top of page
Criminal Justice and the 2025 Session
Priorities for 2025
HB 190/SB 181 - Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole
- This measure would require the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of incarcerated individuals when determining whether to grant parole.
HB 311/SB 648 - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment - This bill would provide a procedure for inmates who are chronically debilitated or incapacitated by a medical or mental health condition, disease, or syndrome as to be physically incapable of presenting a danger to society to be released on medical parole.
SB 291\HB 583- Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) - This legislation would ensure that people who have been rehabilitated and have transformed their lives after years in prison have a meaningful avenue for release. This bill will provide a path through the courts that would allow prisoners who have served at least 20 years to request hearings for possible resentencing.
HB 647/SB 702 - Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing - This legislation would cap a single use of punitive solitary at 15 days. It would prohibit it for vulnerable people and severely limit the practice for juveniles. This bill would also mandate that those involuntarily put in restrictive housing be allowed to contest their confinement.
SB 514 - Maryland Fair Chance in Housing Act - Housing continues to be one of the most significant barriers for those transitioning out of prison. This bill will help returning citizens access essential housing when they transition back to the community.
HB 545 /SB 398 - Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement - This bill would repeal the provisions related to expunging charges of possession of cannabis and establish new procedures for the automated expungement of cases by the Department of Corrections and the Judiciary.
For more information, please contact Criminal Justice Reform Issue Team Lead Candy Clark at CriminalJustice@uulmmd.org.
Subject | Bill Number | XFile Bill Number | Sponsor | Title | Status | Current Location | Priority | Position | Action | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Automated Expungement | HB0545 | SB0398 | Delegate Moon | Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Repealing a certain provision of law requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to expunge certain cases involving charges of possession of cannabis on or before a certain date; and establishing procedures for the automated expungement of certain cases by the Department and the Judiciary. | |
Automated Expungement | SB0398 | HB0545 | Senator McKay | Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Repealing a certain provision of law requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to expunge certain cases involving charges of possession of cannabis on or before a certain date; and establishing procedures for the automated expungement of certain cases by the Department and the Judiciary. | |
Corrections - Restrictive Housing | HB0647 | SB0702 | Delegate Phillips | Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Altering a certain definition of restrictive housing; limiting the amount of time that an individual may be placed in restrictive housing from approximately 22 hours to 17 hours in a 24-hour period; requiring all restrictive housing units to create the least restrictive environment necessary for certain purposes; prohibiting the placement of a certain member of a vulnerable population in restrictive housing for any period of time; etc. | |
Corrections - Restrictive Housing | SB0702 | HB0647 | Senator Love | Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Altering a certain definition of restrictive housing; limiting the amount of time that an individual may be placed in restrictive housing from approximately 22 hours to 17 hours in a 24-hour period; requiring all restrictive housing units to create the least restrictive environment necessary for certain purposes; prohibiting the placement of a certain member of a vulnerable population in restrictive housing for any period of time; etc. | |
Fair Chance Housing Act | SB0514 | Senator Henson | Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant; permitting a landlord to consider certain criminal history information prior to extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant and requiring the landlord to consider certain information provided by a prospective tenant relating to a criminal history records check; etc. | ||
Geriatric and Medical Parole | HB0190 | SB0181 | Delegate Bartlett | Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Requiring the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of incarcerated individuals when determining whether to grant parole; altering how the Commission evaluates a request for medical parole, including providing for a meeting between the incarcerated individual and the Commission; requiring the Commission to develop procedures for assessing parole requests by older incarcerated individuals; and requiring the Commission to report yearly to the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board on the outcomes of certain parole considerations. | |
Geriatric and Medical Parole | SB0181 | HB0190 | Senator Hettleman | Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 102 | x | Support | Requiring the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of incarcerated individuals when determining whether to grant parole; altering how the Commission evaluates a request for medical parole; repealing the authorization for the Governor to disapprove a decision to grant medical parole; requiring the Commission, within 60 days of receiving a name for parole consideration, to conduct a risk assessment for an individual serving sentences for crimes of violence with an aggregate term of confinement of 40 years or more; etc. | ||
Juvenile Court Jurisdiction | HB1433 | SB0422 | Delegate Toles | Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed certain acts. | |
Juvenile Court Jurisdiction | SB0422 | HB1433 | Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee | Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed certain acts. | |
Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment | HB0311 | SB0648 | Delegate Bartlett | Correctional Services - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Repealing provisions relating to gubernatorial approval of a decision of the Maryland Parole Commission to grant medical parole to an incarcerated individual serving a sentence of life imprisonment. | |
Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment | SB0648 | HB0311 | Senator Muse | Correctional Services - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Repealing provisions relating to gubernatorial approval of a decision of the Maryland Parole Commission to grant medical parole to an incarcerated individual serving a sentence of life imprisonment. | |
Medical and Elder Parole | HB1123 | Delegate Bartlett | Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 103 | x | Support | Requiring the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of an incarcerated individual when determining whether to grant parole; altering how the Commission evaluates a request for medical parole; requiring the Commission to develop procedures for assessing parole requests by certain incarcerated individuals; repealing the authorization for the Governor to disapprove of a decision by the Commission to grant medical parole; requiring the Commission to conduct a certain risk assessment at a certain time; etc. | |||
Prerelease Services - Female Inmates | HB1198 | SB0632 | Delegate Crutchfield | Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act) | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Altering the required location and timeline for a certain prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Commissioner of the Division of Correction to make certain services available to certain female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to implement certain comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease services by July 1, 2026; requiring the Department to report certain information to certain entities; etc. | |
Prerelease Services - Female Inmates | SB0632 | HB1198 | Senator Washington, M. | Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act) | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Altering the required specifications for a certain prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Department of General Services to direct the procurement processes for the construction of a certain prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Commissioner of the Division of Correction to make certain services available to certain female incarcerated individuals; requiring the implementation of comprehensive prerelease services for certain individuals by September 1, 2025; etc. | |
Racial Disparities in Justice System | HB1423 | Delegate Crutchfield | Commission to Review and Assess Racial Disparities in the State Criminal Justice System - Establishment | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | x | Support | Establishing the Commission to Review and Assess Racial Disparities in the State Criminal Justice System to study and make recommendations on certain matters involving the disparate treatment of African Americans, Hispanics, and other non-White individuals in the State's criminal justice system and other criminal justice issues in the State; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations on or before September 1, 2026. | ||
Reduction of sentence petition | HB0853 | Delegate Pasteur | Postconviction Review - Procedure to Reduce Duration of Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 96 | x | Support | Authorizing a certain individual to file a motion to reduce the duration of a certain sentence if the individual was convicted between the ages of at least 18 and under 25, was not sentenced to life, is not a sex offender, has served at least 20 years of the term of confinement, and was not convicted of murder involving a victim who was a first responder who was killed in the line of duty; applying procedures for a proceeding under the Act; etc. | |||
Reduction of sentence petition | SB0291 | Senator Sydnor | Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Authorizing an individual who is serving a term of confinement to petition a court to reduce the sentence or sentences under certain circumstances; and establishing procedures for a proceeding under the Act. | ||
Custodial Interrogation of Minors | HB0165 | SB0512 | Delegate Acevero | Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Establishing a certain rebuttable presumption that a statement made by a minor during a custodial interrogation is involuntary and is inadmissible in a juvenile or criminal proceeding against the minor if the law enforcement officer intentionally used information known by the officer to be false in order to elicit the statement. | |||
Custodial Interrogation of Minors | SB0512 | HB0165 | Senator Henson | Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Establishing a certain rebuttable presumption that a statement made by a minor during a custodial interrogation is involuntary and is inadmissible in a juvenile or criminal proceeding against the minor if the law enforcement officer intentionally used information known by the officer to be false in order to elicit the statement. | |||
Expungement Reform Act | SB0432 | HB0499 | President | Criminal Records - Expungement and Maryland Judiciary Case Search (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 95 | Support | Altering certain provisions of law relating to waiting periods for the filing of certain petitions for expungement to authorize the filing of a petition a certain amount of time after the completion of the sentence; adding to the list of misdemeanor convictions that a person may expunge under certain circumstances; prohibiting the Maryland Judiciary Case Search from in any way referring to the existence of a charge of possession of cannabis if the conviction was later pardoned by the Governor; etc. | |||
Inmate phone calls | HB0401 | SB0056 | Delegate Roberson | State Correctional Facilities - Incarcerated Individuals - Costs of Telephone Communications | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Support | Establishing certain requirements relating to the use of telephone equipment and telephone services by incarcerated individuals in State correctional facilities; prohibiting a State correctional facility and telephone service provider from charging an incarcerated individual for the indivdual's use of telephone equipment and services while in the facility; and establishing the Costs of Telephone Communications Advisory Committee to review prison and jail phone call programs and report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025. | ||
Inmate phone calls | SB0056 | HB0401 | Senator Waldstreicher | State Correctional Facilities - Incarcerated Individuals - Costs of Telephone Communications | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Support | Prohibiting a State correctional facility and a telephone service provider from charging an incarcerated individual or a third party, for an incarcerated individual's use of telephone equipment or telephone services while in the facility; requiring a State correctional facility to pay any costs charged by a telephone service provider; and establishing the Costs of Telephone Communications Advisory Committee to review prison and jail phone call programs and report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025. | ||
Reduction of sentence for seniors | SB0141 | Senator West | Criminal Procedure - Incarcerated Seniors - Motion to Reduce the Duration of a Sentence | Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn | Support | Authorizing an individual who is at least 60 years old and has been imprisoned for at least 20 years to file a motion to reduce the duration of the individual's sentence; requiring the court to conduct a hearing on a motion to reduce the duration of a sentence, unless the court has held a hearing on a similar motion in the preceding 5 years; and requiring a court to consider enumerated factors in determining whether to grant a motion to reduce the duration of a sentence and to issue its decision in writing or on the record in open court. | ||||
Returning Citizens - Reentry Services | HB0646 | SB0811 | Delegate Taylor | Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services - Extension of Report Deadline and Task Force | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 113 | Support | Extending the deadline for the reporting requirement for the Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services to be October 31, 2026; and extending the termination date for the Task Force to be June 30, 2027. | |||
Returning Citizens - Reentry Services | SB0811 | HB0646 | Senator James | Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services - Extension of Report Deadline and Task Force | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 112 | Support | Extending the deadline for the reporting requirement for the Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services to be October 31, 2026; and extending the termination date for the Task Force to be June 30, 2027. | |||
Accused Students-Attendance Prohbited | HB0068 | Delegate Mangione | Public Schools - Children Suspected of a Crime of Violence - Prohibition on In-Person Attendance (Student Protection Act of 2025) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Ways and Means | Oppose | Prohibiting a child from in-person attendance at a public school if the child has been identified as a suspect in a crime of violence, until the investigation is complete and the child is no longer identified as a suspect; and requiring each local school system to provide alternative educational options for children prohibited from in-person attendance in a certain manner. | |||
Accused Students-Attendance Prohbited | HB0137 | Delegate Mangione | Public Schools - Children Charged With a Crime of Violence - Prohibition on In-Person Attendance (School Safety Act of 2025) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Ways and Means | Oppose | Prohibiting a child from in-person attendance at a public school if the child has been charged with a crime of violence, until the child is found not delinquent or the charge is dismissed; and requiring each local school system to provide alternative educational options for children prohibited from in-person attendance in a certain manner. | |||
Diminution Credits - First-Degree Murder | HB0374 | Delegate Grammer | Correctional Services - Diminution Credits - First-Degree Murder | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Oppose | Prohibiting the earning of diminution credits to reduce the term of confinement of an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence in a State or local correctional facility for murder in the first degree that occurred on or after October 1, 2025. | |||
Hate Crimes - Law Enforcement Officers | SB0122 | Senator Folden | Criminal Law - Hate Crimes - Law Enforcement Officers | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Oppose | Including law enforcement officers within the scope of certain prohibitions against committing certain crimes against certain persons, damaging certain property of certain persons, burning certain objects, and damaging certain buildings with which certain persons or groups have contacts or associations or under circumstances exhibiting animosity against a certain person or group. | |||
Juvenile Custodial Interrogation | HB0622 | SB0531 | Delegate Tomlinson | Juvenile Law - Custodial Interrogation (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Oppose | Altering a certain provision of law authorizing a law enforcement officer to conduct an otherwise lawful custodial interrogation of a child if the child's parent, guardian, or custodian consents to the custodial interrogation of the child without the child's consultation with an attorney. | ||
Juvenile Custodial Interrogation | SB0531 | HB0622 | Senator Folden | Juvenile Law - Custodial Interrogation (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Oppose | Altering a certain provision of law authorizing a law enforcement officer to conduct an otherwise lawful custodial interrogation of a child if the child's parent, guardian, or custodian consents to the custodial interrogation of the child without the child's consultation with an attorney. | ||
Juvenile sex offenders | SB0078 | Senator Salling | Juvenile Child Sex Offenders - Juvenile Sex Offender Registry and Prohibition on In-Person School Attendance | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Oppose | Expanding the acts for which a child adjudicated delinquent is required to register with the juvenile sex offender registry and supervising authority; requiring law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys to notify schools of certain information when a child is arrested for a certain offense; prohibiting a child from in-person attendance at a public school or a nonpublic school that receives State funds if the child has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses; etc. | |||
Police Accountability Investigations | HB0139 | Delegate Young | Public Safety - Police Accountability - Deadline for Completion of Investigation | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Oppose | Requiring the investigating unit of a law enforcement agency to complete its review of a certain complaint and forward its investigatory files to the administrative charging committee as soon as possible, but not later than 9 months after the filing of the complaint. | |||
Pretrial Release - Bail | HB1356 | Delegate Reilly | Criminal Procedure - Pretrial Release - Bail | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Oppose | Prohibiting a District Court commissioner from authorizing the pretrial release of a defendant on personal recognizance or unsecured bail under certain circumstances; and authorizing a judge to authorize the pretrial release of a certain defendant on secured bail bond and certain conditions. | |||
Reporting Arrests of Students | HB1211 | Delegate Long, R. | Education - Reporting Arrests of Students - Alterations | Failed-no vote in original committee | Ways and Means | Oppose | Requiring a law enforcement agency making an arrest of a student for a reportable offense or an offense related to the student's membership in a criminal organization to report the arrest to the Maryland Center for School Safety, the Juvenile Services Education Program, the State Board of Education, and the State's Attorney; requiring the State's Attorney to notify the Maryland Center for School Safety, the Juvenile Services Education Program, and the State Board of the disposition of the offense; etc. | |||
Time limit to charge police officer | HB0238 | SB0533 | Delegate Cardin | Public Safety - Police Accountability - Time Limit for Filing Administrative Charges | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Judicial Proceedings | Oppose | Requiring a law enforcement agency to file any administrative charges arising out of an investigation of alleged police officer misconduct that is not required to be reviewed by an administrative charging committee within a certain period of time; etc. | ||
Time limit to charge police officer | SB0533 | HB0238 | Senator Folden | Public Safety - Police Accountability - Time Limit for Filing Administrative Charges | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 493 | Oppose | Altering the deadlines for the completion of the process of review and investigation by a certain investigating unit through disposition by an administrative charging committee under certain circumstances; and requiring a law enforcement agency to file any administrative charges arising out of an investigation of alleged police officer misconduct that is not required to be reviewed by an administrative charging committee within 1 year and 1 day after the date that the appropriate official of the law enforcement agency became aware of the incident. | |||
Apprenticeships for inmates | HB0289 | Delegate Metzgar | Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Incarcerated Individual Apprenticeship Program | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to develop and offer an apprenticeship program in skilled trades for incarcerated individuals; establishing the purpose of the program is to assist incarcerated individuals to develop marketable job skills and to earn money that can be used once the individual is released from incarceration; authorizing the Department to pay all or part of an incarcerated individual's wages to a spouse, child, or other dependent in need of financial support; etc. | ||||
Assessment of State Correctional System | HB1157 | SB0694 | Delegate Phillips | Correctional Services - Assessment of State Correctional System | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman to engage an independent consultant to perform a comprehensive assessment of the State's correctional system beginning on or before October 1, 2026; altering the items required to be included in a certain annual report of the Office; and requiring the consultant to complete the assessment and provide the Office with a written report of its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2028. | |||
Assessment of State Correctional System | SB0694 | HB1157 | Senator Love | Correctional Services - Assessment of State Correctional System | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Requiring the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman to engage an independent consultant to perform a comprehensive assessment of the State's correctional system beginning on or before October 1, 2026; altering the items required to be included in a certain annual report of the Office; and requiring the consultant to complete the assessment and provide the Office with a written report of its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2028. | |||
Auto. Restoration of Voting Registration | HB1110 | Delegate Wilkins | Election Law - Individuals Released from State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration | Failed-no vote in original committee | Ways and Means | Requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to transmit a list that includes the name and new residential address of individuals released from incarceration at a State correctional facility to the State Board of Elections on a weekly basis; and requiring the State Board to automatically restore the voter registration of certain individuals released from State correctional facilities who were registered to vote in the State before being incarcerated. | ||||
Body-Worn Cameras - Requirements | HB0669 | Delegate Williams | Law Enforcement Officers - Body-Worn Cameras - Requirements | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing a recording of a body-worn camera worn by a law enforcement officer to be used as evidence in certain proceedings; requiring a custodian to deny inspection of a recording made with the use of a body-worn camera used by a law enforcement officer, subject to certain exceptions; establishing minimum requirements for a body-worn camera policy for a law enforcement agency and the model policy created by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission; etc. | ||||
Child Police Record - Confidentiality Exception | HB0366 | SB0404 | Delegate Embry | Juvenile Law - Police Record Concerning a Child - Confidentiality Exception | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing the public disclosure by the Office of the Attorney General of the name and age of a child injured or killed in a police-involved incident resulting in the death or injury of a child, subject to the express consent of the child's parent or guardian. | |||
Child Police Record - Confidentiality Exception | SB0404 | HB0366 | Senator Sydnor | Juvenile Law - Police Record Concerning a Child - Confidentiality Exception | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Authorizing the public disclosure by the Office of the Attorney General of the name and age of a child injured or killed in a police-involved incident, subject to the express consent of the child's parent or guardian. | |||
Child in Need of Supervision | HB1518 | Delegate Addison | Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty | Failed-not referred to a standing committee | Rules and Executive Nominations | Altering the penalty for storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access to the firearm; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both. | ||||
Correctional Ombudsman-Juvenile Justice | SB0924 | Senator Smith | State Government - Office of the Correctional Ombudsman - Juvenile Justice Monitor - Appointment | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Providing that the Director of Juvenile Justice Monitoring is appointed by the Correctional Ombudsman to serve a term of 4 years; and requiring the appointment of the Director of Juvenile Justice Monitoring to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate if the appointee has already served in that role. | ||||
Corrections - Medication Assisted Treatment | HB1084 | SB0942 | Delegate Pena-Melnyk | Correctional Services - Medication-Assisted Treatment Funding | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring the Maryland Secretary of Health to provide funding to counties for medication-assisted treatment programs; requiring counties that receive funding to submit a certain report; authorizing the Governor to appropriate certain funds in the annual budget bill; altering the requirements for a certain report; authorizing funds in the Opioid Restitution Fund to be used for medication-assisted treatment programs; etc. | |||
Corrections - Medication Assisted Treatment | SB0942 | HB1084 | Senator Sydnor | Correctional Services - Medication-Assisted Treatment Funding | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Requiring the Maryland Secretary of Health to provide funding to counties for medication-assisted treatment programs; requiring counties that receive funding to submit a certain report; authorizing the Governor to appropriate certain funds in the annual budget bill; altering the requirements for a certain report; authorizing funds in the Opioid Restitution Fund to be used for medication-assisted treatment programs; etc. | |||
County Police Accountability Boards | HB0836 | Delegate Davis | County Police Accountability Boards - Investigation of Complaints of Police Misconduct | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing the local governing body of a county to authorize, by local law, the county's police accountability board to exercise investigatory and subpoena powers; and authorizing a police accountability board to conduct an investigation of police misconduct concurrently with a law enforcement agency investigating the complaint. | ||||
Death of Incarcerated Individual | HB0775 | Delegate Otto | Correctional Services - Death of Incarcerated Individual - Notification | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 109 | Requiring the Commissioner of Correction to notify certain elected representatives whenever an incarcerated individual dies in a Division of Correction facility; and requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to adopt certain regulations compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. | |||||
Drug Paraphernalia - Decriminalization | HB0556 | SB0370 | Delegate Simpson | Drug Paraphernalia for Administration - Decriminalization | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Repealing the prohibition against a person using or possessing with intent to use, delivering or selling under certain circumstances, or manufacturing or possessing with intent to deliver or sell under certain circumstances drug paraphernalia to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled dangerous substance; altering a prohibition against a person possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia under certain circumstances; etc. | |||
Drug Paraphernalia - Decriminalization | SB0370 | HB0556 | Senator McCray | Drug Paraphernalia for Administration - Decriminalization | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Repealing the prohibition against a person using or possessing with intent to use, delivering or selling under certain circumstances, or manufacturing or possessing with intent to deliver or sell under certain circumstances drug paraphernalia to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled dangerous substance; altering a prohibition against a person possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia under certain circumstances; etc. | |||
Expungement - Effect | HB0777 | Delegate Grammer | Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Effect | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Establishing that a person who has been granted an expungement shall be determined for all purposes not to have been arrested for, cited for, charged with, or convicted of the underlying offense. | ||||
Expungement - Good Cause | HB0055 | Delegate Ruff | Criminal Procedure - Expungement of Records - Good Cause | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing a person to file a petition for expungement of any misdemeanor or felony conviction after the completion of the sentence, parole, probation, and any other form of mandatory treatment associated with the conviction; authorizing a court to grant a petition at any time on a showing of good cause; and providing that a denial of a certain petition may not be appealed and a subsequent petition may not be filed for at least 5 years. | ||||
Expungement - Refusal to hire/admit | HB0621 | Delegate Moon | Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Adverse Actions and Removal From Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) System | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Clarifying that refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for a unit, an official, or an employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State to deny the person's application for a license, permit, registration, or governmental service; providing that refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for an educational institution to expel or refuse to admit the person; etc. | ||||
Expungement Reform Act | HB0499 | SB0432 | Speaker | Criminal Records - Expungement and Maryland Judiciary Case Search (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Altering certain provisions of law relating to waiting periods for the filing of certain petitions for expungement to authorize the filing of a petition a certain amount of time after the completion of the sentence; adding to the list of misdemeanor convictions that a person may expunge under certain circumstances; prohibiting the Maryland Judiciary Case Search from in any way referring to the existence of a charge of possession of cannabis if the conviction was later pardoned by the Governor; etc. | |||
Expungement-Administrative Investigations | SB0762 | Senator McKay | Law Enforcement - Records of Administrative Investigation - Expungement | Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn | Requiring a certain record relating to an administrative investigation of misconduct by a police officer to be expunged under certain circumstances. | |||||
Expungement-Case Without Finding | HB0610 | SB0649 | Delegate Taylor | Criminal Procedure - Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without Finding | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Judicial Proceedings | Authorizing the expungement of a charge under a certain provision of law if the charge was not disposed of by an unequivocal conviction, but was instead disposed of by the court with a no finding designation or included in a case that was designated by the court as having been terminated without finding. | |||
Expungement-Case Without Finding | SB0649 | HB0610 | Senator Muse | Criminal Procedure - Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without Finding | Referred to interim study by Judicial Proceedings | Authorizing the expungement of a charge under a certain provision of law if the charge was not disposed of by an unequivocal conviction, but was instead disposed of by the court with a no finding designation or included in a case that was designated by the court as having been terminated without finding. | ||||
Incarcerated - Voting Rights | HB0710 | SB0647 | Delegate Wilkins | Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Ways and Means | Requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a certain voter hotline for incarcerated individuals; and altering the circumstances under which an individual is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals convicted of a felony and serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction to register to vote. | |||
Incarcerated - Voting Rights | SB0647 | HB0710 | Senator Muse | Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a certain voter hotline for incarcerated individuals; and altering the circumstances under which an individual is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals convicted of a felony and serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction to register to vote. | |||
Infant Separation from Incarcerated | HB0837 | Delegate Mireku-North | Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Establishing the Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals to study and make recommendations regarding methods to reduce forced infant separation in the State and facilitate bonds between postpartum incarcerated individuals and their children; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2025. | ||||
Interference with Critical Infrastructure | HB0444 | Delegate Hill | Criminal Law - Interference With Critical Infrastructure or a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Prohibiting a person from taking certain actions with the intent to deny access to an authorized user or interrupt or impair the functioning of critical infrastructure or a public safety answering point; prohibiting a person from taking certain actions that deny access to an authorized user or interrupt or impair the functioning of critical infrastructure or a public safety answering point; and authorizing certain penalties for certain violations. | ||||
Interference with PS Answering Point | HB0445 | SB0081 | Delegate Hill | Criminal Law - Interference With a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 161 | Prohibiting a person from taking certain actions with the intent to interrupt or impair the functioning of a public safety answering point; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not to exceed 5 years or a fine of up to $25,000 or both. | ||||
Interference with PS Answering Point | SB0081 | HB0445 | Senator Kagan | Criminal Law - Interference With a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 160 | Prohibiting a person from taking certain actions with the intent to interrupt or impair the functioning of a public safety answering point; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to $25,000 or both. | ||||
Juvenile Court - Theft of a Motor Vehicle | HB0873 | Delegate Rosenberg | Juvenile Law - Juvenile Court Jurisdiction - Theft of a Motor Vehicle | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court over a child of at least 13 years of age alleged to have committed a certain offense. | ||||
Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation Funding | HB0522 | Delegate Taveras | Department of Juvenile Services - Rehabilitation Services - Funding | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing the Department of Juvenile Services to provide funding for up to 1 year of certain rehabilitation services to certain rehabilitation institutions. | ||||
Juvenile Law - Restrictive Housing | HB1107 | SB0827 | Delegate Bartlett | Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Limiting the circumstances under which an incarcerated minor may be involuntarily placed in restrictive housing to the extent necessary to eliminate identifiable risk; prohibiting the placement of a minor in restrictive housing for more than 6 hours; authorizing a correctional facility to place a minor in restrictive housing at the minor's request; establishing certain requirements for detaining, confining, or transporting a child; etc. | |||
Juvenile Law - Restrictive Housing | SB0827 | HB1107 | Senator Love | Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Limiting the circumstances under which an incarcerated minor may be involuntarily placed in restrictive housing to the extent necessary to eliminate identifiable risk; prohibiting the placement of a minor in restrictive housing for more than 6 hours; and authorizing a correctional facility to place a minor in restrictive housing at the minor's request; establishing certain requirements for detaining, confining, or transporting a child; etc. | |||
Juvenile sex offenders - Registration | HB0638 | Delegate Grammer | Juveniles - Sexual Offenses - Registration and Reporting Requirements | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring a person who has been adjudicated delinquent for an act that, if committed by an adult, would constitute a certain sexual offense to register as a juvenile sex offender; requiring a juvenile registrant to remain on the juvenile sex offender registry until the registrant reaches 21 years of age under certain circumstances; expanding the definition of 'reportable offense' to include certain sexual offenses; etc. | ||||
Juveniles - Reportable Offenses | HB0588 | Delegate Grammer | Juveniles - Reportable Offenses | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring the Department of Juvenile Services to notify of a certain student's arrest a local superintendent of schools or school principal of a school in which the student has enrolled or to which the student has been transferred; and requiring the Department to provide certain educational programming information to a certain student. | ||||
Juveniles Arrested for Reportable Offenses | HB1265 | Chair, Ways and Means Committee | Education - Reportable Offenses and Prohibited Behavior on School Grounds - Alterations | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Education, Energy, and the Environment | Altering the offenses that constitute 'reportable offenses' that a law enforcement agency must report to certain school personnel under certain circumstances; altering certain provisions relating to the provision of notification to certain school personnel of the arrest of a student for a certain reportable offense; requiring the State Department of Education to develop an operational protocol to guide the transmission of reportable offense information; etc. | ||||
Liability of Parent for Juvenile Acts | HB0683 | Delegate Grammer | Criminal Law - Criminal or Delinquent Act of a Child - Liability of a Parent, Guardian, or Custodian | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Prohibiting the parent, guardian, or custodian of a child from intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently acting or failing to act in a manner that results in the child committing a crime or delinquent act; requiring an individual convicted under the Act to participate in certain proceedings and programs and establishing the failure to do so as contempt of court; and requiring the court to order a parent, guardian, or custodian to pay certain court costs and restitution related to a child's crime or delinquent act. | ||||
