Sen. Johnny Salling

Maddy summarySB 815 prohibits the Maryland Department of Labor from requiring applicants for occupational licenses to disclose certain criminal history details, including arrests without conviction, deferred adjudications, diversion program participation, and some sealed or expunged convictions. It specifically bans asking about misdemeanor convictions without physical harm, convictions over 3 years old without imprisonment, and most other offenses after 7 years if no new charges occurred. The law requires the department to consider rehabilitation, job history, and public safety risks before denying a license, rather than automatically denying based on past criminal records. This directly affects individuals seeking state-licensed jobs (like cosmetologists, contractors, or healthcare workers) who have specific non-violent criminal histories.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1,000 refundable state income tax credit for Maryland parents who experience a stillbirth. It directly affects parents who receive a certificate of stillbirth (per Maryland Health-General Article § 4-213.1 or equivalent from another state) for a birth that results in stillbirth. The credit can be claimed only in the tax year the stillbirth occurred, and if the credit exceeds the parent's state income tax liability for that year, they receive a refund for the excess amount. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 706 requires the Maryland Department of Health to conduct prevalence studies measuring problem and pathological gambling rates for both in-person and mobile gambling, with the initial in-person study due by July 1, 2009 (likely a typo in the bill text), and the initial mobile study due by July 1, 2030. The bill modifies how gambling proceeds are distributed, directing 6.25% of the state's share (after operators retain 84%) to the Problem Gambling Fund for treatment and prevention programs, while 93.75% goes to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. It mandates annual reports to the General Assembly on fund expenditures and requires replication studies every five years to track trends. This bill directly affects gambling operators, the Problem Gambling Fund, and Maryland residents seeking gambling treatment services.

Maddy summarySB 14 requires electric bicycles in Maryland to be titled and registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration, ending their previous exemption as bicycles. Owners must submit applications electronically, maintain specified security measures, and insurers may exclude certain coverage benefits or add deductibles for electric bicycles. The bill amends Maryland’s vehicle and insurance laws (specifically sections 13-102, 13-405, 19-505(c), and new sections 13-424/13-939.3) to implement these changes. This directly affects electric bicycle owners by adding registration and insurance requirements previously not applied to them.

Maddy summarySB 330 expands Maryland's property tax credit for dwellings owned by disabled or fallen law enforcement officers/rescue workers. It directly affects disabled officers who die (regardless of cause), their surviving spouses, and cohabitants by broadening the definition of "fallen officer" to include disabled officers who pass away. Key changes include removing the previous 10-year deadline for purchasing a home after disability or death, allowing the tax credit amount for new homes to align proportionally with credits for prior dwellings, and giving counties flexibility to set their own acquisition timelines or eligibility limits. The bill amends Maryland's Property Tax Code (Section 9-210) to implement these policy adjustments.

Maddy summarySB 1034 proposes constitutional amendments to change how the Governor and legislature handle budget vetoes. It removes the Governor's authority to veto most budget items, allowing vetoes only for executive department appropriations that the legislature increased. If the legislature overrides such a veto with a 3/5 vote, the item reverts to the original legislative version and becomes law immediately. This directly affects budget negotiations between the Governor and General Assembly, specifically altering the process for approving or rejecting state spending.

Maddy summarySB 783 requires Maryland public school principals to investigate every student fight or physical struggle. It prohibits school staff from disciplining students who, after such an investigation, more likely than not used reasonable force necessary to protect themselves or escape an attack. If a student was wrongly disciplined during the investigation but later determined to have used justified force, the school must expunge all disciplinary documentation from their record. The law directly affects students involved in school conflicts, school administrators, and staff responsible for discipline, taking 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 405 requires manufacturers of fully autonomous vehicles operating on Maryland highways to maintain a human safety operator in the vehicle and submit detailed incident reports to the Motor Vehicle Administration. These reports cover collisions, unadjudicated traffic violations, disengagements (when autonomous mode stops), and passenger/operator assaults. Manufacturers must include specific details like collision causes, weather conditions, vehicle performance data, and plain-language explanations of disengagements. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, and mandates annual disengagement reports. The Motor Vehicle Administration will analyze this data to provide safety recommendations to the General Assembly.

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.