Sen. Katie Hester

Maddy summarySB 683 (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) renames the "Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund" to the "Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund" and expands its eligibility. The bill allows Maryland to use funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to assist federal workers affected by closures, relocations, or mass layoffs of federal offices (beyond just government shutdowns). It specifically adds these new circumstances to the Fund’s purpose, enabling loans to Maryland-resident federal employees who lost pay during shutdowns *or* were terminated due to federal facility changes beyond their control. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 7-324 and 7-327) to formalize these changes, ensuring the Fund remains continuously available for these purposes.

Maddy summarySB 361 prohibits using fraud - including AI-generated synthetic media - to influence voters' decisions. The bill defines "synthetic media" as AI-manipulated images, audio, or videos falsely depicting candidates or altering their appearance/speech. It makes it illegal to use such media (or traditional fraud like impersonation or vote-buying) to sway voters, with violations punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects anyone creating or distributing misleading digital content about candidates ahead of elections. The law takes effect June 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 382 requires manufacturers of powered wheelchairs to provide independent repair providers and wheelchair owners with necessary documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools on fair and reasonable terms. It directly affects wheelchair users and independent repair shops by mandating that manufacturers share repair resources without excessive cost or barriers, such as charging more than the suggested retail price for parts. The bill establishes clear definitions for "independent repair providers" and "fair terms," ensuring access to diagnostics and repair tools at no more than the manufacturer's actual cost for printed materials. This law amends Maryland's Commercial Law to create a new "Subtitle 50" specifically governing powered wheelchair repairs.

Maddy summarySB 342, the "Voting Rights Act of 2025," prohibits counties and municipalities from using election methods that dilute or abridge voting rights for protected classes (defined as racial, color, or language minority groups under federal law). It directly affects voters in these local jurisdictions by requiring election systems to allow members of protected classes to elect candidates of their choice. The key mechanism establishes that a violation occurs if elections show "polarized voting" (where voting patterns differ between protected classes and the broader electorate) and the election method dilutes their voting strength. Courts must evaluate this using federal methodologies for enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, applying only to local county and municipal elections - not statewide contests.

Maddy summarySB 8 establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program, a voluntary initiative for public school systems in Maryland to recognize student civic engagement. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, participating schools must award a "Seal of Civic Excellence" to students who pass a government assessment, earn A or B grades in U.S. history, modern world history, and American government, and complete 75 hours of community service (including at least 30 hours on a civic project). Schools may also earn a "Center of Civic Excellence" designation if 50% or more of their graduating students receive the seal. Participating school systems must submit annual reports on the program starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a streamlined approval process for data center projects in Maryland by establishing a "Fast Track Pass" system that allows certain co-located energy generation projects to receive expedited permits from the Public Service Commission. It sets up a new advisory committee to review and award these fast track passes and requires the Commission to complete its review and issue final decisions within six months of verifying a project qualifies. Additionally, the legislation modifies sales and use tax exemptions for qualified data center equipment, allowing the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to limit these exemptions under specific circumstances while directing the Maryland Energy Administration to develop related guidelines. The bill directly affects data center developers, energy companies, local governments, and state agencies involved in permitting and tax administration for data center infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new guidelines and requirements for using artificial intelligence in Maryland K-12 schools, affecting school districts, teachers, and students. It requires the State Department of Education to create safety and ethical guidelines for AI classroom use, maintain an annual list of approved AI tools, and ensure AI literacy is included in workforce preparation programs. The legislation also mandates that each school district designate an employee to oversee AI use, conduct annual AI system inventories, and report on AI implementation to the state. Additionally, it creates a new Task Force on AI in K-12 Education and provides for professional development training for educators on AI tools and best practices.

Maddy summarySB 481 removes a $40,000 annual sales limit on food processed under on-farm home processing licenses in Maryland. It prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from restricting revenue derived from such food, directly affecting farmers who process food in home kitchens on their own farms. The bill repeals the existing revenue cap and requires the Department to update regulations by October 1, 2025. This policy change takes effect July 1, 2025, allowing eligible farmers to sell more of their home-processed food without revenue restrictions.

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 704 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to evaluate how public schools currently use and might use artificial intelligence (AI) tools. It directs local school systems (including county boards and Baltimore City) to complete a survey by October 2025, covering AI policies, infrastructure, effectiveness of current tools, and staff readiness. The Department of Information Technology must assist in reviewing available AI systems for teaching, curriculum, and school administration, analyzing costs and benefits. The evaluation will result in an interim report by January 2026 and a final report by December 2026, with the bill expiring June 2027. The bill focuses solely on assessment - no AI adoption or policy changes are mandated.