[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6622642,"mediaKeyId","2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d","parentId",2783678,"title","Maryland Voting Rights Act bill would let state AG and citizens challenge vote dilution; advocates urge passage","audioSeconds",2104,"startMs",5908000,"endMs",8012000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d&start=5908&end=8012","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d/thumbnail_5908000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622642/Maryland/Maryland-Voting-Rights-Act-bill-would-let-state-AG-and-citizens-challenge-vote-dilution-advocates-urge-passage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622642-460ad60fc077f226d2d716098dd93433/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180607&Signature=cg2DZH5-1ryGPRi56ROX~6pB4nv~zNbUSbXh7bfi6E9bQczW0dwG4M4tyxDIT9xm4qvJ9e0tgh-t3u05yvLsEuwPVsWzhWRO1LwJl~dOv4B73jy-ePbaoNGCp~zRqvZXZWWWUcfgsMYHg5ecaKkRxTZtot4Ksnvasj4qFkfu0MAAyNIvv76VNsA1FGJVN-VdEtrdsSPdPkkN9QKN9dzl0Cd3sd5dpfAkEejLewNkINCiudMwMJvrvQ4k38XNIlRJKtKuc3d1mZlz0goaduMUNVdJSyuJM0Gr6j1awNaoPZF4clGXHlnxkXGOn055jgEzI136wVBKzTCsZxC0Kd2vSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Ways and Means","date","2025-03-26T20:53:43.103Z","article","Sen. Antonio Sydnor introduced Senate Bill 342, which would create a Maryland Voting Rights Act to prohibit electoral methods that dilute the voting strength of protected classes and to give the Maryland attorney general—and private plaintiffs—a state cause of action to seek injunctive relief, damages or other remedies.

Sen. Sydnor described recent local and federal litigation involving redistricting and at‑large voting—cases in Baltimore County, Federalsburg and Wicomico County—that supporters said illustrate the need for a state enforcement tool. “While the Federal Voting Rights Act gives the US Attorney General the ability to sue,” he said, “the reality is that office does not have the capacity to get involved in every violation that occurs across the United States.” He framed SB 342 as giving Marylanders and the state AG an efficient, predictable means to challenge vote dilution.

Michael Pernick of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said SB 342 “takes the same types of protections that have long existed at the federal level and enshrines them into state law,” arguing the state test would be more streamlined and less costly than federal Section 2 litigation. Morgan Drayton of Common Cause Maryland and Dana Vickers Shelley of the ACLU of Maryland joined other witnesses in urging a favorable report, citing multiple local examples where community representation did not match the population and arguing that a state remedy would reduce the need for protracted federal cases.

Panelists described the bill as drawing on the familiar federal framework—asking whether racialized voting patterns (racially polarized voting) exist and whether the electoral method makes it possible for a protected group to elect candidates of its choice. Sponsors said the bill provides courts with a set of probative factors and gives plaintiffs an efficient path to remedies that can be tailored to the locality. Legal experts said states that have adopted similar laws have seen only a handful of lawsuits to date and that the statutory clarity can save time and expense for both plaintiffs and jurisdictions.

Committee members asked technical questions about overlap with federal remedies and how courts would handle small municipal elections with limited sample sizes. Witnesses said the bill preserves established evidentiary approaches—quantitative analysis of election returns where feasible and qualitative evidence where data are sparse—and provides a case‑by‑case remedy structure. Supporters said the bill protects voters’ rights and lowers the cost and complexity of enforcing those rights at the state level.

Civil‑rights organizations urged passage and asked the legislature to include SB 342 as part of a broader Maryland Voting Rights Act package under consideration this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","W&M Committee Session, 3/26/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Antonio Sydnor introduced a bill to create a Maryland Voting Rights Act, authorizing the state attorney general and private parties to sue when county or municipal election methods dilute the voting strength of protected classes.","taxTitle","Ways and Means Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15064,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622661,"Senate bill would let local school systems use a statewide clearinghouse to vet teacher hiring after AI impersonation case",369,1766000,2135000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d&start=1766&end=2135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d/thumbnail_1766000.jpg","/articles/6622661/Maryland/Senate-bill-would-let-local-school-systems-use-a-statewide-clearinghouse-to-vet-teacher-hiring-after-AI-impersonation-case","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622661-249b4179bb767c57ff5952323365d8e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180607&Signature=CwEQe2dt8ERGAyZkYL0vVeiCXbiEc7JQSlyUMLGI8awdj7iurvJU-H0PywM2OfGX4D8OBOTMmU7Md3fgzQtaFQHXh-pet79TPYzV6GEDczp4ljplg~GkWizC-Ahyr3Ck2lECDylak~kZ4KsLbm0VGCqCoeS7-1IIqGEVN-oJ51DSURpy6coXS4698LbAjuZg67el0oQSjEyvkiH1DuNEBJrUAU0gAInSwosqn0xNnLnx7x-e~uU72AUJZy-NRep5lQG4KBnfUtRjT6XzrJythXzYGpShimaEmDqLMv2DZFzRiWGFMul3ybmflo2NBDRY1Kpc8086JR7zwg3fcLCsiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Shelly Hettleman, sponsor of Senate Bill 845, told the Ways and Means Committee that the bill would enable the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to become a member of a national clearinghouse so local education agencies (LEAs) can screen prospective hires for prior administrative actions before extending job offers.

The bill grew out of a January 2024 incident at Pikesville High School in Baltimore County where an athletic director used artificial intelligence to impersonate the principal and produce a recording of racist and antisemitic remarks. Senator Hettleman said some background information on the athletic director existed in other jurisdictions and might have been discovered earlier through a cross‑jurisdictional administrative screening service.

“[T]his small investment can enable local jurisdictions to do so at the front end of the process,” Hettleman said, describing a membership fee in the range “just over $23,000” that would allow LEAs to query the clearinghouse before hiring. Hettleman emphasized the proposal is not an automatic ban: the clearinghouse would flag records for further inquiry rather than veto a hire.

Jonah Spiegelman, a Pikesville High senior who testified in support, recounted the January 2024 episode and its aftermath. “The principal was removed,” Spiegelman said, and later noted the athletic director “was arrested.” Spiegelman told the committee he learned the athletic director had “lied on his job application about past experiences,” and said, “He should never have been hired in the first place.” His testimony argued that earlier access to an administrative‑record clearinghouse could have prompted additional vetting.

Delegate Behr asked what kinds of records the clearinghouse would surface beyond criminal background checks. Hettleman and witnesses explained that the clearinghouse is intended to surface administrative actions—noncriminal personnel records, resignations tied to misconduct allegations, or hiring‑ineligibility determinations—from other districts that standard criminal background checks do not capture. Delegate Behr and other committee members pressed for clarity on how administrative findings would be used and whether they would respect due process.

Supporters including Baltimore County officials and MSDE staff said the service would add a layer of information to help local hiring teams identify red flags and request additional documentation when needed. Opponents were not recorded in testimony at the hearing; Hettleman said she had worked with stakeholders and drafted bill language to focus on the nature of the services rather than naming a specific vendor.

If enacted, the bill would authorize MSDE to join a national clearinghouse and make that membership available to LEAs; it does not require LEAs to use the service or automatically disqualify applicants on the basis of clearinghouse records.

Looking ahead, proponents urged the committee to report the bill favorably and to preserve the bill’s focus on front‑end screening and case‑by‑case investigation rather than automatic exclusion.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the committee’s March 26 hearing and are listed in the article’s speaker roster below.","Sen. Shelly Hettleman introduced Senate Bill 845 to let the Maryland State Department of Education join a national clearinghouse that would allow local school systems to screen prospective hires for prior administrative actions before offering employment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622647,"Senator McCrae proposes higher tax rate on long‑vacant nonprofit properties to spur reuse",357,5423000,5780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d&start=5423&end=5780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d/thumbnail_5423000.jpg","/articles/6622647/Maryland/Senator-McCrae-proposes-higher-tax-rate-on-longvacant-nonprofit-properties-to-spur-reuse","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622647-5fe1b4b26bd82d8afe73689775d90ed7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180607&Signature=YiU2NJ40~mR3TGUcgBfv9aLUQC2LVn~w0Od15eLmzRP9SoY3Xbq1doH0YshK0DJZrpzbm-jfGgv-5zVRuFOlX-ukrrgKX4NOepn5zi20K0iLMdTccmhZlyXN1NB4fBhPew2GkX0oAhEJIA4ATwTN0JyLC--n6zoXBLJpLIXmWY0sjbr-yF3mmAhJ8CIFZHTDgJgoZbphYhaWztL2t3MC~3zG0P6o2Vg1VPDguu2kbxISTPeg9RSSfPUYw6w6DkR0qV7Q6uDnRO3io8vrDDyk4hw0Ui8XKRCDP6PnJcZUshVyoVharXRWUDvryi6Sr5XsCT194toY2Xhf8vKsjZ0WFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Cory McCrae told the Ways and Means Committee that Senate Bill 550 is an enabling tool to give local governments the authority to apply a higher property tax rate to nonprofit‑owned parcels that have remained vacant or have not received “significant improvements” for five consecutive years.

McCrae described a block in Baltimore City where multiple adjacent parcels owned by a nonprofit organization sat vacant for decades. He said the parcels were taxed at nominal amounts—“about a hundred dollars a parcel”—and that the lack of redevelopment depressed neighboring property values. “SB550 is simply about accountability and ensuring the long term vacancies, regardless of ownership, aren't stalling growth and opportunity in our neighborhoods,” McCrae said.

Under the bill as presented, the determination of vacancy and what constitutes “significant improvement” would be made by the local jurisdiction. The sponsor said the bill had been amended in response to stakeholder concerns: the eligibility trigger was moved from three to five years and the language was drafted to exclude small‑scale commercial activity where properties are in productive use. McCrae said the mayor’s office supported the concept and that he had exchanged language with institutions that had raised concerns.

Committee members asked technical questions about how a jurisdiction would identify qualifying parcels, how the tax would be structured administratively and whether nonprofits of all sizes would be subject to the change. McCrae said the bill is enabling; local governments would determine administrative definitions and exemptions. He described the measure as a local‑control tool and said it had passed the Senate 47–0.

Supporters framed SB 550 as a way to give jurisdictions a lever to encourage reuse and redevelopment of long‑vacant land while giving owners time to repurpose property. No formal opposition testimony was recorded at the hearing; McCrae said the measure had been negotiated with some of the institutions that initially raised concerns.","Senate Bill 550 would authorize local jurisdictions to impose a higher property tax rate on nonprofit‑owned parcels that have remained vacant or unimproved for five consecutive years. Sponsor said the measure targets long‑term vacancies that depress neighborhood values and that local governments would define vacancy and significant improvement.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622652,"Bill would require plain‑English ballot language and public review to reduce voter confusion",687,3086000,3773000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d&start=3086&end=3773","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d/thumbnail_3086000.jpg","/articles/6622652/Maryland/Bill-would-require-plainEnglish-ballot-language-and-public-review-to-reduce-voter-confusion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622652-4b2dd2b830e66b8fe77f5b6471d61541/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144409&Signature=kof~D8-3OxZMYuddAgViN~hdbtz~IdcQoYsUTBzwJitr6YLeSmiLRKOBeHm4Hipnz3sE9DNQm7MiHmZ9J0IF0ohuhT6o5qlFknoE7SUWH-~xsoHfIQFdSrBg1y1gO8I5zZnT3Z7HzjLEXZqpgUxCI~d9I6GW5NP-xj6vyl-oDkcjsUaB-RNsOXkxmQochVGRn99MlpPswrNC2SaDqbyee8dtpxDQwuC-nP3Oauxqmz95HLNK4W61AV~yTRL2Lx1a7F~0RSeZTNsLrzYbsTDh3yRjvl5RojJTkgAV-12n2uGsKqKr3-FwY1QPkOPjqfB6CKHIWuWEEvi5htzMxNckuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Cheryl Kagan told the Ways and Means Committee she has led an effort to require plain‑English ballot language and a public review process for proposed ballot descriptions to reduce voter confusion and undervoting on ballot measures.

Kagan described the bill as the product of multi‑state research and consultations with the National Conference of State Legislatures and civic design experts. The measure would require that proposed ballot text use plain English—“no double speak, no passive language, no jargon” in her words—provide a public posting of proposed language with time for comment and, where appropriate, legal review by the secretary of state or county attorneys before printing ballots.

Kagan said the bill does not apply to certain constitutionally prescribed ballot references used when the General Assembly itself places a question on the ballot. She and supporters argued the intent is to improve comprehension and reduce the number of voters who skip ballot questions because they find the language confusing. Kagan noted an executive order by the governor and model federal plain‑language guidance and said the bill would align ballots with those standards.

State elections staff in the hearing indicated they had offered technical feedback; Jared Demarini, State Administrator of Elections, participated in a later Q&A about related election bills and advised that nonpartisan and municipal ballot questions appearing on state ballots would be counted under current law if they appear on the ballot.

Supporters said the bill is a procedural change designed to stabilize turnout and ballot integrity, not to alter substantive ballot content. Kagan asked the committee to report the bill favorably and said the change is intended for implementation ahead of future statewide referenda.","Senate Bill 615 would require plain‑language ballot descriptions for statewide and local ballot measures and create a process for public posting and review of proposed ballot language. Advocates said the change would reduce undervotes and confusion caused by legalese on ballots.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622657,"Bill to update school suicide‑prevention guidance adds gambling awareness after advocates cite links to youth harm",286,2562000,2848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d&start=2562&end=2848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783678-9c75f2511c8335a0747c29b90d116d1d/thumbnail_2562000.jpg","/articles/6622657/Maryland/Bill-to-update-school-suicideprevention-guidance-adds-gambling-awareness-after-advocates-cite-links-to-youth-harm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622657-1483858a724e053145c562cf0e920470/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180607&Signature=evIm13vPjx0cQ2s0ANvpjSLezqf5haFH5sblTR7D0WMDTXK3NNVCgA4j1Ez-fUCbvEX0HozMxNabFx7sOmlVERz2qewVYfKMtHs4ubS3xEaQNDyVWkQCoKowT63gZc3SNqU4sDMI0oPBHZMtEqx-K5WT2fGslsYChyth7z69g6nMr~VYn1Vm9MvlodYzDNUiMumM1CrCcAepB35Uap1T9App50PEZG~UinIcBH3nmJs3Y28xiqGfoUl8~SQY7e6XSjNiBM3NZsA1covonHG3bpp3Xpu4DE3vdfO8wdqaWc4rT0tKebMlwfNtWBOkR80WG-S5wauPgWvK4L0C34YSSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Simon Ayre introduced Senate Bill 310 as a consensus, non‑mandating update to Maryland's youth suicide prevention school guidance, telling the committee the bill aligns program materials with the state Blueprint for Maryland's Future and updates language that has not been revised since the late 1990s.

The bill would encourage local school systems to include gambling addiction in awareness and prevention guidance because witnesses argued gambling carries elevated suicide risk and adolescents have high rates of early onset. Anna Kate Cagle, a student attorney with the University of Maryland Public Health Law Clinic, told the committee that “approximately 50 percent of gamblers experience suicidal ideation and 20 percent in treatment for gambling disorder attempt suicide.” She added that adolescents are “4 times more likely than adults to develop a gambling addiction,” and that the average age a child first gambles is about 12—earlier than first use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, she said.

Sen. Eyre said the bill is voluntary for LEAs, contains no mandates, and carries no fiscal impact, and he noted broad support from stakeholders including the Departments of Health and Education, mental‑health groups and even gaming operators. He described the measure as “a small step to bring more awareness and recognition of the potential issues of youth gambling and suicide.”

Committee members raised questions about curriculum design and whether education about suicide could inadvertently increase risk in some students. Delegate Hornberger asked whether increased awareness can ever raise suicide risk in certain cohorts. Supporters replied the bill does not prescribe a curriculum; rather, it updates an optional statewide program and leaves content development to the Maryland State Department of Education and local districts based on evidence and best practices. Senator Eyre said the program is already optional and the bill merely adds gambling to the list of topics LEAs may include.

Witnesses pointed to state survey data (2022) showing roughly 17% of Maryland high school students reported gambling on sports, the internet or games; advocates said education reduces the frequency and severity of harmful gambling behavior and is a necessary preventive step.

The bill’s sponsor asked for a favorable report; supporters urged the committee to adopt the change to reflect evolving risks and the expansion of legal and internet‑based gambling options available to youth.","Senate Bill 310 would modernize Maryland’s youth suicide prevention school program and explicitly add gambling addiction to recommended awareness guidance. Sponsors and public health advocates told the committee they want schools to be allowed—voluntarily—to include education on gambling harms amid rising adolescent participation in gambling.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Maryland Voting Rights Act bill would let state AG and citizens challenge vote dilution; advocates urge passage

Senate bill would let local school systems use a statewide clearinghouse to vet teacher hiring after AI impersonation case

Senator McCrae proposes higher tax rate on long‑vacant nonprofit properties to spur reuse

Bill would require plain‑English ballot language and public review to reduce voter confusion

Bill to update school suicide‑prevention guidance adds gambling awareness after advocates cite links to youth harm