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SB 540 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Home Detention Monitoring Agencies - Promotion and Solicitation of Business - Prohibition

SB 540 prohibits private home detention monitoring agencies, their agents, and courthouse or correctional facility employees from soliciting business or promoting services on courthouse or correctional facility grounds. Specifically, it bans approaching individuals to use their services, distributing promotional materials, or otherwise soliciting business in these locations. The law applies directly to agencies providing home detention monitoring services and staff working at courthouses or correctional facilities. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors with fines up to $5,000 and potential license suspensions for licensed individuals.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits solicitation in courthouses to prevent coercion of defendants, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Home Detention Monitoring Agencies - Promotion and Solicitation of Business - Prohibition → Enrolled - Home Detention Monitoring Agencies - Promotion and Solicitation of Business - Prohibition · 4 edits · May 12, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an enrolled bill ready for the Governor's signature, with minor formatting updates to the header and citation references. The core policy prohibiting solicitation of business by home detention monitoring agencies near courthouses remains unchanged, though the legal citation was slightly adjusted to include 'Criminal Procedure' and the definition of 'Agency' was expanded to reference the Business Occupations and Professions Article.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains the same; no new entities are added or exempted, and the geographic restrictions on solicitation are unchanged.
TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to reflect its status as an 'Enrolled Bill' and included signature lines for the Governor and legislative leaders.

The legal citation for the Article was updated to include 'Criminal Procedure' alongside 'Business Occupations and Professions'.

References to the relevant law title were updated to include 'Title 20 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article' for clarity.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Agency' was expanded to explicitly state that it has the same meaning as defined in Section 20-101 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

44–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 24, 2026
D Democratic36
33 Yea 3
91% Yea
R Republican13
11 Yea 2
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 478
executive
Apr 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 25, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-5)
house of delegates
Mar 24, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)
senate
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Referred Judiciary
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.