Public Safety - Militia - Active Duty Combat (Defend the Guard)

HB 1319 restricts the Governor of Maryland from ordering the National Guard or militia members into active duty combat (defined as participation in armed conflict, hazardous foreign service related to conflict, or war-related duties) unless the U.S. Congress has officially declared war or taken specific action under Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 of the U.S. Constitution. The bill directly affects the Governor's authority to deploy state military forces for combat operations. It preserves the Governor's ability to deploy forces for non-combat purposes like disaster response (under existing State active duty provisions) or under Title 32 for domestic support. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly states it does not limit Title 32 deployments within the U.S.