Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 697: Correctional Services - Diminution of a Term of Confinement

HB 697 prohibits incarcerated individuals convicted of first-degree murder (under §2-201 of the Criminal Law Article) from earning time-off credits that reduce their prison sentences. It also denies these credits for certain child-related offenses, including specific violations under §3-303, §3-304, §3-305, §3-306, and §3-307 of the Criminal Law Article involving victims under 16 years old. The law applies to all Maryland state and local correctional facilities and takes effect October 1, 2026. It directly affects people serving sentences for these offenses by eliminating a mechanism that could shorten their confinement terms.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDenies sentence reduction credits for first-degree murder and child offenses, increasing mandatory sentence lengths for violent crimes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 27: Regulated Firearms - Seven-Day Waiting Period - Exceptions

SB 27 adds a 7-day waiting period for most firearm sales, rentals, or transfers in Maryland, requiring a 7-day delay after an application is submitted. It directly exempts law enforcement officers (current or retired in good standing) and individuals with a valid permit to carry a handgun under Maryland law from this waiting period. The bill modifies existing law to clarify that these specific groups can complete transactions immediately without the standard delay. This applies to all regulated firearm transactions governed by Maryland's Public Safety laws, without changing the general waiting period for other buyers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds 7-day waiting period for firearm sales, a public safety measure addressing gun violence within criminal justice policy framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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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

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 16, 2026

HB 138: Criminal Law - Third-Degree Sexual Offense - Burglary

HB 138 clarifies that committing sexual contact without consent during a burglary (first, second, or third degree) constitutes a third-degree sexual offense. It updates sex offender registration definitions to include this specific offense under "Tier I" and "Tier II" categories, affecting individuals convicted of such acts. The bill modifies Maryland’s criminal code to explicitly link burglary with non-consensual sexual contact, raising the offense to a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. These changes directly impact offenders convicted of sexual contact during burglaries and alter how their registration levels are determined under state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates burglary with non-consensual sex to felony with mandatory registration, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization under criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 329: Criminal Law - School Resource Officers - Prohibition on Sexual Activity with Students

HB 329 prohibits school resource officers (SROs) in Maryland from engaging in sexual activity, contact, or intercourse with students enrolled in schools where they are assigned. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Law (Section 3-314) to explicitly add students at an SRO's assigned school as a protected group under this prohibition, with penalties including up to 3 years in jail or a $3,000 fine for violations. It defines "school resource officer" in Education Law (Section 7-1501) to clarify the scope of the restriction. The law applies directly to law enforcement officers serving in school settings and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits SRO misconduct with students, enhancing police accountability under criminal law. Explicitly protects vulnerable minors, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects students from SRO misconduct, enhancing school safety - a core educational safeguard directly addressing student welfare in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement School Safety

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 279: Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual

HB 279 establishes a medication review committee within Maryland's Department of Public Safety to evaluate requests for involuntary psychotropic medication when an incarcerated individual refuses it, applying only to licensed mental health infirmaries in state correctional facilities. The bill prohibits administering such medication without committee approval, except in emergencies, and requires the committee to review medical records, consider less restrictive alternatives, and ensure the individual understands risks and benefits before a decision. Incarcerated individuals gain specific rights under the bill, including 10 business days' written notice of committee meetings, the right to attend (excluding closed deliberations), present information, and receive details about their diagnosis and treatment options. The committee, composed of appointed mental health professionals and a lay advisor, must document its rationale and follow defined procedures before authorizing medication against an individual's refusal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes committee oversight for involuntary psychotropic medication in prisons, protecting inmate rights and ensuring medical review before administration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes committee to review involuntary psychotropic medication use, ensuring patient rights and proper medical evaluation in correctional mental health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 31, 2026

SB 187: Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (Monica Cooper Prerelease Act)

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates gender-responsive rehabilitation services and dedicated prerelease facility to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like improved rehabilitation programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 313: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Housing - Rental Applications and Tenant Screening

HB 313 prohibits landlords in Maryland from charging application or screening fees unless a rental unit is immediately available or will become available within 30 days. Landlords must provide written disclosures about screening criteria, fees, and reporting agencies before collecting any fees, and must give prospective tenants specific reasons, copies of screening reports, and the right to dispute inaccuracies if denying an application. The bill also bans landlords from considering sealed court records or failure-to-pay rent proceedings in screening decisions. Violations are treated as consumer protection law violations under Maryland law, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents landlords from using sealed criminal records in tenant screening, protecting individuals with rehabilitated histories and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits unfair landlord fees and mandates transparency in tenant screening, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 108: Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program

HB 108 establishes the Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for release. The program allows these individuals to schedule visits to state correctional facilities for support, with schedules requiring written notification to the Division of Correction and public availability. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to specifically cover costs for this program, adding it to the fund's authorized uses. The bill requires the Division of Correction to approve protocols for the program and prohibits denying scheduled visits unless they interfere with facility operations. The program will take effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes Release Preparation Program to aid reentry, reducing recidivism through structured support and funding via Cannabis Fund, aligning with reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 30, 2026

HB 631: Criminal Law - Threats Against State or Local Official - Penalties

HB 631 increases penalties for threatening state or local officials, deputies, or public defenders in Maryland. It reclassifies violations from misdemeanors to felonies, raising maximum penalties to 10 years in prison or a $5,000 fine (up from 3 years/$2,500). The bill specifically targets threats involving taking life, kidnapping, or causing physical injury to the listed officials. It affects anyone making such threats against designated public officials and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties by reclassifying threats to felonies, expanding criminalization and imposing harsher sentences (10 years/$5k), directly opposing reform-focused criminal justice priorities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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