Minors convicted as adults-sentencing | HB0441 | SB0389 | Delegate Simpson | Minors Convicted as Adults - Sentencing - Transfer to Juvenile Court | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Establishing a presumption that the sentencing of a minor convicted as an adult should be transferred to the juvenile court, under certain circumstances, and authorizing the court to do so; and requiring the juvenile court to make a juvenile determination under certain circumstances. | |||
Minors convicted as adults-sentencing | SB0389 | HB0441 | Senator Folden | Minors Convicted as Adults - Sentencing - Transfer to Juvenile Court | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Establishing a presumption that the sentencing of a minor convicted as an adult should be transferred to the juvenile court, under certain circumstances, and authorizing the court to do so; and requiring the juvenile court to make a juvenile determination under certain circumstances. | |||
Municipalities - Body-Worn Cameras | HB0748 | Delegate Schindler | Municipalities - Enforcement Officers - Body-Worn Cameras | Failed-no vote in opposite committee | Judicial Proceedings | Including a certain municipal enforcement officer in the definition of 'law enforcement officer' for purposes of a certain exception to prohibitions against wiretapping and electronic surveillance relating to the use of body-worn cameras; authorizing a municipality to adopt an ordinance or a resolution authorizing an official who is authorized to act as an enforcement officer to utilize a body-worn camera; and requiring that a certain municipality publish its policy for the issuance and use of body-worn cameras by enforcement officers; etc. | ||||
No-Knock Warrants | HB0255 | Delegate Acevero | No-Knock Warrants | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Repealing the authority for the issuance and execution of a no-knock search warrant; establishing that a warrant may not authorize an officer to enter a building, apartment, premises, or place without first announcing the officer's purpose and authority; specifying that a warrant may be executed only between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and requiring an officer executing a search warrant, prior to entering certain areas to be searched, to give reasonable notice to alert any occupants of the officer's authority and purpose. | ||||
Occupational Licensing-Criminal History | HB0482 | Delegate Harrison | Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process | Passed Enrolled | Governor | Providing that 'department' does not include the Maryland Department of Health or the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for purposes of certain provisions prohibiting a department from refusing to issue an occupational license or certificate based on a certain conviction under certain circumstances; establishing a predetermination review process for occupational licenses and certificates in certain departments of State government; authorizing a department to charge a criminal history review fee of up to $100; etc. | ||||
Out-of-Court Statement of Child | HB0442 | SB0333 | Delegate Simpson | Criminal Procedure - Victims and Witnesses - Out of Court Statement of Child to Forensic Interviewer | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 147 | Expanding the evidentiary rule on the admissibility of out of court statements made by child victims or witnesses to make admissible an out of court statement made by a child to a forensic interviewer. | ||||
Out-of-Court Statement of Child | SB0333 | HB0442 | Senator West | Criminal Procedure - Victims and Witnesses - Out of Court Statement of Child to Forensic Interviewer | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 148 | Expanding the evidentiary rule on the admissibility of out of court statements made by child victims or witnesses to make admissible an out of court statement made by a child to a forensic interviewer. | ||||
Parental Accountability Act | SB0075 | Senator Benson | Juvenile Law - Probation and Treatment Services - Required Disposition (Parental Accountability Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Requiring the juvenile court to order certain probation for a child found to have committed certain delinquent acts or adjudicated to be a child in need of supervision because of habitual truancy; requiring probation of a child adjudged delinquent for certain acts or a child in need of supervision to include the adoption of a treatment service plan and providing the child and the child's family with certain services; and requiring the juvenile court to order a parent, guardian, or custodian to participate in a treatment service plan. | ||||
Police - No White Supremacy Affiliation | HB1435 | Delegate Acevero | Public Safety - Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission - Prohibition Against Certain Affiliation or Support by Police Officers | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to prohibit police officers from affiliating with, supporting, or advocating for White supremacist groups, ideologies, or causes or participating in or actively promoting a certain extremist group. | ||||
Police Accountability Investigations | HB0885 | SB0625 | Delegate Hornberger | Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Unfounded and Exonerated Complaints | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Requiring that all investigation records relating to a complaint of misconduct by a police officer be removed from the police officer's personnel record 3 years after an administrative charging committee or a trial board issues a finding that the complaint is unfounded or exonerated. | |||
Police Accountability Investigations | SB0625 | HB0885 | Senator Folden | Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Unfounded and Exonerated Complaints | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Requiring that all investigation records relating to a complaint of misconduct by a police officer be removed from the police officer's personnel record 3 years after an administrative charging committee or a trial board issues a finding that the complaint is unfounded or exonerated. | |||
Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause | HB0537 | SB0532 | Delegate Cardin | Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing a police officer who is denied a certain right to apply to the circuit court at any time before a hearing is held by the hearing board for an order that directs the law enforcement agency to show cause why the right should not be granted. | |||
Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause | SB0532 | HB0537 | Senator Folden | Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Authorizing a police officer who is denied a certain right to apply to the circuit court at any time before a hearing is held by the hearing board for an order that directs the law enforcement agency to show cause why the right should not be granted. | |||
Police Officer Complainant | HB0122 | Delegate Young | Public Safety - Police Accountability - Police Officer Complainant | Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn | Authorizing a police officer to file a complaint of police misconduct with a police accountability board. | |||||
Police Peer Support Programs | HB0309 | SB0326 | Delegate Cardin | Public Safety - Law Enforcement Agencies - Peer Support Programs | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 510 | Establishing certain confidentiality requirements for peer support counseling programs for law enforcement agencies; prohibiting a peer support specialist from disclosing the contents of any written or oral communication regarding a peer support interaction; and providing certain exceptions. | ||||
Police Peer Support Programs | SB0326 | HB0309 | Senator Waldstreicher | Public Safety - Law Enforcement Agencies - Peer Support Programs | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 511 | Establishing certain confidentiality requirements for peer support counseling programs for law enforcement agencies; prohibiting a peer support specialist from disclosing the contents of any written or oral communication regarding a peer support interaction; and providing certain exceptions. | ||||
Police Trial Boards | HB0186 | Delegate Young | Police Discipline - Trial Board Composition | Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn | Altering the composition of trial boards responsible for adjudicating matters of police discipline to include certain attorneys. | |||||
Prison Education Delivery Commission | HB0877 | Delegate Amprey | Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission - Reporting and Sunset Extension | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 110 | Extending the time for submission of the interim report and final report of the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission by 3 years; and extending the termination date for the Commission by 3 years. | |||||
Reduction of sentence petition | SB0039 | Senator Benson | Criminal Procedure - Petition to Modify or Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) | Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn | Authorizing an individual serving a term of confinement to petition a court to modify or reduce the sentence under certain circumstances; providing that a certain petitioner is entitled to assistance of counsel and, if indigent, representation by the Office of the Public Defender; and authorizing a certain person to apply to the Appellate Court of Maryland for leave to appeal a certain order in a certain manner and within a certain period of time after the court passes a certain order in accordance with the provisions of the Act. | |||||
Schools - Reportable Offenses | HB0620 | Delegate Atterbeary | Primary and Secondary Education - Reportable Offense - Alteration | Failed-no vote in original committee | Ways and Means | Altering the definition of a reportable offense to include only references to offenses defined as crimes of violence in relation to reporting arrests of students attending public and nonpublic schools in the State. | ||||
Theft of a Handgun | SB0300 | Senator Salling | Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun | Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn | Establishing the felony of theft of a handgun; establishing a penalty for theft of a handgun of, for a first conviction, imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both and, for a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $2,500 or both; and requiring that a sentence imposed under the Act be separate from and consecutive to a sentence for any other offense. | |||||
Unmask Hate Act | HB1081 | SB0709 | Delegate Boafo | Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Prohibiting a person from intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person while hiding or concealing their face; providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 90 days or a fine of up to $500 or both for a first offense, and for subsequent offenses, imprisonment of up to 180 days and a fine not to exceed $1,000 or both; and establishing certain affirmative defenses for a violation of the Act. | |||
Unmask Hate Act | SB0709 | HB1081 | Senator Waldstreicher | Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Prohibiting a person from intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person while hiding or concealing their face; providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 90 days or a fine of up to $500 or both for a first offense, and for subsequent offenses, imprisonment of up to 180 days and a fine not to exceed $1,000 or both; and establishing certain affirmative defenses for a violation of the Act. | |||
Use of Psychotropic Meds in Prison | HB0779 | Chair, Judiciary Committee | Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Authorizing the establishment of a medication review committee within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services that convenes to determine whether to approve the administration of psychotropic medication to a certain incarcerated individual under certain circumstances; providing that psychotropic medication may not be administered to an incarcerated individual who refuses the medication except under certain circumstances; etc. | ||||
Violent Crimes - Diminution Credit Limits | SB0735 | Senator Folden | Real Time for Violent Crime Act (Geri's Law) | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judicial Proceedings | Prohibiting the earning of diminution credits to reduce the term of confinement of an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence for murder in the first degree or murder in the second degree in a State or local correctional facility; prohibiting a deduction of diminution credits of more than 10% of an incarcerated individual's aggregate sentence for crimes of violence for an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence for a crime of violence; etc. | ||||
Youth Accontability and Safety Act | HB1190 | Delegate Crutchfield | Criminal Law - Youth Accountability and Safety Act | Failed-no vote in original committee | Judiciary | Providing that a person who was a child at the time of the offense may not be found to have committed felony murder in the first degree under certain provisions of law unless the person was a principal in the first degree; and providing for a motion for review of a certain conviction under certain circumstances. |
bottom of page