Criminal Law - Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)

HB 977, known as "Jamari's Law," increases penalties for manslaughter caused by grossly negligent driving or vessel operation in Maryland. It raises the maximum prison sentence for a first offense from 10 to 20 years and for repeat offenses (including prior convictions in other states for similar offenses) from 15 to 30 years. The bill directly affects drivers or vessel operators convicted of causing death through gross negligence, without requiring proof of the specific manner of death in court. It amends existing Maryland criminal law to strengthen sentencing for these offenses, effective October 1, 2025.