Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Adverse Actions and Removal From Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) System

HB 621 clarifies that individuals with expunged criminal charges (specifically cannabis possession cases where it was the only charge and disposed before July 1, 2023) cannot be denied licenses, permits, jobs, or educational opportunities solely for refusing to disclose those expunged charges. The bill prohibits state agencies, employers, and educational institutions from using refusal to disclose expunged information as the sole basis for denial. It also mandates that Maryland’s MDEC court system remove all references to qualifying cannabis possession cases from its records by July 1, 2024. These provisions directly affect people with expunged cannabis cases and the agencies handling applications for services or admissions.