SB 85 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025

SB 85, the Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025, requires Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families to place American braille tactile flags in one or more state veterans' cemeteries by October 1, 2025. These tactile flags, designed for blind or visually impaired individuals to experience the American flag through touch, directly benefit blind veterans and visually impaired visitors to the cemeteries. The bill amends existing law to mandate this placement at no additional cost, building on Maryland's existing five state veterans' cemeteries. It is a commemorative measure focused on accessibility and honoring veterans, with no new benefits or funding requirements.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2024

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Sep 2, 2024 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025 → Third - Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025 · 5 edits

MODERATE

SB 85 was amended to reflect its progression from a pre-filed bill to an adopted Senate bill with favorable committee amendments. The text reorganized the bill structure, added committee and action status information, and updated formatting while keeping the core provisions regarding the American Braille Tactile Flag in state veterans' cemeteries intact.

Scope change

The bill's substantive scope remains unchanged; the amendments are primarily procedural and formatting updates reflecting legislative progress.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing favorable approval with amendments and Senate adoption status.

Changed bill title from 'First - Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025' to 'Third - Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025' to reflect legislative progression.

Updated sponsor name from 'Senators Simonaire and Jackson' to 'Senators Simonaire and M. Jackson'.

Added signature lines for Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Reorganized preamble and section numbering to align with standard legislative formatting conventions.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 15, 2025

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 46

Feb 12, 2025

D Democratic33

31 Yea 2

93% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 251

executive

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 15, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-7)

house of delegates

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-2)

senate

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Sep 2, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors