HB 108 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program

HB 108 establishes the Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for release. The program allows these individuals to schedule visits to state correctional facilities for support, with schedules requiring written notification to the Division of Correction and public availability. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to specifically cover costs for this program, adding it to the fund's authorized uses. The bill requires the Division of Correction to approve protocols for the program and prohibits denying scheduled visits unless they interfere with facility operations. The program will take effect on October 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Oct 29, 2025 Signed May 12, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Division of Correction - Release Preparation Program → Third - Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from the 'Release Preparation Program' to the 'Release Preparation Volunteer Services Program' to explicitly clarify that it involves volunteers rather than just formerly incarcerated individuals. The scope was expanded to include organizations led by formerly incarcerated individuals and added a new requirement for the Division of Correction to maintain a record of registered volunteers. Additionally, a new provision grants volunteers the right to opt out of having their names made public, requiring written consent for disclosure.

Scope change

The program's scope was broadened to formally include organizations led by formerly incarcerated individuals and shifted the focus from direct participation to a volunteer services model.

DEFINITION

The program title was changed to 'Release Preparation Volunteer Services Program' to reflect its volunteer-based nature.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for participation was expanded to include organizations led by formerly incarcerated individuals, in addition to individual volunteers.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement mandates that the Division of Correction maintain a record of all volunteers registered in the program.

A new privacy provision was added, giving volunteers the right to elect whether their name is made public and requiring written consent for disclosure.

The requirement for volunteers to provide a written schedule was updated to specify that it must describe when the 'individual volunteer' intends to access a facility.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

42–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 49

Mar 21, 2026

D Democratic36

29 Yea 7

80% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 519

executive

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 21, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (42-0-7)

senate

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-2-8)

house of delegates

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Oct 29, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors