HB 626 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements (Exonerated 5 Act)

This bill creates a rule that a minor's statement during a custodial interrogation is presumed involuntary and inadmissible in court if law enforcement intentionally used false information to obtain it. It directly affects minors facing juvenile or criminal charges, as their statements could be excluded from proceedings under this presumption. The presumption can be overcome only with clear and convincing evidence proving the statement was voluntary despite the false information. The law applies to all custodial interrogations of minors in Maryland, modifying admissibility standards under Maryland's judicial code.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Feb 2, 2026
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Jan 30, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judiciary
lower
13 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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