Sen. Ben Kramer

Maddy summarySB 521 requires health insurance companies to notify patients in writing when a primary care provider or behavioral health provider is removed from their network, including the reason for termination and the right to continue seeing that provider for up to 90 days if the removal isn't due to fraud or misconduct. It mandates insurers to provide advance notice (60 days) to Maryland's Insurance Commissioner before terminating provider contracts that materially impact patient access, and to update their access plans within 5 business days after termination. This bill directly affects insured patients who rely on specific providers and health insurance carriers operating in Maryland. The key change is creating a standardized 90-day special enrollment period for affected patients to transition care, improving transparency during network changes.

Maddy summarySB 739 requires the University System of Maryland to study how climate change affects homeowner insurance availability and costs, along with emergency management preparedness. The study must evaluate climate impacts on insurance markets, federal disaster funding, local recovery resources, and federal programs like the National Flood Insurance Program. It mandates coordination with state agencies (including the Insurance Administration and Emergency Management) and appointed officials, with findings due to the legislature by January 1, 2027. The report must include recommendations on incentives for home resilience improvements (like tax credits or grants) and potential changes to insurance rate adjustments for climate-resilient properties. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 6 would extend collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at Maryland's public universities, including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The bill creates a separate bargaining unit for these faculty members - defined as full-time, part-time, or adjunct employees with academic responsibilities like teaching or research - removing them from the previous exclusion under "faculty" in collective bargaining rules. It amends state law to require each institution to establish this distinct unit alongside other employee groups, ensuring nontenure track faculty can negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland law enforcement officers to remove face coverings during official duties, with limited exceptions for religious garb, inclement weather, or safety equipment (like gas masks). It mandates the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to create a model policy, which all agencies must adopt. Officers violating the rule face civil penalties (up to $2,000) but not criminal charges. The law specifically excludes undercover operations and does not apply to face coverings used for health protection or religious reasons. It directly affects all state and local law enforcement officers performing public safety duties.

Maddy summarySB 753, the "Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act," allows banks and financial institutions to delay or deny account disbursements for seniors (65+) or adults lacking capacity to meet daily needs if they reasonably suspect financial exploitation. The bill requires institutions to notify authorized account holders within 4 business days and report suspected exploitation to Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, or a state’s attorney. It prohibits notifying suspected abusers directly and mandates status updates to oversight agencies upon request. The law aims to protect vulnerable adults from unauthorized asset misuse while providing institutions legal immunity for good-faith actions.

Maddy summarySB 858 establishes the Audit and Finance Compliance Unit within Maryland's Department of Budget and Management. The unit directly affects all Executive Branch state agencies by monitoring their progress in resolving audit findings from the Office of Legislative Audits. Key provisions require the unit to create a public dashboard on its website showing agency audit status (including resolution timelines and repeat findings), form a specialized team to assist agencies with four or more repeat audit issues, and report quarterly to the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. The dashboard must launch by October 1, 2027, and track corrective actions for all agencies annually.

Maddy summarySB 806 requires health professionals applying for new licenses in Maryland to undergo a criminal history records check starting July 1, 2027. This applies to professions including nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and others regulated by specific state boards. Applicants must submit fingerprints and pay fees to a central repository, with results kept confidential and used only for licensing decisions. The bill also mandates a similar check for license renewals for professionals licensed before January 1, 2028, during their first renewal after that date.

Maddy summarySB 606 requires the Maryland Transportation Authority to analyze unused E-ZPass commuter trips from 2023-2025 and submit a report by September 2026. The report must include data on unused trips (numbers, costs, demographics) and recommend solutions like extending usage windows or offering rollovers to reduce forfeited funds. It also mandates a corrective action plan if over 25% of discount plans had unused trips during those years. The bill directly affects E-ZPass commuters, particularly low-income residents and those in communities with limited banking access, by addressing financial losses from unused prepaid trips. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and expires June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryMaryland's SB 662 (Maryland Stablecoin Act) establishes a new regulatory framework for financial institutions providing stablecoin services, directly affecting nondepository trust companies authorized to operate in the state. The bill creates specific licensing categories - “Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuers” and “Payment Stablecoin Services Institutions” - requiring these entities to include certain disclosures in their articles of incorporation and follow new capital stock rules. It modifies existing fee structures for bank charters and exempts qualifying nondepository trust companies from some standard financial regulations while authorizing the Commissioner of Financial Regulation to adjust capital requirements under certain circumstances. The law defines key terms like “payment stablecoin services” and sets up a clear path for these institutions to legally operate within Maryland’s financial system.

Maddy summarySB 243 expands existing Maryland benefits for military service members to include their spouses. It provides spouses of active-duty service members and veterans with priority enrollment at public colleges, access to community college resources (including dedicated advisors and veteran resource centers), and eligibility for senatorial and delegate scholarships. The bill also extends hiring preferences for spouses in state government roles through the Public Service Commission. These benefits apply within 15 years of the service member’s last active duty and end after the spouse’s fourth academic year. The law amends specific sections of Maryland’s education, labor, and state personnel codes to include "spouse of an eligible service member" as a qualifying status.