SB 298 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

SB 298 expands the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police (part of the Department of General Services) to cover state-owned or leased buildings and grounds within 2,000 feet of their boundaries - up from the previous 1,000-foot radius. The bill grants Capitol Police statewide authority to enforce criminal, parking, and motor vehicle laws on these properties and requires them to notify local law enforcement (e.g., county police chiefs, Baltimore City officials) when investigating outside their typical jurisdiction. It directly affects Capitol Police officers, who gain broader enforcement powers, and local agencies, which must be informed of Capitol Police operations in their areas. The changes amend Maryland’s State Finance and Procurement Code (Sections 4-601 and 4-605) to formalize this expanded scope.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction Enrolled - Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction · 1 edit · Apr 28, 2026
MINOR
This bill enrolls Senate Bill 298, finalizing its passage to become law. The substantive text regarding the Maryland Capitol Police's statewide jurisdiction remains unchanged from the committee version, confirming that the police force retains authority to enforce criminal and traffic laws across the entire state, not just on Capitol grounds.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains unchanged; it codifies existing jurisdictional authority for the Maryland Capitol Police statewide.
TECHNICAL

The document format was updated from a committee report to an enrolled bill, adding standard proofreading lines and removing internal tracking numbers used during the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

440
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 24, 2026
D Democratic36
33 Yea 3
91% Yea
R Republican13
11 Yea 2
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 28, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 263
executive
Apr 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 26, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (131-0-11)
house of delegates
Mar 24, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)
senate
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Referred Judiciary
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Shaneka Henson
Shaneka Henson
DDemocratic
MD
30