Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 512: Criminal Law - Stalking - Penalties

SB 512 amends Maryland's stalking law to increase penalties for specific stalking offenses. It elevates stalking to a felony (with up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine) if the offender had a protective order against them, violated a court order prohibiting the behavior, or has a prior stalking conviction in Maryland or another state. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of stalking who meet these aggravating conditions. Key provisions clarify that stalking includes unwanted electronic tracking without consent and define the circumstances under which penalties escalate. The law maintains existing definitions of stalking but strengthens consequences for repeat offenders and those violating court orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases felony penalties for stalking with protective order violations, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentences per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1008: Fiduciary Institutions - Exploitation of Seniors and Vulnerable Adults - Protections and Required Referral (Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act)

HB 1008, the "Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act," allows banks and credit unions to delay or block payments from accounts of seniors (65+) or vulnerable adults (those who lack capacity to meet daily needs) if they reasonably suspect financial exploitation. The bill requires financial institutions to notify authorized account holders (unless they suspect that person of exploitation) and report the delay to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement within four business days. It also mandates that institutions provide status updates to authorities upon request, creating a formal process to address potential abuse while protecting vulnerable account holders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires banks to report suspected financial exploitation to law enforcement, aiding criminal investigations and victim protection within criminal justice framework.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 822: Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission and Erroneously Convicted Individuals - Improvements in Transparency and Equity

SB 822 requires the Maryland Parole Commission to include race-disaggregated data in its annual report, detailing parole grants, denials (with reasons), administrative releases, hearing purposes, and parole-eligible individuals not granted parole. It mandates that the Commission provide incarcerated individuals with copies of all documents used in parole decisions *before* hearings (instead of allowing on-request examination), and requires the Commission to document reasons for denials and make hearing recordings publicly available after redaction. The bill also prohibits the Commission from permanently denying parole and requires it to hold subsequent parole hearings for eligible individuals after a set timeframe. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland and the Parole Commission’s operational transparency.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires race data, pre-hearing document access, and denial documentation to enhance parole transparency and equity in corrections system95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 1030: Office of the State Prosecutor - Investigation of Threats - Judges

HB 1030 expands Maryland's existing threat laws to specifically protect judges and judge-elects. The bill amends Section 3-708 of the Criminal Law to explicitly include "a judge or judge-elect" in the list of protected individuals (alongside state/local officials and prosecutors). It also adds a new subsection (VII) to Section 14-107 of the Criminal Procedure law, authorizing the State Prosecutor to investigate threats against judges or judge-elects. This change ensures judges receive the same legal protections against threats as other designated officials under current law. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly protects judges from threats under criminal law, strengthening judicial safety within the criminal justice system per its legislative intent.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 531: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement (Verbal Waiver Transparency Act)

SB 531 prohibits law enforcement agencies from requesting verbal acknowledgments from victims of sexually assaultive behavior that would limit investigations, prevent prosecutions, or restrict the victim's legal rights. The bill requires agencies to document any victim request to limit or pause an investigation and follow recommended practices for follow-up. Victims who believe the law was violated can seek court orders to address the issue. This law directly affects sexual assault victims interacting with police and mandates new policies for all Maryland law enforcement agencies by January 2021. It takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits law enforcement from seeking verbal waivers that limit investigations/prosecutions of sexual assault, requiring documentation and court remedies for violations. Protects victims' civil rights and enhances law enforcement accountabil...95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 634: Office of the State Prosecutor - Investigation of Threats - Judges

SB 634 authorizes Maryland's State Prosecutor to investigate threats against judges or judge-elects. The bill amends the State Prosecutor's authority under Criminal Procedure Section 14-107 to explicitly include investigations of threats violating Criminal Law Section 3-708 when directed at judges or judge-elects. This expands existing protections for officials covered under the law, which previously included state/local officials, prosecutors, and public defenders but not judges. The key change is adding judges to the list of protected individuals whose threats trigger the State Prosecutor's investigative role, without altering penalty levels for making threats. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands judicial protection against threats, strengthening court integrity within criminal justice system by explicitly including judges under existing threat investigation authority.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 540: 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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits solicitation in courthouses to prevent coercion of defendants, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 544: Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard

SB 544 establishes minimum security staffing requirements for all Maryland courthouses. It requires courthouse security providers to have specific numbers of qualified officers present during proceedings: one officer per courtroom for most cases (starting July 2027), two officers for cases involving incarcerated individuals or potential custody changes, and one additional officer for every four or fewer courtrooms per floor. Security officers must meet the qualifications for a special police officer under Maryland law. The standards phase in over time, with full implementation by July 1, 2029, and take effect October 1, 2026. This directly affects all Maryland courthouses and the security entities responsible for staffing them.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes security standards for courthouses, protecting court operations within criminal justice system85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 241: Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration

SB 241 automatically restores voting rights for Maryland residents released from state correctional facilities who were previously registered to vote. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services must send weekly lists of released individuals (including new addresses) to the State Board of Elections, which then automatically reinstates their voter registration at the provided address. The bill prohibits disclosing that someone was restored through this process under public information laws. It directly affects people released from facilities like Patuxent Institution and Baltimore City Detention Center who were registered before incarceration. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals, advancing criminal justice reform by promoting reintegration and protecting civil rights post-release.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 115: Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration

HB 115 automatically restores voting rights for Maryland residents released from state prisons who were registered to vote before incarceration. The Department of Public Safety must send the State Board of Elections a weekly list of released individuals' names and new addresses, prompting the Board to reactivate their voter registration at their updated address. The bill requires the Board to send notification cards confirming voting eligibility and the right to update address or decline registration, while prohibiting public disclosure of how someone was restored through this process. This applies to all released individuals with prior registration who now reside in Maryland, effective January 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for released prisoners, advancing reintegration and civil rights - key criminal justice reform measure addressing post-incarceration rights.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice