Criminal Procedure - Verdict of Not Criminally Responsible - Eligibility for Evaluation for Discharge

SB 713 changes Maryland law for people found not criminally responsible for murder (first or second degree) who are committed to the Maryland Department of Health. It requires these individuals to remain in state care for at least the full maximum sentence length for the murder charge, rather than being eligible for discharge earlier under previous rules. The bill specifies that discharge eligibility is blocked for this period starting from the commitment date. This applies only to future commitments after October 1, 2026, with no retroactive effect.