HB 16 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission - Members and Hearing Examiners

HB 16 restructures Maryland's Parole Commission by increasing its membership from 10 to 15-20 members and changing how they are appointed. The bill requires the Governor to appoint members from a panel of 8 specific experts (including the Public Defender, a mental health specialist, and a prisoners' rights advocate), with the panel only needed for initial appointments. It eliminates the Commission's authority to use hearing examiners for parole hearings, replacing that role entirely. These changes directly affect parole commissioners, the parole hearing process, and individuals seeking parole in Maryland.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Sep 16, 2025 Last action Mar 25, 2026

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First - Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission - Members and Hearing Examiners → Third - Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission - Members and Hearing Examiners · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly restructures the Maryland Parole Commission by increasing the number of commissioners from 10 to at least 15 but no more than 20, expanding the appointment panel to include more diverse voices, and adding two new commissioner positions for prisoners' rights and victims' rights advocates. The bill also tightens hearing examiner rules by limiting their service to 90 days and requiring new commissioners to be appointed within 90 days of a vacancy.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Parole Commission by increasing its membership size and adding specialized advocate positions, while narrowing the scope of hearing examiners' authority and tenure.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the number of Parole Commission members from 10 to a range of 15-20 members

Added a new commissioner position for a victims' rights advocate appointed by the Governor

Added a new commissioner position for a prisoners' rights advocate chosen by the Governor

Limited hearing examiners to a maximum of 90 days of service

ELIGIBILITY

Added two new commissioner positions: one formerly incarcerated Maryland resident and one immediate relative of a currently or formerly incarcerated person

TIMELINE

Required new commissioners to be appointed within 90 days after a vacancy occurs

ENFORCEMENT

Changed parole approval requirement from a minimum number of commissioners to a majority vote of all appointed commissioners

DEFINITION

Expanded the appointment panel composition to include additional service providers and public members

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

How they voted

100–36

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 142

Mar 10, 2026

D Democratic103

100 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

36 Nay 3

92% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 10, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (100-36-6)

house of delegates

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

Sep 16, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors