HB 310 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing - Individuals With Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities

HB 310 limits the use of restrictive housing (locked cell confinement for 22+ hours daily) for incarcerated individuals in Maryland state facilities who have a developmental or intellectual disability. It requires a licensed clinical professional to assess new inmates for these disabilities during intake and to recommend against placing them in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days within any 30-day period. This 15-day limit does not apply if the individual commits a "prohibited act," such as causing serious injury, making threats, or possessing weapons. The bill directly affects incarcerated people with these disabilities and mandates correctional facilities to follow this assessment and limitation process.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing - Individuals With Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities → Third - Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing - Individuals With Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities · 7 edits

MODERATE

HB 310 was amended to require clinical professionals to assess individuals for developmental or intellectual disabilities during intake medical screening at state correctional facilities. The bill now mandates that if such a disability is identified, the facility cannot place the individual in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days in a 30-day period, unless the person commits a prohibited act. The original version authorized the assessment but did not include the mandatory restriction on restrictive housing placement.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from authorizing assessments to requiring them as part of standard intake screening, and added enforceable limits on restrictive housing for individuals with identified disabilities.

REQUIREMENT

Changed assessment from optional authorization to mandatory requirement during intake medical screening for new incarcerated individuals.

Added restriction preventing placement in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days in a 30-day period when a clinical professional recommends against it due to identified disability.

Added language requiring clinical professionals to assess for indicators of developmental or intellectual disabilities as part of standard intake screening.

Added exception clause allowing the 15-day restrictive housing limit to not apply if the individual commits a prohibited act.

DEFINITION

Modified definition of clinical professional from 'trained and licensed' to 'trained and or licensed' in mental health.

Added 'or' to clarify that clinical professionals may be trained in mental health without requiring licensure.

Added 'medical screening conducted on admission' to clarify when the assessment occurs during intake.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

133–0

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 142

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic103

98 Yea 5

95% Yea

R Republican39

35 Yea 4

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

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 Judiciary

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (133-0-9)

house of delegates

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors