Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 360: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects law enforcement animals during official duties, strengthening operational effectiveness within criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 563: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

HB 563 strengthens protections for law enforcement and search/rescue animals by making it a crime to harm them during their duties. The bill prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing emergency response animals (including police dogs, horses used by police, and search/rescue dogs), and adds penalties for these acts. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with fines up to $15,000 or jail terms up to 5 years, depending on the severity. This directly affects anyone who targets these animals while they are performing official law enforcement or rescue tasks. The law replaces an outdated provision that previously allowed intentional harm to such animals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly strengthens law enforcement protections by criminalizing harm to police/search-rescue animals, enhancing operational effectiveness within criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 346: Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)

SB 346, titled "Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)," creates a new legal pathway in Maryland for individuals to sue government officials who violate constitutional rights under "color of law." The bill allows plaintiffs to seek damages, injunctions, and attorney fees for deprivations of rights secured by the U.S. Constitution, Maryland Declaration of Rights, or Maryland Constitution. Key provisions include a 3-year statute of limitations for filing claims, protections for judicial officers (limiting injunctive relief unless a declaratory judgment is violated), and restrictions on awarding fees against judges acting within their authority. This law directly affects government officials and citizens who experience constitutional violations during official actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables lawsuits against officials for constitutional violations, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights - key criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 305: Qualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Incarcerated Individual Training and Reentry Grant Fund - Extension

SB 305 extends funding for nonprofit organizations providing automotive repair training and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland. It extends the grant period from fiscal years 2026-2028 to 2026-2029, authorizing $1 million annually for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 individuals yearly in auto repair and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention administers the grants, requiring nonprofits to submit annual reports on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes. This bill directly affects nonprofits meeting specific service criteria and supports employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1 million annually for nonprofit reentry programs, directly funding a social service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends funding for job training/reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly reducing recidivism through employment opportunities and rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends funding for job training and placement programs targeting formerly incarcerated individuals, directly advancing employment outcomes and workforce reentry through mandated job placement rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 501: Criminal Law - Sexual Offense by a Person in a Position of Authority

HB 501 amends Maryland law to prohibit individuals in positions of authority (such as teachers, coaches, or school staff working with minors) from engaging in sexual contact with minors who are at least six years younger. It increases penalties for violations: first offenses carry up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, while repeat offenders face up to three years in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill also adds this offense as a predicate crime for sexual solicitation of minors and updates definitions related to sex offender registry tiers. It directly affects educators, program leaders, and others in supervisory roles working with minors under age 18.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for sexual offenses by authority figures, strengthening criminal justice protections for minors through enhanced sentencing and predicate crime designation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects students from abuse by school staff (teachers/coaches), enhancing school safety and trust in educational environments, directly advancing student protection within education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 710: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Reemployment After Retirement - Exemption from Earnings Offset

SB 710 exempts retirees from Maryland's Correctional Officers' Retirement System from having their retirement benefits reduced if they return to work as correctional officers or parole/probation staff in specific state correctional facilities. The bill amends pension law to remove the earnings offset requirement for these retirees when reemployed by the Division of Corrections, Division of Pretrial Detention, or Patuxent Institution for up to four years. This directly affects correctional officers who retired from the system and are rehired in authorized roles within state correctional facilities. The change ensures their retirement payments remain unchanged during this reemployment period, unlike the standard rule that reduces benefits for most other retirees returning to work.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts correctional retirees from earnings offset, facilitating workforce retention in corrections, directly supporting system stability and operational continuity.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts correctional officer retirees from earnings offset, preserving retirement benefits upon reemployment in specific state facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 473: Public Utilities - For-Hire Drivers and Transportation Network Operators - Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Training and Liability

SB 473 requires new applicants for taxicab, for-hire driver, or transportation network operator (e.g., Uber/Lyft) licenses in Maryland to submit proof they completed human trafficking awareness training. This includes either the U.S. Department of Transportation’s "Leaders Against Human Trafficking" program or another nationally recognized training program. The bill also protects licensed drivers from civil or criminal liability when reporting suspected trafficking in good faith. These requirements apply specifically to new license applicants, not current license holders, and are designed to help identify and prevent trafficking through driver training and reporting.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires human trafficking training for drivers, aiding crime prevention and reporting in criminal justice context85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates trafficking training for for-hire drivers (Uber/Lyft), enhancing safety standards in transportation services per topic's vehicle regulations focus.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 810: Immigration Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)

SB 810 prohibits public school security personnel (including school resource officers, security employees, and certain off-duty officers providing school coverage) from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee information for immigration purposes. The bill specifically bans using school staff for Section 287(g) federal immigration investigations and restricts sharing educational or personnel records related to immigration enforcement, except when presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order. School security personnel must immediately contact the county superintendent and legal counsel if shown such legal documents. This law directly affects all Maryland public schools and their security staff, taking effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with existing privacy laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts school security (law enforcement) from immigration enforcement, protecting student civil rights and preventing law enforcement overreach in schools. Aligns with criminal justice reform by limiting misuse of security personnel.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits school staff from aiding immigration enforcement, protecting student privacy and safety in educational settings per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits school staff from aiding federal immigration enforcement and restricts sharing student data for immigration purposes, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 707: Mental Health Law - Danger to the Life or Safety of the Individual or of Others - Definition (Right to Treatment)

SB 707 amends Maryland's Mental Health Law to clarify the definition of "danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others" for involuntary admission and emergency evaluations. It specifies that this danger includes four key scenarios: causing bodily harm, engaging in conduct likely to result in criminal justice involvement, inability to meet basic needs (food, shelter, medical care) creating serious risk, or substantial deterioration in judgment preventing informed treatment decisions. The bill directly affects individuals with mental disorders who may be assessed for involuntary care, as well as healthcare providers making those determinations under the law. This definition replaces the current standard in Maryland Code, Section 10-601, and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies mental health criteria to prevent unnecessary criminal justice involvement, aligning with reform goals of diversion from incarceration over arrest95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies involuntary admission criteria to ensure timely mental health treatment, protecting patient rights and improving access to care under Maryland's Mental Health Law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 281: Family Law - Child Care Providers - Criminal Background Investigations

HB 281 requires background checks for individuals working with children in specific settings. It mandates licensed child care centers, family child care homes, foster care facilities, schools, camps, and similar organizations to obtain national and state criminal history checks for all employees, volunteers, and certain caregivers - including neighbors or friends providing sudden care due to a primary caretaker's unavailability. Facilities must submit fingerprints and pay a fee to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository. The bill directly affects providers serving minors and expands background check requirements to include new categories like "sudden caregivers" and individuals residing in homes where informal child care occurs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal background checks for child care workers, enhancing public safety and preventing harm through proactive screening in criminal justice systems.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice