Criminal Law - Hate Crimes - Law Enforcement Officers

SB 122 amends Maryland's hate crime laws to explicitly include law enforcement officers as a protected class under the state's criminal code. The bill adds "or a law enforcement officer" to the list of protected categories in Section 10-304 (which defines hate-motivated crimes) and updates Section 10-305 to prohibit hate crimes against buildings associated with law enforcement officers. This means attacks on officers personally, or damage to properties linked to officers (like police stations), will now qualify as hate crimes when motivated by animosity toward their status. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, expanding existing protections previously covering race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, and homelessness.