Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 788: Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)

HB 788, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2026," prohibits stealing mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or delivery companies (like FedEx or Amazon) without the recipient’s permission. It makes this theft a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The bill also requires courts to order convicted offenders to stay away from specific locations, including the crime scene, the victim’s home or workplace, and any other place the offender targeted during the theft. This law directly affects individuals who steal packages and the recipients whose deliveries are stolen, taking effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 827: Repair the Transportation Trust Fund Act

HB 827, the "Repair the Transportation Trust Fund Act," repeals the automatic annual increase of motor fuel taxes based on inflation (Consumer Price Index), preventing future tax hikes on gas and other fuels. The bill also prohibits state and local governments from implementing vehicle-miles-traveled taxes or similar fees, while requiring the Maryland Transit Administration to meet specific farebox recovery targets for certain transit services. Additionally, it allows the MTA to raise fares without certain public hearings under defined conditions and bans requirements for devices tracking vehicle miles in private vehicles. These changes directly affect transportation funding, transit fare policies, and vehicle taxation across Maryland.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 792: Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)

HB 792 (Porch Piracy Act of 2026) makes stealing mail or packages delivered by USPS or private carriers a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. It directly affects individuals who steal mail/packages and the recipients (victims) of such theft. Key provisions require courts to order thieves to either return the stolen item or pay restitution for its value to the victim. Additionally, interest accrued on overdue restitution payments must be split equally - 50% to the victim and 50% to the court. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 782: Criminal Law - Taking and Breaking Open Letters - Penalty

HB 782 amends Maryland's criminal law to increase the penalty for illegally opening another person's mail. The bill raises the fine for violating this prohibition from $15 to $500 while keeping the maximum jail term at six days. It directly affects individuals who take or break open letters addressed to others without permission, including mail carriers or others accessing private correspondence. The key change is the substantial fine increase, making the penalty more severe for this specific violation. The amendment becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 786: Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)

HB 786 (Porch Piracy Act of 2026) prohibits stealing mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or delivery companies as a felony, directly affecting individuals who commit such thefts. It requires courts to order convicted offenders to either return the stolen items or pay restitution for their value, and mandates the Central Collection Unit to report overdue restitution to consumer reporting agencies. The bill also creates new enforcement mechanisms, including automatic referral of overdue restitution over $30 to tax and lottery intercept programs. This law takes effect October 1, 2026, and amends Maryland’s Criminal Law (Section 7-106.1) and Criminal Procedure (Section 11-616) codes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 767: Criminal Law - Theft and Opening of Mail and Packages

HB 767 updates Maryland's criminal law to specifically address theft and unauthorized opening of mail and packages. It prohibits taking or opening mail/package not addressed to you without permission (Section 3-905) and makes stealing mail/package delivered by USPS or a delivery company a felony (Section 7-106.1), punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The bill requires courts to notify the U.S. Postmaster General of convictions involving USPS-delivered mail or packages. It directly affects individuals who steal or tamper with mail or packages intended for others, particularly those handled by USPS or commercial delivery services.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 633: Condominiums - Unit Owner Responsibility for Damage or Destruction

SB 633 clarifies that unit owners in Maryland must pay the full cost of repairing or replacing damage that originates within their own condominium unit, such as a leak from inside the unit. Condominium associations must annually inform owners in writing about this responsibility, including how it applies to damage from their unit versus common areas. The bill applies only to residential condominiums and takes effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 760: Criminal Law - Misdemeanor Theft - Statute of Limitations

HB 760 changes Maryland's statute of limitations for prosecuting misdemeanor theft cases. It extends the time limit from 2 years to 3 years for thefts involving property or services valued between $100 and $1,500, while keeping the 2-year limit for thefts under $100. This affects prosecutors and defendants in these specific misdemeanor theft cases, giving authorities more time to file charges for the higher-value offenses. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter the penalties for these crimes.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 542: Courts - Former Judge - Temporary Assignment

SB 542 modifies Maryland law governing temporary assignments of former judges to courts. It removes a restriction preventing judges who previously won election to judicial office from being recalled for temporary assignments (previously barred if they lost an election or were rejected by the Senate). The bill maintains existing restrictions for judges removed, involuntarily retired, disabled, censured, or practicing law. The change applies to all former judges seeking temporary assignments, with the revised rule taking effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 541: Judiciary Department - Judicial Removal - Disqualification From Future Judicial Office

SB 541 is a constitutional amendment proposing to add a provision stating that any Maryland judge or justice removed from office (for misconduct, failure to perform duties, or conduct prejudicial to justice) or retired under the judicial disability process is permanently ineligible for future judicial office. This directly affects judges and justices who face disciplinary action through the Commission on Judicial Disabilities. The amendment, if approved by voters in November 2026, would modify Article IV, Section 4B of the Maryland Constitution to include this disqualification rule. It does not change existing disciplinary procedures but adds a specific consequence for removal or retirement.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 794: Public Safety - Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission - Prohibition Against Certain Affiliation or Support by Police Officers

HB 794 prohibits Maryland police officers from affiliating with, supporting, or advocating for groups promoting white supremacy, racial bigotry, or violence against Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The bill requires the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to enforce this rule, specifically banning officers from participating in or promoting FBI-designated extremist groups that encourage illegal violence. It directly affects all sworn police officers in Maryland by establishing clear conduct standards for their off-duty associations. The law amends existing state code to define "white supremacist groups" and mandates the Commission to enforce these restrictions starting October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 906: Civil Actions - Punitive Damage Awards - Surcharge

This bill modifies Maryland's rules for punitive damages in civil cases by requiring plaintiffs to prove gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence before such damages can be awarded. It establishes a 50% surcharge on any punitive damages judgment that must be paid by the defendant and deposited into the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund, without reducing the amount the defendant pays the plaintiff. The law prohibits juries from being informed about the surcharge requirement and applies only to cases filed on or after October 1, 2026.

Bill results