Criminal Justice (Civil Rights)

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 351: Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)

HB 351 allows Maryland's Attorney General or State's Attorney to direct the Maryland State Police to collect and securely retain specific digital data (like license plates, cell tower records, GPS, or facial recognition data) about federal agents when a complaint alleges misconduct such as excessive force or civil rights violations. It directly affects complainants who file such misconduct claims and law enforcement agencies handling those cases. The bill requires that complainants can only access this digital data through a court order in a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights case or a related criminal proceeding. It does not authorize general surveillance but creates a targeted process for gathering evidence in verified misconduct complaints against federal agents. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by enabling data collection for misconduct investigations against federal agents, aligning with civil rights protection and reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Policing Tags Civil Liberties

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 52: Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)

This bill would create a toll-free voter hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights violations. It would remove the current ban preventing people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote. The law would allow incarcerated individuals to register while imprisoned, changing eligibility rules that currently exclude them. The bill is pending and would take effect January 1, 2027, if passed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves felony voting ban for incarcerated individuals, advancing civil rights and reintegration in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 89: Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)

SB 89, the "Voting Rights for All Act," would require Maryland's State Board of Elections to create a toll-free hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights issues. It would remove a previous rule that barred people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote, allowing them to become registered voters while incarcerated. The bill also repeals a law that made voting while incarcerated a felony offense. These changes would directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland convicted of felonies and are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves voting barriers for incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and promoting reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 513: Hate Crimes and Hate Bias - Definitions of Sexual Orientation and Hate Bias Incident

HB 513 updates Maryland's legal definitions related to hate crimes and hate bias incidents. It redefines "sexual orientation" to focus on an individual's identity or others' perception of that identity regarding attraction, explicitly stating it does not include gender identity. The bill also defines "hate bias incident" to include non-criminal acts like slurs, offensive symbols, or online threats targeting protected classes (including sexual orientation, gender, disability, and others). It requires law enforcement agencies to report such incidents to the Department of State Police, which must collect, analyze, and quarterly report this data to the Commission on Civil Rights. These changes directly affect law enforcement reporting requirements and the scope of protections under hate crime laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands civil rights protections in hate crime definitions by including non-criminal bias incidents and broadening covered classes, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

Track

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

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Probation & Parole

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

HB 332: Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)

HB 332 (the "No Kings Act") creates a new civil rights lawsuit option in Maryland for individuals deprived of constitutional rights by officials acting "under color of law." It allows victims to sue state or local officials (including law enforcement or judicial officers) for damages, injunctions, or declaratory relief when their rights under the U.S. Constitution, Maryland Declaration of Rights, or Maryland Constitution are violated. Key provisions include a 3-year statute of limitations for filing claims, special rules limiting injunctive relief against judicial officers, and protections for officials claiming qualified immunity. The law applies to all pending cases as of its effective date (October 1, 2026).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates civil lawsuit option for constitutional rights violations by law enforcement, enhancing police accountability and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Tags Civil Liberties

Track

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

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections