SB 181 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole

SB 181 (Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole) requires Maryland’s Parole Commission to consider an incarcerated person’s age when deciding parole eligibility, specifically including age in the assessment of "reasonable probability" of not reoffending. It also clarifies medical parole standards, defining "chronically debilitated" (e.g., severe dementia or permanent disability) and "terminal illness," and mandates that medical parole requests include a licensed medical professional’s evaluation. The bill requires the Commission to develop procedures for reviewing such requests and allows for a direct meeting between the incarcerated person and the Commission under certain medical circumstances. This directly affects older inmates (60+) or those with serious, non-improving medical conditions who are eligible for parole.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Oct 30, 2024 Signed Apr 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole → Enrolled - Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole · 6 edits · Apr 22, 2025

MODERATE

The bill transitioned from a draft version to its final enrolled form, incorporating minor formatting updates and clarifying the legislative intent. The core policy regarding geriatric and medical parole remains consistent, focusing on requiring the Parole Commission to consider age and medical conditions when deciding on parole releases.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains unchanged; it continues to apply to incarcerated individuals seeking geriatric or medical parole under Maryland law.

TECHNICAL

Updated header information to reflect the bill's status as an 'Enrolled Bill' and included standard proofreading and sealing language required for final legislation.

Reorganized the explanatory text regarding how amendments are indicated (e.g., brackets, underlining) to align with standard legislative formatting conventions.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to submit specific names to the Parole Commission at designated times, enhancing oversight of the parole process.

Mandated that the Parole Commission conduct a risk assessment for specific individuals at certain times to better evaluate suitability for parole release.

Authorized the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board to recommend that a portion of certain savings be distributed to the Parole Commission for specific purposes.

Removed the authorization for the Governor to disapprove a decision by the Commission to grant medical parole, streamlining the parole decision-making process.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

34–12

Passed

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

32 Yea 1 Nay

96% Yea

R Republican13

2 Yea 11 Nay

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 102

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report {

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Bartlett, Kaufman and Clippinger)

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Smith, Sydnor and West)

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Smith, Sydnor and West)

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Introduced

Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 25, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (102-36-1)

house of delegates

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-12)

senate

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred Judiciary

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Laid Over (Senator Ready) Adopted

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

Oct 30, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors