HB 1054 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain ethics-related crimes from 2 to 3 years. It directly affects public officials (state, agency, or local government employees) accused of violating Maryland's Public Ethics Law or committing malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office. The bill amends Maryland law to require that prosecutions for these offenses, or conspiracy to commit them, must be filed within 3 years of the alleged crime. This change provides a longer window for prosecutors to bring charges related to public ethics violations. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1348 modifies Maryland's reporting requirements for suspected child trafficking. It expands mandatory reporting to include labor and sex trafficking by requiring health practitioners, educators, and others to notify specialized support coordinators (replacing "regional navigators") when they suspect such abuse, even without a child's consent or over their objection. The bill also authorizes State’s Attorneys and the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute trafficking violations under new provisions in the Criminal Law. These changes specifically apply to child trafficking cases and take effect October 1, 2026.
HB 313 prohibits landlords in Maryland from charging application or screening fees unless a rental unit is immediately available or will become available within 30 days. Landlords must provide written disclosures about screening criteria, fees, and reporting agencies before collecting any fees, and must give prospective tenants specific reasons, copies of screening reports, and the right to dispute inaccuracies if denying an application. The bill also bans landlords from considering sealed court records or failure-to-pay rent proceedings in screening decisions. Violations are treated as consumer protection law violations under Maryland law, subject to enforcement and penalties.
HB 22 requires Maryland correctional facilities to return valid photo ID cards or driver's licenses to incarcerated individuals at release if they entered custody with them. It also mandates state corrections officials to help inmates obtain birth certificates and Social Security cards before release, with written consent required. Facilities must work with inmates six months before release (for those serving 1+ year sentences) to ensure they have valid ID or driver's licenses available upon release. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly states it cannot delay release.
HB 172 allows Maryland municipalities to authorize code, parking, and traffic enforcement officers to use body-worn cameras during their duties. It expands the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to include these municipal officers for camera use, requiring cities to adopt policies that align with state standards for body-worn camera use. The bill mandates that municipalities publishing such policies must follow guidelines similar to those for police body cameras, including notifying individuals when recording is occurring. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not require municipalities to implement the policy.
HB 83, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, modifies Maryland's domestic violence protective order process to strengthen firearm safety measures. The bill requires petitioners seeking protective orders to provide specific details about a respondent's firearms - including make, model, location, and whether stored in a vehicle - if the petition alleges abuse involving firearms. Judges must then order the respondent to surrender all firearms and firearm licenses in cases where abuse involved firearm use, threats with a firearm, or serious bodily harm (with or without firearm threat). This directly affects domestic violence victims and respondents in protective order cases, creating clearer mechanisms for law enforcement to enforce firearm surrender during temporary protective orders under Sections 4-504(e) and 4-505(a)(viii) of Maryland's Family Law.
HB 279 establishes a medication review committee within Maryland's Department of Public Safety to evaluate requests for involuntary psychotropic medication when an incarcerated individual refuses it, applying only to licensed mental health infirmaries in state correctional facilities. The bill prohibits administering such medication without committee approval, except in emergencies, and requires the committee to review medical records, consider less restrictive alternatives, and ensure the individual understands risks and benefits before a decision. Incarcerated individuals gain specific rights under the bill, including 10 business days' written notice of committee meetings, the right to attend (excluding closed deliberations), present information, and receive details about their diagnosis and treatment options. The committee, composed of appointed mental health professionals and a lay advisor, must document its rationale and follow defined procedures before authorizing medication against an individual's refusal.
HB 658 establishes Maryland’s Community Forensic Aftercare Program within the Department of Health. The program monitors two groups: individuals found not criminally responsible due to mental illness who are on conditional release, and people with mental illness or intellectual disability requiring community monitoring under specific legal circumstances. Key provisions require the Program to create a community monitoring board to make decisions about conditional release and out-of-state travel for these individuals. The bill amends existing criminal procedure and health codes to implement this new oversight structure, replacing outdated sections with the new program framework.
HB 1294 updates Maryland law to define "child sexual abuse material" (replacing "child pornography") and explicitly includes images created using artificial intelligence software in this definition. The bill modifies legal provisions to prohibit possessing or viewing AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children engaged in sexual conduct or abuse, while excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings. It increases penalties for repeat offenses (up to 10 years in prison) and adds a defense for individuals who promptly destroy such material or report it to authorities. This change directly affects anyone creating, sharing, or accessing AI-generated images that mimic real minors in sexual contexts.
HB 1320 requires law enforcement officers and district court commissioners to inform victims or their representatives (such as family members of minors, deceased, or disabled victims) at the time of charging about their right to request notifications regarding a defendant’s custody status and court hearings. The bill mandates that requests be processed through Maryland’s electronic court system (MDEC), ensuring victims receive timely updates without needing to proactively seek them later. It amends existing law to make this notification process automatic upon initial contact in criminal cases, replacing previous procedures that allowed for later requests. This change directly affects victims and their representatives in all criminal cases filed in Maryland.
