HB 634 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026)

HB 634 (LEAD Act of 2026) requires Maryland police training programs to include specific instruction on interacting with individuals with dementia or autism. It directly affects all entrance-level and in-service police training curricula across state, county, and municipal departments. Key provisions mandate training in six areas: locating wandering individuals, searching near water, sensory-aware approaches, reunification, documentation, and interagency coordination. The law amends Maryland's Public Safety Code to add these requirements, effective October 1, 2026. It focuses on practical, life-saving protocols rather than broader policy changes.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026) → Third - Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the required police training curriculum to include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities alongside those with dementia and autism. The sponsors were also updated to reflect new co-sponsors, and the bill was formally adopted by the House with a favorable committee report.

Scope change

The scope of required training was broadened to explicitly include intellectual and developmental disabilities in addition to dementia and autism.

REQUIREMENT

The training curriculum requirements were updated to include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, and autism, expanding the previous scope which only mentioned dementia and autism.

TECHNICAL

The list of bill sponsors was updated to include additional names (Cardin, Phillips, Stinnett, Moreno, Simpson, Moon, and Conaway) and corrected a duplicate entry for Young.

The bill header was updated to indicate it is now a 'Chapter' rather than 'A BILL ENTITLED', reflecting its adoption status.

The committee report status was added, noting the bill was adopted by the House and read a second time.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 658

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)

house of delegates

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

32 primary · 0 co-sponsors