Maddy summaryThis bill updates the annual licensing fees for various alcoholic beverage permits in Baltimore City. It directly affects businesses such as bars, breweries, liquor stores, and event organizers by changing the specific dollar amounts they must pay to operate legally. The legislation repeals and reenacts existing state laws, raising fees for most license types while adjusting certain surcharges for services like live entertainment or outdoor seating. For example, the fee for a Class A beer and light wine license increases from $110 to $171, while the fee for a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license rises from $858 to $2,060. Additionally, the bill modifies fees for specialized licenses, including those for racetracks, video lottery facilities, and beer or wine festival events.
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Maddy summaryThis bill requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to help incarcerated individuals apply for federal Pell Grants to fund higher education. To support this goal, the law mandates that the department work with specific state universities and community colleges to facilitate access to these grants. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Labor to set enrollment targets and create tracking systems to monitor the progress and college credits earned by inmates in postsecondary programs. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will assist in building these tracking systems, and the state budget must include funding for marketing education programs to incarcerated people and maintaining the data systems.
Maddy summaryThis law allows individuals in Maryland to request the removal of specific criminal records even when other charges from the same incident do not qualify for expungement. It updates the rules for who can file these petitions, including provisions for deceased individuals, and clarifies which courts handle the requests based on where the original case was filed. The bill also sets specific time limits for filing petitions depending on the type of case outcome, such as acquittals or pardons. Additionally, it removes previous restrictions that prevented state agencies from entering into contracts related to the central repository and judicial case management systems used for these records.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated, specifically affecting peace officers, emergency facilities, and people with severe mental illness. It allows peace officers to transport individuals to nearby emergency facilities rather than strictly the nearest one and expands the ability to evaluate patients for involuntary admission to include psychiatric nurse practitioners. Additionally, the legislation mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to attend treatment to prevent homelessness and repeated hospitalizations. The law also ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these assisted outpatient proceedings and permits electronic submission of evaluation petitions.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention within the Maryland Department of Health to reduce gun violence and misuse through a public health approach. The center will be led by an executive director who will partner with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as communities disproportionately affected by firearm violence, to develop and implement prevention strategies. Key actions include creating a state plan by May 2025, offering training and technical assistance to agencies and organizations, sharing data across jurisdictions, and promoting evidence-based initiatives. Funding for the center will be included in the state's annual budget starting in fiscal year 2026.
Maddy summaryThis Maryland law establishes a grant program to help reproductive health care clinics improve their physical security and safety operations. Administered by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, the program provides funding for specific upgrades such as better lighting, fencing, access control systems, and alarm networks. To qualify, clinics must offer legally protected reproductive health services, and the program includes strict rules to keep applicant information confidential to protect the safety of the recipients. The legislation authorizes an initial budget of $500,000 for fiscal year 2026, with up to 5% of those funds reserved for administrative costs.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission in Maryland to study how education within the criminal justice system impacts public safety and recidivism. The commission will be composed of state officials, experts, community representatives, and individuals with prior experience in the correctional system, who will work together to gather public input and research best practices for education and workforce training for incarcerated people. Over a two-year period, the group will develop a data-driven policy framework aimed at reducing reoffending while ensuring that available programs lead to meaningful employment opportunities. The commission is required to submit an interim report by June 2025 and a final report by January 2026 before the law expires in June 2026.
Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill makes it illegal for commercial recreational facilities like gyms, swimming pools, and amusement parks to include clauses in their contracts that try to limit their liability for injuries caused by their own negligence. Under the new law, any agreement that attempts to release these facilities or their employees from responsibility for such injuries is considered void and unenforceable. The legislation specifically applies to businesses open to the general public but excludes agreements related to health club memberships and does not affect the liability of government entities. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, ensuring that patrons cannot be forced to sign away their right to sue for carelessness by the facility they are using.
Maddy summaryThis Maryland law strengthens penalties for individuals who solicit minors or law enforcement officers posing as minors to engage in illegal sexual acts. The bill defines "solicit" broadly to include requests made in person, over the phone, via mail, or through any electronic means like computers and the internet. It makes it a felony to encourage a minor or their parent to participate in activities that would otherwise be unlawful, such as producing or viewing child pornography or engaging in sadomasochistic abuse. Convictions carry prison sentences of up to ten years for a first offense and up to twenty years for repeat offenders, along with substantial fines.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Maryland Entertainment District Security Grant Program to help fund security operations in specific areas of the state. The program targets neighborhoods with high concentrations of bars, hookah lounges, or live entertainment venues that experience heavy foot traffic and frequent police calls for service. Eligible recipients include community organizations, nonprofits, and local governments, which must apply through the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. The program is financed by a special state fund that will receive up to $1 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026, with money used solely for grants and administrative costs.