Task Force to Study Crime Classification - Renaming, Membership, and Duties

This bill amends the Maryland Task Force to Study Crime Classification by renaming it the Task Force to Study Crime Reclassification and Penalties and shifting its focus from classifying offenses to reviewing their penalties and potential reclassification. The legislation updates the task force's membership to include representatives from the Attorney General's office, state's attorneys, public defenders, domestic violence advocates, and the sentencing commission, while also adding two members appointed by the Maryland State Bar Association. Its primary duties involve examining penalties across various criminal and civil laws to determine if offenses should be reclassified based on severity, whether penalties are too lenient or severe, and if statutory changes are needed for crimes lacking a specific intent requirement. The task force is required to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025, and the act will remain in effect until June 30, 2026.