SB 621 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security

SB 621 establishes minimum security staffing requirements for all Maryland courthouses. It requires at least one court security officer per courtroom during most proceedings starting July 1, 2026, with two officers needed for cases involving incarcerated individuals or potential custody changes. The bill also mandates one additional officer for every four or fewer courtrooms per courthouse floor. Security agencies must report their current staffing, funding, and plans to meet these standards by September 30, 2025. The law directly affects all Maryland courthouses and the law enforcement entities responsible for courtroom security.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard Third - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to add a committee report noting favorable approval and Senate adoption, while reorganizing the statutory sections. The substantive security requirements remain largely the same, though the reporting section was renumbered and slightly restructured to clarify that security officers must meet special police officer standards and to ensure sufficient staffing for all proceedings.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on establishing minimum adequate security standards for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities in Maryland, with no change to the entities required to comply.
TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing favorable approval with amendments and Senate adoption, along with second reading date.

Reorganized the bill structure by moving the main enactment language and renumbering sections for clarity.

Added signature lines for Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker at the end of the document.

REQUIREMENT

Reordered the security officer requirements to explicitly list the special police officer qualification standard before the staffing numbers.

Restructured the reporting requirements to include specific sub-items ensuring officers meet standards and staffing levels are sufficient for all proceeding types.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

420
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 46
Feb 28, 2025
D Democratic33
29 Yea 4
87% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 22, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 141
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 24, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-2)
house of delegates
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred Judiciary
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
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 (42-0-4)
senate
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.