SB 101 adds correctional officers to Maryland's existing loan repayment and scholarship programs for public safety workers. It expands the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program (Subtitle 37) to allow correctional officers who work in state facilities for at least two years to get help repaying higher education loans. It also creates a new scholarship program (Subtitle 38) for students or current correctional officers pursuing relevant degrees, requiring a five-year service commitment after graduation. The bill directly affects correctional officers statewide by providing financial support for education and career advancement. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
This bill ensures Maryland's Recovery Residence Grant Program receives $500,000 annually from fiscal years 2024 through 2030 by requiring this funding be included in the state's annual budget. It directly supports recovery residences (such as sober living facilities) that provide housing and support services for people in addiction recovery. The law updates existing funding rules to extend the annual budget requirement through 2030, preventing potential funding gaps. This creates a stable funding mechanism for these community-based recovery programs.
HB 497 extends the effective duration of temporary protective orders from 7 to 14 days after service and requires final protective order hearings to occur within 14 days (previously 7 days) after service. It allows courts to order respondents to pay victims for specific abuse-related costs, including medical/dental care, property repairs, temporary shelter, and attorney fees. The bill clarifies that monetary awards under this provision do not prevent victims from seeking additional compensation later for unawarded expenses. These changes apply to Maryland’s family law system, directly affecting victims of abuse, respondents in protective order cases, and courts handling such petitions.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
SB 8 prohibits using personal identifying information (like Social Security numbers or bank details) or AI-generated deepfakes - defined as computer images indistinguishable from real people - to cause harm, such as physical injury, emotional distress, or financial loss. It bans maliciously disclosing personal details via online services, assuming another’s identity for fraud (e.g., accessing healthcare or avoiding debt), and using devices that copy payment card data without consent. The law directly affects individuals or entities exploiting personal data or deepfakes for fraudulent gain, harassment, or harm. Victims may pursue civil lawsuits against violators, and the bill updates Maryland’s criminal law to address emerging threats from AI and deepfake technology.
