The final full week of Session has concluded with Sine Die being the last day. The week has been filled with many different and important events taking place. This week, the Senate has taken a look at the Budget, a Second Look Act, I have had bills pass both houses and go to the Governor\’s desk, and I even got a chance to testify on an Alaska bill that mirrors a bill of mine from last year! It has been quite a marathon this year.

HB853: Postconviction Review – Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (Second Look Act)

A bill that was passed this week was the controversial Second Look Act. This is a horrible bill that allows nearly any criminal to be able to have an appeal for a reduced sentence (minus sex offenders and those serving life without parole). With this being said, murderers, rapists, domestic abusers, and countless others WILL have the ability to file for a reduced sentence.

While my Republican colleagues proposed different amendments (that were rejected by most of the Democratic Majority), we were successful in passing an amendment that would remove killers of police, fire, and paramedics. This was a major win as 11 Democrats crossed the aisle and voted with us!

I continue to pledge and stand up for our law enforcement!

Three Bills Pass and More Likely to Come

I\’m proud to say that I\’ve had three bills pass the Maryland General Assembly and more look like they are on the way! The complete list of bills that passed and possible ones on the way are the following:

Senate Bill 396: Public Safety Officer – Performance of Duties – Death Benefits
Senate Bill 396 incorporates 911 specialists to become members of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System. The bill will also alter the circumstances under which certain individuals are presumed to have died as a direct and proximate result of an injury sustained in the performance of duties for purposes of eligibility for death benefits.

Our 911 specialists and dispatchers are integral to our emergency services, and they are the true first responders when the call is made, and information is provided. For everything they do, deserve to be a part of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System. Families left behind in the unfortunate events of death also deserve the benefits brought forth in this bill.

Senate Bill 399: Natural Resources – Wildland Areas – Overhead Transmission Lines
Senate Bill 399’s intent is to withdraw a small portion of wildlands from that designation so that the MARL line can parallel the FirstEnergy line. NextEra Energy Transmission is proposing to build the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, also known as “MARL”. The project is 105-mile 500 kV transmission line from proposed from Pennsylvania to Virginia, including through Allegany and Garrett Counties in my district. The transmission line is being developed because the regional grid operator, PJM, determined through extensive analysis that it is needed to secure reliable electricity in the region. It will ensure our hospitals, schools and homes have the electricity we need in the coming years. The transmission line will also provide significant economic benefit to the region. Over the 40 years of operation, the project will generate more than $450 million in revenue for Allegany and Garrett Counties.

NextEra has done a great job in public outreach during these initial stages of the line’s development. The company has held more than 50 meetings with local stakeholders to educate them and seek feedback. They will continue their outreach campaign in the coming months with open houses in the community and will then file an application with the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for approval of the transmission line. The PSC holds the authority to review and approve transmission lines in Maryland.
NextEra explained to me that one of the possible routes through the district would parallel an existing Right of Way for a FirstEnergy transmission line. That path made sense to me because it would have the least impact to the homes, businesses and viewshed in the community. Senate Bill 399 preserves the option for the line to stay as close to the existing FirstEnergy line. The FirstEnergy line was put into operation before the state had a wildlands designation. It is important to note that this legislation DOES NOT allow for other protected wildlands to be made available for any other project.

Senate Bill 421: Criminal Law – Destroying Funerary Objects and Cemetery Elements – Statute of Limitations and Prohibitions
Senate Bill 421 is a simple bill that will extend the statute of limitations for prosecutions from 1 to 3 years for prosecutions relating to the destruction of funerary objects and other elements of or at a cemetery. The bill will prohibit anyone from willfully committing a crime on any part of the grounds of a cemetery.

Senate Bill 455: Security Guard Agencies – Special Police Officers – Application for Appointment
Senate Bill 455 also is a straightforward and simple bill. This authorizes a certain security guard agency to apply for appointment of special police officers to protect property owned or leased by the agency’s clients.

PASSED: Senate Bill 456: Dental Services – Qualification for Maryland Dent-Care Program
As usual, it would not be a Session in the General Assembly without at least one bill from your Senator Smiles. As I mentioned every year, dental health is something I feel is vital to everyone and I continue work to make sure it is available easily for every Marylander.

