Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act
SB 280, the *Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act*, updates Maryland law to ensure legal protections apply consistently to all uniformed service members (not just veterans) in judicial, criminal, family, and public safety matters. It revises definitions in key laws to replace "veteran" with "uniformed services" and expands the application of court procedures, corrections policies, criminal laws, family law, and public safety regulations to cover active-duty and reserve service members. The bill adds new provisions (e.g., in family law and public safety sections) to address service-related circumstances, such as deployment impacts on custody or safety protocols. This directly affects service members navigating Maryland’s legal system during active duty or in related legal proceedings.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 10, 2025
Signed May 6, 2025
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What changed between versions
First - Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act
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Third - Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act
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5 edits
MODERATE
SB 280 was amended to add multiple new sponsors and update its legislative history, while reorganizing the bill's scope to focus more heavily on repealing and reenacting existing criminal and family law provisions rather than adding new sections. The substantive policy content regarding correctional services definitions and regulations remains largely unchanged, though the bill's structure was significantly altered to consolidate amendments under different articles of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from primarily adding new sections to courts and judicial proceedings to a more balanced approach that includes repealing and reenacting existing criminal law, family law, and public safety provisions alongside additions.
TECHNICAL
Added multiple new sponsors (Smith, Waldstreicher, Sydnor, West, Muse, Folden, James, Henson, Love, McKay, and Charles) to the bill's author list.
Added committee report status showing the bill was favorably amended and adopted by the Senate on February 25, 2025.
Updated the Annotated Code of Maryland replacement volume references from 2021 to 2020 for certain articles in the bill text.
Changed the chapter designation from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' to reflect Senate bill formatting standards.
SCOPE
Reorganized the bill's structure to include more repealing and reenacting provisions for criminal law and family law sections, reducing the emphasis on adding new judicial proceedings sections.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2025
How they voted
41–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 46
Feb 28, 2025
D
Democratic33
84% Yea
R
Republican13
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 261
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred Judiciary
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 16, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (128-0-11)
house of delegates
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (41-0-5)
senate
Jan 10, 2025
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings and Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
17 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Anthony Muse
DDemocratic
P
Bryan Simonaire
RRepublican
P
Charles Sydnor
DDemocratic
P
Chris West
RRepublican
P
J.B. Jennings
RRepublican
P
Jack Bailey
RRepublican
P
Jason Gallion
RRepublican
P
Jeff Waldstreicher
DDemocratic
P
Johnny Mautz
RRepublican
P
Johnny Salling
RRepublican
P
Mary-Dulany James
DDemocratic
P
Mike McKay
RRepublican
P
Nick Charles
DDemocratic
P
Sara Love
DDemocratic
P
Shaneka Henson
DDemocratic
P
Will Smith
DDemocratic
P
William Folden
RRepublican
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