SB 463 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit

SB 463 (Maryland Senate Bill 463) repeals a provision in Maryland law that allowed municipalities to prohibit "vagrancy." Specifically, it removes the authority from local governments to ban vagrancy under Section 5-207(c)(2) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This change directly affects all Maryland municipalities, eliminating their ability to enforce vagrancy laws as a separate prohibition. The bill does not create new restrictions but removes this specific historical provision from local ordinance powers.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 31, 2026

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First - Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit → Third - Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill repeals a municipality's authority to prohibit vagrancy, removing the ability for local governments to enforce vagrancy laws. The change shifts authority from local municipalities to state-level oversight, likely to address concerns about vagrancy enforcement and civil liberties.

Scope change

The bill removes municipal authority to prohibit vagrancy, narrowing the scope of local law enforcement powers regarding vagrancy.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the municipality's authority to prohibit vagrancy, which was previously listed as a power municipalities could exercise.

Added enforcement authority for municipalities to prohibit vice, gambling, and houses of prostitution, replacing the removed vagrancy prohibition power.

Modified the geographic scope of municipal enforcement powers, extending authority up to one-half mile outside municipal limits in certain cases.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision clarifying that this section does not limit a municipality's authority to enforce ordinances relating to disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, or trespass.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 4/8 (Senator Smith) Adopted

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/31 (Senator Smith) Adopted

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/23 (Senator Muse) Adopted

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/17 (Senator Smith) Adopted

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/10 (Senator Smith) Adopted

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/5 (Senator Ready) Adopted

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors