Sen. Johnny Salling

Maddy summarySB 659 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Financial Regulation to create consumer protection rules for electronic money transfers initiated by banks and credit unions operating in the state. These regulations must align with federal standards for electronic funds transfers under 15 U.S.C. § 1693(a)(7). The law applies to all financial institutions conducting domestic electronic transfers in Maryland and takes effect October 1, 2025. It focuses on standardizing protections without specifying additional elder-focused measures beyond the federal baseline.

Maddy summarySB 300 creates a specific felony offense for the theft of a handgun in Maryland, separate from general theft statutes. It directly affects anyone who steals a handgun or knowingly possesses one they believe was stolen. The bill amends the criminal law to establish that stealing a handgun automatically qualifies as a felony, regardless of the handgun's value, with penalties ranging from 5 years to 20 years in prison and restitution requirements based on the handgun's value. This replaces the standard theft thresholds (like the $1,500 minimum for other property) and applies strict penalties for handgun theft.

Maddy summarySB 551 prohibits Maryland insurers from raising premiums, adding surcharges, or removing discounts for private passenger auto insurance policies after collisions with free-roaming wild animals when the driver was not at fault. It directly affects car insurance policyholders in Maryland who experience such non-fault accidents. The key provision amends insurance law to block insurers from treating these incidents differently than other non-fault claims. This ensures drivers cannot be penalized financially for unavoidable encounters with wildlife like deer or coyotes. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 353 establishes a 13-member workgroup to study food deserts in Maryland - areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food - and develop recommendations to address them. The workgroup includes appointed state agency secretaries (Aging, Agriculture, Health, etc.), local government representatives, and community stakeholders, who must analyze food deserts' health, economic, and environmental impacts by November 1, 2025. It requires the group to submit a report with findings and solutions to the Governor and relevant legislative committees, with the bill expiring automatically on June 30, 2026. The workgroup itself has no authority to enact policy, only to study and recommend.

Maddy summarySB 119 requires Maryland's Transportation Authority to name a new bridge replacing the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge the "Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge" upon its completion. The bill updates two sections of state law (Transportation Code sections 4-101 and 6-209) to reflect this new name in official references, including for transportation facilities and gaming vessel regulations. This naming requirement only takes effect if the new bridge opens by December 31, 2030, and the Authority must notify the state legislature within five days of the bridge opening. The bill directly affects the Transportation Authority's naming process and ensures consistent use of the memorial name in state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies theft of firearms as a felony in Maryland, making it punishable under existing felony theft penalties regardless of the firearm's value. It directly affects individuals who steal firearms by subjecting them to felony charges instead of potential misdemeanor charges under current law. The key mechanism is amending Maryland's theft statute (Section 7-104) to explicitly include firearms in the felony classification, removing a prior exemption that allowed firearm theft to be treated as a misdemeanor if the value was below $1,500.

Maddy summarySB 325 modifies Maryland's tax credit program for employers hiring apprentices. It removes a requirement that apprentices earn at least 50% of the prevailing wage (previously in section 10-742(a)(iii)), making it easier for employers to qualify for the credit. The bill also extends the period during which the credit remains available. This affects Maryland employers who hire apprentices in registered programs, allowing them to claim a $1,000 credit per youth apprentice or $3,000 per non-youth apprentice (with a $15,000 annual limit per employer). The changes aim to support apprenticeship hiring without altering the credit amounts or application process.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate Joint Resolution (not a bill) urging the U.S. Congress to pass federal legislation establishing a National Infrastructure Bank. It references H.R. 4052, a proposed bill that would create a $5 trillion bank to fund infrastructure projects like bridge repairs, water system upgrades, broadband expansion, and affordable housing. The resolution cites Maryland’s specific infrastructure challenges - including 1,595 bridges needing repair and aging water systems - as justification for supporting this federal approach. It does not create funding or policy changes itself, but formally requests Congress act on the referenced federal proposal.

Maddy summarySB 6 establishes a Veterans and Military Families Ombudsman within Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families. The position, appointed by the Secretary and required to be a veteran, provides free, impartial assistance to veterans and military families navigating state and federal services. Key mechanisms include a toll-free phone line (available in multiple languages) and annual reports to the Governor and legislature detailing service requests, complaint patterns, and recommendations. This bill directly affects veterans, military families, and the department by creating a dedicated resource to explain rights, identify service gaps, and advocate for improved access to support programs.

Maddy summarySB 301 allows Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to use funds budgeted for the Natural Resources Police to remove and store abandoned or sunken vessels. The bill defines these vessels as those left without permission on public property for over 30 days, on private property for 30-180 days without consent, or found adrift in state waters in disrepair and posing a hazard. It removes a prior restriction that blocked using Natural Resources Police funds for this purpose, making these resources available for vessel removal and storage. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.