SB 187 requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The bill mandates a separate facility with security features for low-risk, well-behaved inmates, located in Baltimore City on at least 3 acres, with sufficient capacity for all eligible women. It requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide gender-responsive services - including education, job training, trauma-informed counseling, and family support - starting by September 2026, and to report compliance to legislative committees. The facility must be operational by June 2023, with specific design standards for privacy, accessibility, and community reentry support.
SB 322 modifies Maryland's jury service disqualification rules for individuals with criminal convictions. It removes the requirement that someone must be "currently serving a sentence" for a crime punishable by over one year to be disqualified, while maintaining disqualifications for specific offenses like perjury, witness/jury intimidation, or crimes under Title 8 of the Criminal Law Article. The bill also keeps the existing provision allowing those pardoned for disqualifying convictions to serve on juries. This change affects individuals previously disqualified solely due to past convictions without active sentences, but not those convicted of the specified serious offenses. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1457 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of Maryland's Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill directly affects Washington County juveniles who are truant and the juvenile court system there, aiming to address school absenteeism through court-led interventions rather than punitive measures. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly include Washington County in the list of jurisdictions where such pilot programs may operate, alongside other counties already covered. The program would operate using state budget funds and requires consultation with other circuit administrative judges before implementation, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 140 prohibits individuals from knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining another person specifically to appropriate their government benefits for personal gain or another's benefit. It directly affects vulnerable populations receiving benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, or veterans' aid, and targets those exploiting them through coercion (e.g., threats, financial control) or deception. The law defines "exploitation" as illegally using benefits via undue influence, false promises, or isolation, and bans profiting from such exploitation or aiding violations. Violations are felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both, with each violation treated as a separate offense.
SB 285 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. The bill amends state law to add "correctional officers" to the eligibility criteria for the Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program, which previously covered only police officers and probation agents. It defines "correctional officer" per Maryland law and allows current or future correctional officers to apply for tuition assistance if they meet residency, enrollment, and service obligation requirements. The scholarship requires recipients to work in the field for at least five years within eight years of graduation or repay funds. This change directly affects correctional officers seeking higher education in Maryland.
SB 516 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies to provide officers with bullet-resistant vests meeting current national safety standards (NIJ 0101.03) before assigning them to field duties - not just administrative work. Agencies must replace vests before the manufacturer’s expiration date and notify the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission if they fail to do so by the 31st day after expiration. The Commission then alerts the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, which can withhold grant funds from agencies that repeatedly miss replacement deadlines or fail to report. This law directly affects all local law enforcement agencies and their officers who perform active duties, with concrete changes to safety protocols and funding access.
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.
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.
SB 61 establishes a Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for reentry. The program allows these individuals to access state correctional facilities to receive assistance with release planning. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to include funding for this program, directing the fund to cover related costs. The bill requires participants to provide written schedules for facility visits, and prohibits denial of access unless it disrupts facility operations.
SB 360 modifies Maryland's criminal law to specifically protect emergency response animals used by law enforcement. It prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing these animals - such as police dogs, law enforcement horses, or search/rescue dogs - while they are performing official duties. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with penalties including fines up to $15,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, depending on the severity. The law directly affects individuals who target these animals during operations and law enforcement agencies that rely on them. It does not change general animal cruelty laws but adds targeted protections for animals serving in emergency response roles.