Senate Bill 456 alters the eligibility criteria for Higher Education Loan Assistance Grants under the Maryland Dent-Care Program. This bill will include dentists and dental hygienists employed on a part-time basis. The Maryland Higher Education Commission\’s Office of Student Financial Assistance collaborate with MDH to establish allocated loan repayment assistance for any part-time dentists/dental hygienists participating. The Maryland Insurance Administration will also conduct a study on whether insurance carriers are using online credentialing services voluntarily.

PASSED: Senate Bill 639: Garrett County – Bids and Contracts
Senate Bill 639 is a local bill specifically for Garrett County. This allows for certain exceptions to made when advertising for bids or contracts for the County if those goods and services looking to be obtained are not on a regular basis but on an as needed one.

Senate Bill 711: Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Trail Fund and Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Recreation Oversight Board – Alterations and Establishment
A reintroduction of legislation I sponsored last year, Senate Bill 711 creates an oversight board for the OHV Title Tax Fund. The bill expands the use of the funds to help with general park maintenance where funds currently can only be used to create and maintain the trail. The bill also takes some of the financial burden off of the Department of Natural Resources.

PASSED: Senate Bill 734: Business Regulations – Self Storage Permitting
Another straightforward bill, Senate Bill 734 excludes a self-service storage facility from the definition of “storage warehouse,” and will thus exempt a self-service facility from the requirement to obtain a storage warehouse license.

Senate Bill 826: Garrett County Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2025
The second local bill for Garrett County is the Garrett County Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2025. In this bill it establishes certain deluxe complex restaurant and resort complex beer and wine and beer, wine, and liquor licenses in Garrett County. The bill will also require the Board of License Commissioners to hold a hearing for the issuance of Certain Festival licenses and altering certain notice requirements for the hearing. Certain festival license applicants will also be required to apply in a certain manner. The bill also clarifies the entities to which the board may issue certain multiple day/multiple event licenses.

Initial Wins for the District

Without knowing the exact amount, I can safely say that Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties received many financial victories this Session. While there are more too be finalized the following are the initial wins:

• Oakland Volunteer Fire Department (Garrett County): $100,000
• Ski Patrol Headquarters (Garrett): $100,000
• Good Will Fire Company No. 1 Tanker Replacement (Allegany): $100,000
• Orleans Volunteer Fire Company Building (Allegany): $50,000
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Maryland – Radiation Therapy Linear Accelerator (Allegany): $600,000
• Messick Road Industrial Park Development (Allegany): $100,000
• Mechanic and Harrison Street Intersection Improvement (Allegany): $100,000
• Allegany Museum Restoration Project (Allegany): $100,000
• Frostburg State University Baseball Field (Allegany): $1 Million
• Boys and Girls Club of Washington County (Washington): $200,000
• Federal Little League (Washington): $125,000
• Western Enterprise Fire Company No. 4 (Washington): $317,000
• Boonsboro Public Works Complex (Washington): $175,000
• Williamsport Town Hall (Washington): $310,000
• Valley Little League (Washington): $125,000
• Smithsburg High School Field House (Washington): $400,000
• Boonsboro Advanced Metering System (Washington): $125,000
• Boonsboro Crestview Water Pressure Reduction and Bypass (Washington): $125,000
• Williamsport Memorial Library (Washington): $400,000
• Meritus Commons (Washington): $750,000

I am proud of what was awarded this year and I will continue to do fight next year to bring as much as I can back to our District.

Testifying on Alaska Senate Bill 9

I had the privilege of testifying on Alaska Senate Bill 9, a critical piece of legislation that builds upon the work we accomplished with the 2024 Baby Box Safe Haven Law in the Maryland General Assembly

SB 9 aims to clarify legal protections for parents who safely surrender their infants, ensuring that no one faces prosecution when making a choice that prioritizes their child\’s well-b

I also want to hear from you. As you all know, I serve Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties and all of your voices are important to me. The best way to represent you is to have your voice heard. Please feel free to contact my Annapolis Office at (410) 841-3565 or my District Office at (240) 362-7040. My public email address is now mike.mckay@senate.state.md.us. Please feel free to email me at anytime. I also have a District Office at the Williamsport Town Hall. It is on the second floor in the first office. Our mailing address below remains the same however.

I continue to be your voice and advocate in Annapolis so I want to hear from you. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or what I can do to help you. I am on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Executive Nominations Committee. All of our hearings are streamed live on Youtube and the MGA website.

If you are interested in seeing where my bills are in the process, you can create a MyMGA account or you can click here to view bills I am sponsoring by clicking \”Legislation\” under my name. You can sign up to testify on any bill you wish.