Sen. Malcolm Augustine

Maddy summarySB 655 establishes Maryland's first statewide program requiring electronic device manufacturers to fund and manage recycling. It directly affects companies that produce covered devices like computers, TVs, printers, tablets, headphones, and routers (as defined in Section 9-1701(g)). Key provisions include mandatory registration fees paid into a dedicated recycling fund, requirements for manufacturers to include recycling information on products, and new rules for producer responsibility organizations to submit and get approval for recycling plans. The program aims to streamline collection, recycling, refurbishment, or reuse of these devices through the Department of the Environment, replacing older takeback programs.

Maddy summarySB 386 (Lower Bills and Local Power Act of 2026) requires electric companies operating high-voltage transmission lines (over 69,000 volts) in Maryland to join a regional transmission organization. It mandates that applicants seeking permits for new transmission lines must include alternative proposals using advanced transmission technologies and compare their cost-effectiveness. The bill creates a new Solar and Energy Storage Market Stabilization Program within the Maryland Energy Administration and directs funds from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to provide refunds or credits to residential customers. These changes aim to modernize transmission infrastructure, promote technology adoption, and reduce costs for Maryland ratepayers.

Maddy summarySB 342 establishes Maryland's Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program, requiring beverage producers to register with the state, pay fees, and include refund values in product prices. It mandates that containers display refund information, retailers show refund amounts on receipts, and creates a producer-led stewardship group to manage recycling. The program funds water refill stations through a new grant initiative and sets recycling targets to reduce litter and pollution from beverage containers. This directly affects beverage manufacturers, retailers, and communities by changing how containers are sold, priced, and recycled.

Maddy summarySB 281 modifies Maryland's funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by requiring the Governor to withhold 35% of annual capital grants under specific conditions. It directly affects WMATA, the Washington Suburban Transit District, and collective bargaining units, mandating WMATA to submit detailed safety, financial, and ridership reports annually. Key provisions include withholding funds if WMATA receives a modified audit opinion without a corrective plan, fails to develop a rail signaling transition plan by July 2028, or terminates rail operators due to automation. The bill also requires the Governor to include specific appropriations for WMATA's capital costs and Metrorail subsidies in the state budget. This legislation is contingent on Virginia and D.C. enacting similar funding measures.

Maddy summarySB 296 allows Maryland's Public Access Ombudsman to delegate specific duties to staff within their office, clarifying that the Ombudsman may assign powers under the Public Information Act to qualified staff members. This amendment to the Public Information Act (specifically Section 4-1B-03) directly affects the Ombudsman's office and its staff by streamlining operations without requiring new legislative approval for each delegation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not change the Ombudsman's core responsibilities or public access procedures. It is a procedural update focused solely on internal office management.

Maddy summarySB 60 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover calcium score testing for individuals with at least three specific heart disease risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of premature heart disease. The law mandates this coverage starting January 1, 2026, for all health plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland after that date. It applies to insurers, nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations under existing insurance coverage requirements. This policy change directly affects Medicaid enrollees and privately insured Marylanders meeting the specified risk criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's Behavioral Health Crisis Response System by requiring crisis communication centers to coordinate with the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Network to provide services like supportive counseling, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention. It mandates that these centers also work with local agencies, police, emergency services, and mental health providers to ensure comprehensive support for individuals in crisis. The legislation requires expanded evaluation of service outcomes, including tracking call volumes, resolution rates, mobile team response times, and discharge data, with results reported publicly by December 1 each year. These evaluations must be broken down by race, gender, age, and zip code to help identify disparities and improve crisis diversion programs while reducing criminal detentions. The bill aims to create a more integrated and data-driven approach to behavioral health crisis response across Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 589 requires Maryland's Office of Overdose Response, working with the Department of Health, to create and maintain a public interactive dashboard tracking how opioid settlement funds are spent. The dashboard must display, broken down by state, county, and municipality: payment schedules from opioid settlements, past spending, spending plans, funded initiatives with performance measures, and public hearing details. Local governments receiving settlement funds must submit required financial data via an online portal to the Department for inclusion on the dashboard. The dashboard will be developed and maintained using existing funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund, not new appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to out-of-network mental health and substance use disorder specialists by requiring health insurers to establish referral procedures for members who cannot find in-network care. It mandates that carriers provide additional assistance to members in identifying and arranging coverage for nonparticipating specialists when standard referral processes fail to secure mental health or substance use disorder services. The legislation also prohibits insurers from requiring prior authorization for scheduling appointments with or reimbursing nonparticipating specialists, and requires the Maryland Health Care Commission to set reimbursement rates for these providers.

Maddy summarySB 369, the "Raymono A. Russell Act," requires public libraries in Maryland (excluding school libraries) to place an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a visible, accessible location, maintain its functionality, and ensure a staff member trained in AED use is present during all open hours starting January 1, 2026. The bill specifically includes state libraries, regional systems (like Enoch Pratt in Baltimore), and specialized libraries (e.g., for the blind or deaf), but explicitly excludes school library media programs. It also grants legal immunity to libraries and trained individuals for using AEDs under the law’s requirements. This is a direct safety mandate targeting public library operators, not a procedural or commemorative measure.