Commission to Review and Assess Racial Disparities in the State Criminal Justice System - Establishment

HB 1423 establishes a 13-member commission to study racial disparities in Maryland's criminal justice system, focusing on how African Americans, Hispanics, and other non-White individuals experience differences in policing, arrests, sentencing, and other stages. The commission must examine specific issues like mandatory minimum sentences for firearm offenses or felony murder cases where intent was lacking, and recommend improvements to make risk assessments and sentencing more equitable. It will hold public hearings and submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by September 2026. The bill does not enact immediate changes but creates a process for evidence-based study of systemic disparities. The commission expires on June 30, 2027, with no automatic implementation of its recommendations.