Sen. J.B. Jennings

Maddy summarySB 580 requires 12 specific Maryland state agencies - including the Motor Vehicle Administration, Department of Health, and Veterans Services - to offer walk-in public services on a first-come, first-served basis. Agencies must provide this service at least once weekly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at reasonable locations. Agencies already offering in-person appointments must add walk-in service at those same locations, while others must establish at least one new walk-in location. The law applies to services like vehicle licensing, health records, and veterans programs, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 5% acreage limit for solar energy projects in Maryland's certified "priority preservation areas" (agricultural lands). Counties can count solar projects on brownfields, school rooftops, or other underutilized land toward this 5% limit, allowing more development in these areas. It also restricts large solar projects (>5MW) from certain residential or growth zones and requires counties to report when the 5% cap is reached. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 584 requires utility companies to send certified mail notices to landowners at the time of applying for a certificate to build transmission lines. Landowners whose property is adjacent to or abutting the construction site must receive this notice, which explains their right to intervene in the approval process. Failure to provide the required notice can invalidate a public hearing or void the application for the certificate. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 583 requires the Deputy Secretary for Developmental Disabilities to provide public notice before changing the Self-Directed Services Manual and to accept public comments for at least 90 days. This applies to individuals using self-directed services - where people with developmental disabilities manage their own care choices and budgets - and the Developmental Disabilities Administration. The bill mandates that the Deputy Secretary cannot adopt any proposed manual changes until after the 90-day public comment period ends. It does not alter service content but adds a transparency step to the rulemaking process. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 454 requires school resource officers (SROs) to carry firearms while present on the premises of the school to which they are assigned. This bill amends Maryland law (specifically Section 7-1508 of the Education Article) to mandate this requirement, directly affecting all SROs working in public schools. The key provision replaces prior language with a clear directive that SROs must carry firearms on school grounds, while also maintaining existing training requirements focused on de-escalation, disability awareness, and implicit bias. The bill does not change who qualifies as an SRO but specifies the firearm-carrying obligation during school operations.

Maddy summarySB 576 allows cooperative housing corporations and condominiums in Maryland to use their reserve funds for emergency repairs beyond the original purpose, such as urgent structural or safety issues. It requires that any emergency funds be repaid within five years and approved by at least two-thirds of members or unit owners in good standing. The bill does not change existing reserve funding methods (like component or cash flow planning) but adds a clear emergency exception to the rules. This directly affects residents and boards of co-ops and condos by providing flexibility during crises while maintaining financial accountability.

Maddy summarySB 452 raises Maryland's minimum age requirement for historic vehicle registration from 1999 model year (25 years old) to 25 years old for all vehicles. It requires historic vehicles to remain unaltered from original design, prohibits daily commuting or commercial use, and sets annual registration fees ($45.50-$55.50). The bill also exempts qualifying vehicles from routine inspections and emissions testing, while adding a one-time $50 fee for vehicles over 60 years old (non-transferable). This affects owners seeking historic registration status for classic cars, motorcycles, or trucks meeting the new criteria.

Maddy summarySB 425 authorizes Maryland's State Archives to establish fees for record services through regulation, directly affecting the public, property owners, and state agencies seeking copies or certifications of records. Key provisions include allowing fees up to 2% of existing record fees or flat subscription rates, requiring 7% of collected fees to fund an Archives Endowment Account, and capping public charges for plat reproductions at $3. The bill also clarifies fee structures for vital records, land records, and electronic plat postings on the Archives website. These changes update existing Maryland law to modernize fee collection while ensuring costs are recovered for services provided.

Maddy summarySB 424 repeals a requirement that specific amounts from Maryland's Land Preservation Special Fund must be allocated to the General Fund for certain fiscal years (2002-2005). The bill modifies how remaining fund balances are distributed, shifting allocations away from mandatory General Fund transfers toward land preservation programs. Key provisions direct 75.15% to Program Open Space land acquisition, 17.05% to the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund, 5% to the Rural Legacy Program, and 1.8% to the Heritage Conservation Fund. This change affects state funding for conservation efforts and land preservation initiatives managed under Maryland's Natural Resources Article.

Maddy summarySB 485 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create a system for collecting annual data on the costs of specific women's health services, including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, abortion, and menopausal care. Hospitals, healthcare providers, and other entities offering these services must report aggregated cost data (without identifying individual patients) to comply with privacy laws. The collected data will be used to assess financial impacts on patients and providers, inform health policy decisions, and evaluate how effectively public and private funds are spent. The bill specifically mandates that abortion cost data be reported in aggregated form only, excluding procedure-level details.