HB 860 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Petitions for Emergency Evaluation (Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act)

HB 860, the Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act, sets a 5-day initial limit for emergency evaluation petitions after court approval, with extensions of up to 5 days each (totaling no more than 30 days) based on the individual's current behavior. The bill requires courts to include the petition's expiration date and clarifies that peace officers must transport individuals to emergency facilities when holding a valid petition (either court-endorsed within 5 days or signed by authorized professionals), allowing electronic petitions. This law directly affects courts reviewing petitions, peace officers executing them, emergency facilities receiving individuals, and people subject to emergency evaluations. It standardizes timelines and procedures to ensure timely care while preventing prolonged detention without court review.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Petitions for Emergency Evaluation (Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act) → Third - Petitions for Emergency Evaluation (Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act) · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to add more sponsors, update the bill's title to 'Chapter' format, and significantly expand protections for peace officers executing emergency evaluation petitions. The changes include requiring courts to record both date and time of petition expiration, adding specific findings courts must make before extending petitions, and granting peace officers authority to follow best practices and be joined by mobile crisis teams when executing petitions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional procedural requirements for petition extensions and new protections for peace officers during petition execution.

ELIGIBILITY

Added multiple new sponsors to the bill including Delegates Bagnall, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Lopez, Martinez, Reilly, Rosenberg, Ross, Taveras, White Holland, and Woorman.

REQUIREMENT

Changed petition expiration documentation requirement from date only to date and time.

Added specific findings courts must make before extending petitions: good cause for why petition couldn't be served before expiration, and confirmation that grounds for initial petition still exist.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for peace officers to act in accordance with best practices when taking emergency evaluees to facilities.

Added provision allowing peace officers to be joined by mobile crisis teams when executing petitions, subject to officer discretion and practicability.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill title format from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER' and updated committee report and house action status.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2026

How they voted

132–0

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 142

Mar 8, 2026

D Democratic103

95 Yea 8

92% Yea

R Republican39

37 Yea 2

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 8, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-10)

house of delegates

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health and Judiciary

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors