SB 187 requires Maryland to establish a dedicated prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. The bill mandates a separate facility with security features for low-risk, well-behaved inmates, located in Baltimore City on at least 3 acres, with sufficient capacity for all eligible women. It requires the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide gender-responsive services - including education, job training, trauma-informed counseling, and family support - starting by September 2026, and to report compliance to legislative committees. The facility must be operational by June 2023, with specific design standards for privacy, accessibility, and community reentry support.
SB 524 allows Baltimore City's Mayor's Offices of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Children and Family Success, and African American Male Engagement to access confidential juvenile police and court records under specific circumstances. The bill modifies Maryland law to permit these offices to view records *only* when providing services to a child whose record is involved, for developing treatment plans or delivering programs. It explicitly states that this access does not violate confidentiality rules, but the offices would be liable for unauthorized releases of such records. The law directly affects Baltimore City's targeted offices and the children receiving services from them, while maintaining existing protections for juvenile records elsewhere.
HB 497 extends the effective duration of temporary protective orders from 7 to 14 days after service and requires final protective order hearings to occur within 14 days (previously 7 days) after service. It allows courts to order respondents to pay victims for specific abuse-related costs, including medical/dental care, property repairs, temporary shelter, and attorney fees. The bill clarifies that monetary awards under this provision do not prevent victims from seeking additional compensation later for unawarded expenses. These changes apply to Maryland’s family law system, directly affecting victims of abuse, respondents in protective order cases, and courts handling such petitions.
SB 512 amends Maryland's stalking law to increase penalties for specific stalking offenses. It elevates stalking to a felony (with up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine) if the offender had a protective order against them, violated a court order prohibiting the behavior, or has a prior stalking conviction in Maryland or another state. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of stalking who meet these aggravating conditions. Key provisions clarify that stalking includes unwanted electronic tracking without consent and define the circumstances under which penalties escalate. The law maintains existing definitions of stalking but strengthens consequences for repeat offenders and those violating court orders.
SB 822 requires the Maryland Parole Commission to include race-disaggregated data in its annual report, detailing parole grants, denials (with reasons), administrative releases, hearing purposes, and parole-eligible individuals not granted parole. It mandates that the Commission provide incarcerated individuals with copies of all documents used in parole decisions *before* hearings (instead of allowing on-request examination), and requires the Commission to document reasons for denials and make hearing recordings publicly available after redaction. The bill also prohibits the Commission from permanently denying parole and requires it to hold subsequent parole hearings for eligible individuals after a set timeframe. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland and the Parole Commission’s operational transparency.
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.
SB 230 amends Maryland law to treat sexual contact without consent during a burglary (first, second, or third degree) as a third-degree sexual offense. This directly affects individuals who commit such acts, elevating the offense level from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill also updates sex offender registration tiers to include this specific burglary-related offense in the definitions of "tier I" and "tier II" sex offenders. These changes clarify that committing sexual contact without consent while burglarizing a property triggers stricter legal consequences and registration requirements. The bill does not alter existing provisions for offenses involving minors or other specific circumstances.
SB 82 amends Maryland law to specifically prohibit creating, aiding, or possessing counterfeit leases or rental agreements with fraudulent intent. It directly affects individuals who attempt to defraud landlords or tenants through fake housing documents. The bill adds "lease" and "rental agreement" to the list of forgery targets (alongside checks, deeds, and other documents), making it a felony to create such counterfeits (up to 10 years in prison or $1,000 fine) and a misdemeanor to knowingly possess them (up to 3 years or $1,000 fine). The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 346, titled "Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)," creates a new legal pathway in Maryland for individuals to sue government officials who violate constitutional rights under "color of law." The bill allows plaintiffs to seek damages, injunctions, and attorney fees for deprivations of rights secured by the U.S. Constitution, Maryland Declaration of Rights, or Maryland Constitution. Key provisions include a 3-year statute of limitations for filing claims, protections for judicial officers (limiting injunctive relief unless a declaratory judgment is violated), and restrictions on awarding fees against judges acting within their authority. This law directly affects government officials and citizens who experience constitutional violations during official actions.
SB 305 extends funding for nonprofit organizations providing automotive repair training and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland. It extends the grant period from fiscal years 2026-2028 to 2026-2029, authorizing $1 million annually for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 individuals yearly in auto repair and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention administers the grants, requiring nonprofits to submit annual reports on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes. This bill directly affects nonprofits meeting specific service criteria and supports employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.
