Sen. Johnny Salling

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits denying a person the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm solely because they are authorized to use medical cannabis under Maryland law. It directly affects medical cannabis patients who previously faced potential firearm restrictions based on their legal medical use. The key provision amends Maryland's laws to explicitly state that medical cannabis authorization cannot be the sole reason for denying firearm rights. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all firearm-related decisions under Maryland's Public Safety Article.

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 532 allows Maryland police officers who are denied rights under disciplinary procedures to seek a court order requiring their law enforcement agency to explain why the right shouldn't be granted. It directly affects officers employed by countywide, local, statewide, or bicounty agencies facing disciplinary actions. The bill creates a new step: officers can apply to a specific circuit court (county-based for local agencies, Anne Arundel County for statewide agencies) *before* a disciplinary hearing. This provides officers a legal avenue to challenge denials of their rights earlier in the process. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, directly affecting job applicants and current staff. It bans hiring for offenses including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, child abuse, and sexual offenses against minors (as listed in Section 1(A)). An exception allows hiring if a conviction was reversed or vacated (Section 1(B)). The law takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to protect youth in state care by restricting employment for individuals with certain criminal histories.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to evaluate alternatives to building new transmission lines whenever specific conditions are met, such as preserving historical, environmental, or agricultural areas, or avoiding conflicts with planned residential zones. The bill expands the Commission's review to include options like using existing utility corridors, reconductoring older lines, or undergrounding existing infrastructure instead of constructing new routes. This directly affects utility companies planning new transmission projects and the Commission, which must now consider these alternatives before approving new construction. The law applies to all new transmission line projects within Maryland starting October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 772 expands eligibility for Maryland's Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to include veterans' dependents (spouses or children) who were eligible for Chapter 35 veterans' educational benefits under federal law. It adds a new category to the program's eligibility criteria (section (d)(2)(vii)) and simplifies verification by allowing school officials to confirm Chapter 35 eligibility if applicants cannot obtain the required federal certificate (section (f)(1)). This change directly affects dependents of veterans with service-connected disabilities who previously faced barriers proving eligibility. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or existing eligibility groups but makes the application process more accessible for this specific population.

Maddy summarySB 643 allows natural gas energy generating systems to be constructed, permitted, and operated in Maryland, subject to two requirements: obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or Commission approval for construction. The bill explicitly states the General Assembly's support for developing additional nuclear energy (including small modular reactors and nuclear-natural gas combinations) and urges PJM Interconnection to expedite grid connections for new thermal power plants. It directly affects energy developers seeking to build natural gas or nuclear facilities and the PJM grid operator. The law modifies Maryland’s public utilities code to streamline permitting for these energy sources while maintaining key regulatory approvals. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 933 prohibits knowingly causing another person to ingest an abortion-inducing drug when the person knows or believes the other is pregnant and does so without consent, through fraud/coercion, or through force/threat of force. It directly affects individuals who coerce others into taking such medication, defining "abortion-inducing drug" as any substance designed to induce abortion. The bill amends Maryland’s criminal code to classify violations as a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 661, the "Protect Maryland Farm Lands Act," changes how farmland is compensated when taken through eminent domain. It requires the fair market value of agricultural property actively used for farming to be set at 350% of the highest appraisal value, instead of standard market value. This directly affects Maryland farmers whose land is acquired for public projects (like roads or transmission lines) and the government entities conducting those takings. The bill also allows property owners to use the assessed tax value if it exceeds the appraisal, and applies retroactively to all past and future condemnation cases involving qualifying farmland.

Maddy summarySB 657 requires that when the government takes private property through eminent domain, property owners (defendants) receive compensation that includes not only the property's fair market value but also their legal fees and other costs incurred during the condemnation case. This bill directly affects property owners challenging government takings, ensuring they are reimbursed for expenses like attorney fees. The key provision amends Maryland law to explicitly add "any legal, expert, or other fees or costs of the action incurred by the defendant" to the damages formula. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.