Sen. Kathy Klausmeier

Maddy summarySB 64 designates the Natural History Society of Maryland as Maryland's official State Natural History Museum by amending the Annotated Code of Maryland. The bill renumbers Section 7-325 to 7-326 and adds a new Section 7-325 to formally state: "The Natural History Society of Maryland is the State natural history museum." This is a procedural designation with no new funding or policy changes; it solely grants the Society the official title. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 44 (Sherry and Christian's Law) requires individuals charged with reckless or negligent driving that causes a death to appear in court instead of paying fines upfront. It directly affects drivers convicted of causing fatal accidents through reckless or careless driving. The bill mandates court appearances and prohibits prepayment of fines, though judges may waive the appearance requirement for "good cause" after setting a court date. The law amends Maryland's transportation code to enforce these specific procedural changes for such offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 173) creates a legal presumption that certain firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, and emergency medical personnel (both paid and volunteer) have work-related hypertension if they meet specific medical criteria. It adds hypertension to the list of occupational diseases presumed to be work-related for these first responders under Maryland’s workers’ compensation law, provided they have blood pressure readings exceeding 140/90 mmHg (per the NFPA 1582 standard) and have used prescribed medication for at least 90 consecutive days. This change simplifies the process for qualifying individuals to receive workers’ compensation benefits for hypertension-related disability or death. The bill applies only to those meeting these precise medical requirements and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 112 makes it illegal to intentionally cause physical injury to a sports official (umpire, referee, or judge) while they are officiating a sporting event. This specifically adds sports officials to the list of protected individuals under Maryland’s second-degree assault law, classifying such assaults as misdemeanors (not felonies, unlike assaults against police or first responders). The bill also allows police to make warrantless arrests for this specific assault type if they have probable cause. It amends Maryland’s Criminal Law Article § 3-203(c)(2)(IV) and Criminal Procedure Article § 2-203(b)(12) to implement these changes. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state income tax credit for Maryland residents aged 85 or older with adjusted gross income under $100,000 (single) or $200,000 (joint filers). It allows a credit equal to 100% of eligible long-term care insurance premiums paid for the taxpayer, spouse, parents, or children, capped at 15% of premiums or $1,500 per covered individual. The credit cannot be claimed for individuals covered by pre-2005 policies or for prior years, and unused credit amounts cannot be carried forward. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and requires annual reporting on claim numbers and program impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 169) designates Richard Nicholas Melito's "Freedom Flag" as Maryland's official state symbol of remembrance for the September 11, 2001 attacks. It amends Maryland law by adding a specific definition to the Annotated Code (Section 7-319) stating the flag "is the State Symbol of Remembrance for the attacks of September 11." The bill has no policy or funding changes - it is purely symbolic, affecting how the state commemorates 9/11. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the legal definition of practicing audiology to clarify what actions audiologists are authorized to perform. It explicitly includes the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of hearing and balance conditions, as well as the fitting and management of hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants. The legislation also specifies that audiology practice covers certain ear examinations and non-surgical procedures like removing earwax or ordering medical tests. Conversely, the bill clearly states that audiology does not include performing surgery or operating X-ray equipment. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and aim to provide clearer guidelines for the licensure and regulation of audiologists in the state.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 380 creates a Police Recruitment and Retention Workgroup to investigate why fewer police officers are staying in Maryland law enforcement. The group will include representatives from the state legislature, the Department of State Police, various police associations, community organizations like the NAACP, and experts in human resources and policing. Members will examine specific factors such as salary levels, training requirements, and retirement rates, while also looking at successful strategies used in other states. The workgroup is tasked with designing a new apprenticeship program for high school students and will ultimately provide recommendations to address the decline in officer retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland's county mental health advisory committees by adding a specific category for individuals with experience in military or veteran mental health care. It requires that at least one voting member on these committees be selected from a pool that includes people who have received mental health services, parents of individuals with mental disorders, and now, those with military mental health experience. The legislation also clarifies the composition of these committees to ensure representation from various community groups, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services agencies. These changes aim to broaden the perspective of the committees to better address the unique mental health needs of veterans and service members within their counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new licensing system for limited licensed radiologic technologists in Maryland, allowing individuals without a full medical license to perform specific X-ray duties under the supervision of a licensed physician or radiologic technologist. The law restricts these unlicensed individuals from performing advanced procedures like CT scans, fluoroscopy, mammograms, or radiation therapy, permitting them only to take standard X-rays of the chest, spine, and extremities. To qualify, applicants must complete a specific educational program with at least 115 hours of training and 480 hours of clinical practice, pass a board-approved exam, and maintain their registration through continuing education. Additionally, the bill alters the composition of the state advisory committee overseeing radiation therapy and radiography to include representatives for this new limited license category.