Marriage - Confidential Communication

HB 241 clarifies that "spouse" includes a former spouse for confidentiality purposes in Maryland law. It allows a spouse who is the alleged victim in a criminal case (where one spouse is charged with a crime against the other) to legally share confidential communications that occurred during the marriage. However, the bill also states that a spouse cannot be forced to testify about such communications under this provision. The law affects individuals in marital relationships (current or former) involved in criminal cases involving spousal crimes, specifically changing how confidential communications may be handled in court. The bill amends Maryland's Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code, Section 9-105.