directly affects state/local authorities and vehicle owners by preventing new mileage-based taxation or tracking requirements.

Maddy summarySB 528 establishes an annual tax-free day on November 11 (Veterans Day) starting in 2025, exempting sales tax on purchases made by veterans in Maryland. The bill directly affects veterans who shop on Veterans Day, requiring them to present valid identification (like a driver's license or ID card showing veteran status) to qualify for the exemption. Key provisions include defining "veteran" as someone discharged honorably from military service and mandating vendors to verify eligibility through acceptable ID. This policy change removes sales tax from qualifying purchases on Veterans Day but does not alter Maryland's general sales tax rates or apply to other days. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 531 (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025) requires law enforcement officers to consult with an attorney before questioning a child in custody. The law mandates that officers must contact either a parent/guardian-appointed attorney or the Office of the Public Defender and attempt to notify parents/guardians before interrogation, with exceptions only for immediate public safety threats or parental consent. It creates a rebuttable presumption that statements made without compliance are inadmissible in court, and requires detailed record-keeping of attorney consultations and notifications. This directly affects minors facing police questioning, law enforcement officers (including school resource officers), and the Office of the Public Defender, which must develop policies and provide attorney resources.

Maddy summarySB 565 (Mateo's Law) requires drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents that cause death or life-threatening injury to submit to mandatory breath and blood testing for alcohol or drug impairment. It directly affects drivers in these specific accident scenarios, removing the prior requirement for police to have reasonable suspicion of impairment before ordering testing. The bill mandates breath tests for alcohol concentration and blood tests to detect alcohol or drugs, with options for both tests. Medical personnel performing these tests are protected from civil liability for non-gross-negligent actions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 701 updates Maryland's definition of "cottage food product" to include nonpotentially hazardous foods (foods that don't require refrigeration to prevent spoilage) and specifically adds refrigerated baked goods like cheesecakes, custards, fruit tarts, and refrigerated pies. This change directly affects small-scale food producers who sell homemade foods from their homes or at farmers' markets, expanding the types of products they can legally sell under existing cottage food laws. The bill revises Section 21-301(b-2) of the Maryland Health Code to replace the term "nonhazardous" with "nonpotentially hazardous" and adds a new definition for "refrigerated baked goods" in Section 21-301(j-2). These modifications clarify regulatory requirements without altering sales methods (e.g., direct-to-consumer, farmers' markets, or retail stores). The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 965 requires Maryland's Department of Health to annually collect and compile anonymized cost data for birth (including complications and neonatal care), postpartum care (including mental health), pregnancy care, and abortion services from hospitals and healthcare providers. This data must be reported publicly by December 1 each year starting in 2025, including regional comparisons, cost trends, and recommendations for improving efficiency. The bill applies directly to licensed healthcare facilities and providers offering these services, while mandating strict privacy safeguards to comply with federal and state laws. The goal is to inform policy decisions about maternal and reproductive healthcare costs without including any personally identifiable information.

Maddy summarySB 836 reduces Maryland's corporate income tax rate over a five-year period, directly affecting corporations operating in Maryland that pay state income tax. It lowers the rate from 8.25% (for 2025) to 7.75% (2026-2027), then to 7.25% (2027-2028), 6.75% (2028-2029), and finally 6.25% (starting in 2029). The bill phases these changes through specific tax year ranges, with the full reduction effective July 1, 2025. This policy aims to adjust Maryland's corporate tax structure without altering the tax base or other provisions.