HB 130 prohibits intentional fraud in property transactions, making it illegal to sell, convey, or lease real property you don’t own or to acquire property through deception, intimidation, or undue influence. It establishes criminal penalties (felony up to 10 years/$7,500 fine for major violations) and creates a new Deed Fraud Prevention Grant Fund to provide grants for identifying and preventing such fraud, including coordination with legal aid organizations. The bill also requires law enforcement to collect and analyze data on deed fraud incidents. These provisions directly affect property owners vulnerable to fraud, local governments seeking prevention grants, and law enforcement agencies handling related cases. The bill does not address broader housing policy but focuses on criminalizing specific fraudulent acts and funding prevention efforts.
SB 162 repeals a deadline that previously prevented certain individuals from filing motions to reduce their prison sentences. It affects adults convicted as minors for crimes committed before their 18th birthday (and sentenced before October 1, 2021) or adults aged 18-25 convicted of non-violent offenses (not life sentences, sex offenders, or murder involving first responders). The bill removes the October 2021 cutoff, allowing eligible individuals to file motions regardless of when they were sentenced. If approved, courts must hold a hearing where the person can present evidence, and victims may submit impact statements without cross-examination. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 108 establishes the Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for release. The program allows these individuals to schedule visits to state correctional facilities for support, with schedules requiring written notification to the Division of Correction and public availability. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to specifically cover costs for this program, adding it to the fund's authorized uses. The bill requires the Division of Correction to approve protocols for the program and prohibits denying scheduled visits unless they interfere with facility operations. The program will take effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 360 modifies Maryland's criminal law to specifically protect emergency response animals used by law enforcement. It prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing these animals - such as police dogs, law enforcement horses, or search/rescue dogs - while they are performing official duties. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with penalties including fines up to $15,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, depending on the severity. The law directly affects individuals who target these animals during operations and law enforcement agencies that rely on them. It does not change general animal cruelty laws but adds targeted protections for animals serving in emergency response roles.
HB 563 strengthens protections for law enforcement and search/rescue animals by making it a crime to harm them during their duties. The bill prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing emergency response animals (including police dogs, horses used by police, and search/rescue dogs), and adds penalties for these acts. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with fines up to $15,000 or jail terms up to 5 years, depending on the severity. This directly affects anyone who targets these animals while they are performing official law enforcement or rescue tasks. The law replaces an outdated provision that previously allowed intentional harm to such animals.
HB 351 allows Maryland's Attorney General or State's Attorney to direct the Maryland State Police to collect and securely retain specific digital data (like license plates, cell tower records, GPS, or facial recognition data) about federal agents when a complaint alleges misconduct such as excessive force or civil rights violations. It directly affects complainants who file such misconduct claims and law enforcement agencies handling those cases. The bill requires that complainants can only access this digital data through a court order in a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights case or a related criminal proceeding. It does not authorize general surveillance but creates a targeted process for gathering evidence in verified misconduct complaints against federal agents. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 329 prohibits school resource officers (SROs) in Maryland from engaging in sexual activity, contact, or intercourse with students enrolled in schools where they are assigned. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Law (Section 3-314) to explicitly add students at an SRO's assigned school as a protected group under this prohibition, with penalties including up to 3 years in jail or a $3,000 fine for violations. It defines "school resource officer" in Education Law (Section 7-1501) to clarify the scope of the restriction. The law applies directly to law enforcement officers serving in school settings and takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 710 exempts retirees from Maryland's Correctional Officers' Retirement System from having their retirement benefits reduced if they return to work as correctional officers or parole/probation staff in specific state correctional facilities. The bill amends pension law to remove the earnings offset requirement for these retirees when reemployed by the Division of Corrections, Division of Pretrial Detention, or Patuxent Institution for up to four years. This directly affects correctional officers who retired from the system and are rehired in authorized roles within state correctional facilities. The change ensures their retirement payments remain unchanged during this reemployment period, unlike the standard rule that reduces benefits for most other retirees returning to work.
SB 473 requires new applicants for taxicab, for-hire driver, or transportation network operator (e.g., Uber/Lyft) licenses in Maryland to submit proof they completed human trafficking awareness training. This includes either the U.S. Department of Transportation’s "Leaders Against Human Trafficking" program or another nationally recognized training program. The bill also protects licensed drivers from civil or criminal liability when reporting suspected trafficking in good faith. These requirements apply specifically to new license applicants, not current license holders, and are designed to help identify and prevent trafficking through driver training and reporting.
SB 810 prohibits public school security personnel (including school resource officers, security employees, and certain off-duty officers providing school coverage) from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee information for immigration purposes. The bill specifically bans using school staff for Section 287(g) federal immigration investigations and restricts sharing educational or personnel records related to immigration enforcement, except when presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order. School security personnel must immediately contact the county superintendent and legal counsel if shown such legal documents. This law directly affects all Maryland public schools and their security staff, taking effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with existing privacy laws.
