SB 85

Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025

Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (District 31)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 251 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Department of Veterans and Military Families to designate a location for an American braille tactile flag to be placed on the grounds of one or more State veterans' cemeteries to honor members of the uniformed services, veterans, and other individuals in the State who are blind or visually impaired.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 24FavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Kaminsky, Paul	American Braille Flag Project	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bereano, Brucelobbyist	Blind Industries and Services of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bereano, Bruce C.lobbyist	Blind Industries and Services of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, Morgan	MD Dept of Veterans Affairs	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, Morgan	MD Dept of Veterans Affairs	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelter, Chris	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Position only
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guary, Harvey	Maryland Federation for the Blind	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lutzow, Davidlobbyist	Maryland Military Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dragics, DAVIDlobbyist	Maryland Military Coalition & Ft. George G. Meade Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Raysor, Rev. Ray	Metropolitan Washington Ear (MWE)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Maneki, Sharon	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Contino, Kara	Office of Senator Simonaire	Written (PDF)
FAV	Leber, Verna	Senator Simonaire's Office	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brooks, Benjamin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brooks, Benjamin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hendrick, Will	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Simonaire, Senator Simonairelegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Simonaire, Senator Simonairelegislator	Individual	Oral
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

American Braille Flag ProjectFAV 1

Blind Industries and Services of MarylandFAV 2

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 2

Maryland Centers for Independent LivingFAV 1

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 2

Maryland Federation for the BlindFAV 1

Maryland Military CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Military Coalition & Ft. George G. Meade Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)FAV 1

MD Dept of Veterans AffairsFAV 2

Metropolitan Washington Ear (MWE)FAV 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1

Office of Senator SimonaireFAV 1

Senator Simonaire's OfficeFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVBereano, BruceBlind Industries and Services of MarylandRegistered for: 5400 Holiday Drive LLC; Anne Arundel County Fair; Aurora Technical Systems; BWI Airport Fire Rescue Local 1742; BWI Airport Professional Firefighters; BWI Taxi Management, Inc.…

FAVBereano, Bruce C.Blind Industries and Services of MarylandRegistered for: 5400 Holiday Drive LLC; Anne Arundel County Fair; Aurora Technical Systems; BWI Airport Fire Rescue Local 1742; BWI Airport Professional Firefighters; BWI Taxi Management, Inc.…

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVLutzow, DavidMaryland Military CoalitionRegistered for: Maryland Military Coalition

FAVDragics, DAVIDMaryland Military Coalition & Ft. George G. Meade Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)Registered for: Maryland Military Coalition