SB 61 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program

SB 61 establishes a Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for reentry. The program allows these individuals to access state correctional facilities to receive assistance with release planning. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to include funding for this program, directing the fund to cover related costs. The bill requires participants to provide written schedules for facility visits, and prohibits denial of access unless it disrupts facility operations.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Oct 29, 2025 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program → Enrolled - Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program · 3 edits · May 12, 2026

MINOR

The bill text was transitioned from a pre-filed draft to an enrolled version, adding formal signatures and proofreading details. Substantively, the bill retains its core purpose of creating a volunteer program to assist incarcerated individuals with release preparation, but the legislative text includes minor formatting adjustments and a specific reference to the 2025 replacement volume for the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Scope change

No change in the scope or applicability of the law; the bill continues to establish the Release Preparation Volunteer Services Program within the Division of Correction.

TECHNICAL

Updated the citation for the Annotated Code of Maryland to reference the 2025 Replacement Volume instead of the 2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement.

Added formal enrolled bill elements, including proofreader signatures, the Great Seal presentation clause, and the Governor's approval line.

Reordered the text of Section 1 and the Article citations to align with standard enrolled bill formatting conventions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 22, 2026

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 49

Mar 22, 2026

D Democratic36

32 Yea 4

88% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 518

executive

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 22, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)

senate

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Referred Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings and Finance

upper

Oct 29, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors