Sen. Malcolm Augustine

Maddy summarySB 1029, known as "Granny's Law," allows personal representatives (like executors) to ask courts to interpret wills when a decedent left a bequest to a health provider or charity without specifying it must address health equity, but the decedent showed lifelong interest in health equity. It creates a rebuttable presumption that such bequests should fund health equity efforts, requiring the personal representative to prove the decedent's intent with evidence like their lifetime actions. If a beneficiary doesn’t show how the bequest was used for health equity within 3 years of estate probate, the personal representative can seek court orders to return the funds or recover their value. The law applies retroactively to wills probated since October 1, 2021, directly affecting estates with health-related bequests and beneficiaries receiving those funds.

Maddy summarySB 552 requires Maryland public high school students to complete and submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) as a graduation requirement starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Students or their parents/guardians may decline the requirement by signing a form, and schools may grant waivers if students have made a good-faith effort to apply or due to extenuating circumstances. County school boards must annually report to the legislature on how many students completed, declined, or were waived from this requirement. The bill also mandates state regulations to ensure students receive adequate support in completing these applications.

Maddy summarySB 553 amends Maryland law to streamline the process for victims (or their parents/guardians) seeking U Nonimmigrant Status certification. It shortens the deadline for certifying victim helpfulness from 90 to 30 days (and to 7 days if a victim faces deportation), requires certifying entities to provide specific documentation about the crime and victim’s cooperation, and mandates protocols to assist non-English speakers. The bill directly affects victims of qualifying crimes (like trafficking or domestic violence) who need certification to apply for U visas, which allow temporary legal status in the U.S. It also clarifies that victims are presumed helpful unless they refuse reasonable law enforcement requests.

Maddy summarySB 899 requires Maryland high schools to rank grade 11 students by GPA alone, designating those in the top 5% and top 10% of their grade-level class on transcripts. This ranking determines eligibility for guaranteed admission to public colleges. Starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, institutions like the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College must admit all students ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. The law applies to all public and nonpublic high schools in Maryland, beginning with students entering grade 12 for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 855, the Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025, establishes new safety rules for railroads operating in Maryland. It requires freight trains to have at least two crew members, limits how long trains can block grade crossings (to 5 minutes), and caps train length at 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. The bill also creates a state reporting system for hazardous materials transport by rail and mandates railroads to install wayside detectors that scan for equipment defects like overheating wheels or shifted loads. These provisions directly apply to railroad companies operating in Maryland, focusing on operational safety standards rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Forensic Mental Health Treatment Fund that receives court-imposed fines when defendants aren't admitted to facilities on time. Courts must send these fines (not intended to reimburse detention costs) directly to the fund instead of retaining them. It modifies bed capacity rules for psychiatric facilities, requiring a certificate of need if reducing psychiatric beds by five or more. Additionally, it establishes a workgroup to develop a standardized form for judges in incompetency-to-stand-trial proceedings. The fund is designated as a special, nonlapsing account, with interest earnings credited back to it.

Maddy summarySB 430 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development and Department of Planning to annually calculate regional housing infrastructure gaps - measuring the shortage of housing units needed to achieve a 1.5 jobs-to-housing ratio in each designated region. It apportions these gaps to specific counties and cities, creating an "affirmative obligation" for jurisdictions with gaps to expedite approvals of housing projects and prohibiting denials without specific justifications. The law directly affects all Maryland counties and cities, particularly those in six defined regions (like Baltimore and Washington suburbs), by mandating state-level gap calculations and altering local housing approval processes to address housing shortages near job centers.

Maddy summarySB 851 requires Maryland public school districts to annually report on main entrance accessibility for people with disabilities and update emergency plans. Specifically, county boards must publish on their websites and report to the legislature by September 1 each year the number of school building entrances not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). School systems must submit their updated emergency plans - including evacuation accommodations for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans - to the state education department by September 1, with the department analyzing compliance and reporting to the legislature by December 1. The bill directly affects all Maryland public school districts and ensures students with disabilities have accessible facilities and tailored emergency support.

Maddy summarySB 866 establishes an Ombudsman Unit within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to handle complaints from residents of common ownership communities (including condos, co-ops, and homeowners associations). The unit will review final adverse decisions by community governing bodies, refer disputes to local commissions, and provide residents with information about their rights. The bill also requires these communities to file governing documents (like rules and declarations) with the Department of Housing, which must create an online database for public access. Additionally, it mandates counties to establish local commissions to further review disputes involving community governance. These changes directly affect residents, community managers, and local government officials.

Maddy summarySB 591 establishes Maryland's new Covered Electronic Device Recycling Program under the Department of the Environment. It requires consumers to pay a recycling fee when buying new covered electronic devices (like phones or laptops), while manufacturers must pay registration fees to the state. The bill creates separate funding accounts within the State Recycling Trust Fund to support authorized collectors and recyclers who handle device collection, refurbishment, or recycling. It replaces older takeback programs and prohibits collectors/recyclers from charging additional fees beyond the state-mandated system. The program aims to modernize electronics recycling by clarifying fee structures and accountability for manufacturers and retailers.