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Maryland Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 26,430 Active 12,512 In committee 12,512 Passed 3,332 Signed 7,901 Failed 2,336

Bill results

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 31: Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause

HB 31 allows police officers in Maryland who are denied a right under disciplinary rules to seek court intervention before a formal hearing. Specifically, officers can apply to a circuit court for an order requiring their law enforcement agency to explain why the right should not be granted. The bill specifies that countywide/local agency officers must file in their county’s circuit court, while statewide/bicounty agency officers file in Anne Arundel County circuit court. This process applies to disciplinary proceedings under Maryland’s Public Safety subtitle and takes effect October 1, 2026.
Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill enables officers to challenge disciplinary actions via court, potentially weakening oversight and accountability mechanisms in law enforcement.85% confidence
Jon Cardin (D)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 362: Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Effect

HB 362 clarifies that once a person in Maryland receives an expungement for a criminal offense, they are legally treated as if they were never arrested, cited, charged, or convicted for that offense. The bill directly affects individuals who qualify for expungement under Maryland law by removing the lingering legal consequences of their past record. Its key provision (added to Maryland's Criminal Procedure Code) explicitly states that expungement applies "for all purposes," ensuring background checks, employment screenings, and other contexts cannot reference the expunged offense. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, creating a uniform legal standard for expungement outcomes.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes legal barriers from past records via expungement, advancing criminal justice reform by enabling rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through 'all purposes' treatment.95% confidence
Robin Grammer (R)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 349: Public Safety - Law Enforcement - Use of Body-Worn Cameras

HB 349 requires specific Maryland law enforcement agencies to mandate body-worn cameras for all sworn officers during public duties while in uniform. It applies immediately to the State Police, Anne Arundel County Police, Howard County Police, and Harford County Sheriff’s Office, with all other county agencies required to comply by July 1, 2025. The law specifies officers must wear cameras "regardless of rank" during public interactions, subject to each agency’s existing camera policy. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter existing policies governing camera usage.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body cameras for all officers during public interactions to enhance police accountability, a core criminal justice reform measure.95% confidence
Jon Cardin (D) Sean Stinnett (D) Diana Fennell (D) Nic Kipke (R) Dylan Behler (D)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 513: Hate Crimes and Hate Bias - Definitions of Sexual Orientation and Hate Bias Incident

HB 513 updates Maryland's legal definitions related to hate crimes and hate bias incidents. It redefines "sexual orientation" to focus on an individual's identity or others' perception of that identity regarding attraction, explicitly stating it does not include gender identity. The bill also defines "hate bias incident" to include non-criminal acts like slurs, offensive symbols, or online threats targeting protected classes (including sexual orientation, gender, disability, and others). It requires law enforcement agencies to report such incidents to the Department of State Police, which must collect, analyze, and quarterly report this data to the Commission on Civil Rights. These changes directly affect law enforcement reporting requirements and the scope of protections under hate crime laws.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands civil rights protections in hate crime definitions by including non-criminal bias incidents and broadening covered classes, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing protection.85% confidence
Joe Vogel (D)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 508: Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Not Administratively Charged, Unfounded, and Exonerated Complaints

HB 508 requires Maryland police departments to remove certain investigation records from an officer’s personnel file 3 years after a determination that the officer was not administratively charged, the complaint was deemed unfounded, or the officer was exonerated. It directly affects police officers whose misconduct complaints were cleared through administrative or trial processes. The key provision mandates this removal for records related to internal affairs investigations, disciplinary decisions, or hearing records, excluding cases where formal charges were filed. This change aims to limit the long-term impact of unsubstantiated or cleared complaints on officers’ records. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes unfounded/exonerated complaint records from officer files after 3 years, reducing stigma for cleared officers and promoting fairer police accountability.85% confidence
Jason Buckel (R) Steve Arentz (R) Brian Chisholm (R) Jay Jacobs (R) Barrie Ciliberti (R)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 527: Correctional Services - Home Detention - Removal

This bill changes Maryland's home detention rules by giving the Commissioner of Correction (or their designee) the authority to immediately remove an incarcerated person from home detention for any reason, not just violations. It specifically requires removal if someone violates a condition of their home detention placement. The bill directly affects individuals currently participating in Maryland's home detention programs. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.
Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands commissioner's authority to remove individuals from home detention for any reason, reducing alternatives to incarceration and weakening rehabilitation-focused sentencing options.90% confidence
Steve Arentz (R) Jay Jacobs (R) Nino Mangione (R) Bob Long (R)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 414: Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification

HB 414 changes Maryland's jury service rules by removing a disqualification for people currently on parole or probation for crimes punishable by more than one year in prison. Previously, individuals serving such sentences (including parole) were barred from jury duty, but this bill eliminates that specific barrier. The bill maintains disqualifications for crimes involving perjury, witness intimidation, jury intimidation, or certain offenses under Maryland's Criminal Law (Title 8). It also preserves requirements that jurors must understand English to complete qualification forms. This change would allow more people with past convictions to serve on juries, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves jury service disqualification for parole/probation, promoting reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence
Jheanelle Wilkins (D) Nicole Williams (D) Jamila Woods (D) Jeff Long (D) Debra Davis (D)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 409: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction (Youth Charging Reform Act)

HB 409, the Youth Charging Reform Act, expands juvenile court jurisdiction by removing automatic transfers to adult court for certain serious offenses committed by youth aged 16 and older. It directly affects Maryland youth aged 16+ accused of specific crimes like robbery, murder, carjacking, or firearm-related offenses - previously excluded from juvenile court. The bill repeals sections that barred juvenile court from handling these cases, meaning such offenses will now typically be processed in juvenile court unless a judge orders transfer. This change modifies jurisdiction rules in Maryland’s Courts, Criminal Procedure, and Education codes, shifting how these cases are handled without altering sentencing outcomes.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands juvenile court jurisdiction to avoid automatic adult court transfers for youth, promoting rehabilitation-focused sentencing over punitive measures - core criminal justice reform.90% confidence
Mary Lehman (D) Sandy Bartlett (D) Karen Toles (D)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 471: Public Safety - State and Local Governments - Use of Unmanned Aircraft

HB 471 restricts how Maryland state and local governments can use drones (unmanned aircraft). It prohibits most deployments for surveillance or evidence collection, and bans using information gathered by drones unless specific exceptions apply. Evidence obtained through unauthorized drone use becomes inadmissible in court. Exceptions allow drone use only for activities like executing search warrants, active rescues, or responding to credible terrorism threats, as outlined in the bill. This directly affects state agencies and local governments operating drones for public safety purposes.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement drone surveillance, requires exceptions for evidence collection, and makes unauthorized evidence inadmissible, protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts government drone surveillance to prevent unauthorized data collection, protecting privacy rights through explicit prohibitions and inadmissible evidence rules.90% confidence
Robin Grammer (R)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 155: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Prohibition on Face Coverings

HB 155 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to adopt policies prohibiting officers from wearing face coverings (like opaque masks or helmets) during routine duties, with specific exceptions. The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission must create a model policy emphasizing transparency and excluding religious items, medical masks, or safety gear (such as helmets for motorcycle operations). Officers violating this rule face potential fines or loss of civil immunity, but exceptions cover religious garments, medical protection, and occupational safety needs. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits face coverings to enhance officer transparency and accountability in law enforcement, directly supporting criminal justice reform through increased police oversight.95% confidence
Jheanelle Wilkins (D) Mary Lehman (D) Julie Palakovich Carr (D) Nicole Williams (D) Charlotte Crutchfield (D)
in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 397: Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Failure to Obey a Court Order to Report to Confinement

HB 397 allows individuals convicted of failing to report to confinement (a misdemeanor) to petition for expungement of their record. It adds this specific offense to Maryland’s list of eligible cases under expungement law. The bill requires a 5-year waiting period after completing all sentence terms before filing such a petition. This applies only to misdemeanor convictions for not showing up to jail as ordered by a court.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement for misdemeanor failure to report, reducing recidivism and supporting reentry - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence
Robin Grammer (R)
in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 3: Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2026

SB 3 modernizes Maryland's unemployment insurance system by changing how weekly benefit amounts and employer contributions are calculated. It sets the maximum weekly benefit at 40% of the state's average weekly wage (up from fixed amounts) and bases employer taxable wages on 16% of the state's average annual wage, both updated annually. This directly affects unemployed workers (through revised benefit calculations) and employers (through adjusted contribution rates). The Maryland Department of Labor must publish the state average wage data online by January 31 each year to implement these changes.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modernizes unemployment tax base (16% of avg annual wage) and benefit calculations (40% of avg weekly wage), promoting fiscal sustainability through annual updates to align with economic conditions.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases max weekly unemployment benefit to 40% of average wage (up from fixed), expanding worker benefits through updated calculation formula.95% confidence
Ben Kramer (D)
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