Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 346: Civil Actions - Violation of Constitutional Rights (No Kings Act)

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables lawsuits against officials for constitutional violations, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights - key criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 467: Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission and Erroneously Convicted Individuals - Improvements in Transparency and Equity

HB 467 requires the Maryland Parole Commission to improve transparency and equity in parole decisions. It mandates annual reports broken down by race showing parole grants, denials (with reasons), administrative releases, hearing purposes, and parole-eligible individuals not granted parole. The bill also prohibits permanent parole denial, requires the Commission to document hearing reasoning publicly, and makes all hearing recordings publicly available after redaction for privacy, with specific retention rules. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland's correctional system by increasing accountability in parole proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates parole transparency/equity reporting, prohibits permanent denial, requires public hearing documentation - core criminal justice reform measures to reduce bias and increase accountability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 437: Criminal Law – Theft and Fraud Crimes – Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards

SB 437 clarifies how gift card value is determined in theft and fraud cases and prohibits tampering with gift cards to defraud others. It defines "closed-loop" (single merchant) and "open-loop" (multi-merchant network) gift cards, setting their value as the highest of: face value, what the defendant claimed, or actual loss incurred. The bill creates a new misdemeanor offense for altering gift cards or packaging with fraudulent intent, punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $500 fine. This directly affects individuals committing gift card fraud and businesses handling gift card transactions in Maryland.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor for gift card fraud, expanding criminalization of non-violent offenses without reform intent90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 465: Criminal Procedure - Admission of Out-of-Court Statements - Assault in the Second Degree

SB 465 modifies Maryland's evidence rules to allow certain out-of-court statements in second-degree assault cases when the defendant caused the witness's unavailability through wrongdoing. It permits statements made under oath, in writing with the declarant's signature, or recorded verbatim to be admitted if the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the defendant engaged in wrongdoing to make the witness unavailable. Before admitting such a statement, the court must hold a separate hearing outside the jury's presence to verify the defendant's wrongdoing. This bill directly affects defendants charged with second-degree assault and prosecutors seeking to use specific witness statements in trial.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAllows admission of out-of-court statements when defendant caused witness unavailability, reducing defendant's right to confront witnesses in court proceedings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 221: Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties

SB 221 amends Maryland's criminal code to strengthen penalties for possessing or viewing child pornography. It specifically defines "indistinguishable from an actual child" (including realistic computer-generated images) and creates two key thresholds: possessing 100+ images of minors in sexual situations or under-13 images triggers felony charges, increasing potential sentences to 10 years. The law directly affects individuals who possess, view, or distribute such images, including both actual child content and realistic digital depictions. Penalties escalate for repeat offenses or cases involving children under 13, with sentences potentially exceeding 10 years for the most severe violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for child pornography possession, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentences, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 810: Immigration Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts school security (law enforcement) from immigration enforcement, protecting student civil rights and preventing law enforcement overreach in schools. Aligns with criminal justice reform by limiting misuse of security personnel.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits school staff from aiding immigration enforcement, protecting student privacy and safety in educational settings per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits school staff from aiding federal immigration enforcement and restricts sharing student data for immigration purposes, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 626: Sex Designation on Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards and Birth Information Histories (Birth Certificate Modernization Act)

SB 626 (Birth Certificate Modernization Act) updates Maryland law to simplify changing sex designation on birth certificates and identification documents. It removes the prior requirement for medical documentation (such as surgery or hormone treatment) to update a birth certificate, instead allowing a written request under penalty of perjury. The bill also expands options for sex designation on driver's licenses, ID cards, and moped permits beyond male/female. It specifically includes intersex conditions as a valid basis for changing sex designation on records, while maintaining court orders as an alternative path. This directly affects individuals seeking to update their sex designation on official state-issued documents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates ID requirements to protect transgender/intersex civil rights, reducing discriminatory law enforcement interactions per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 202: Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause

SB 202 creates a new legal process for Maryland police officers who believe they were denied a right during disciplinary proceedings. It allows officers to request a court order requiring their law enforcement agency to explain why the right (such as the right to present evidence or appeal) should not be granted, before a disciplinary hearing occurs. Officers must apply to the circuit court in their county (for local agencies) or Anne Arundel County (for statewide agencies), and the bill takes effect October 1, 2026. This is a procedural change affecting how officers challenge disciplinary actions, not the substance of discipline itself.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill strengthens officer procedural rights in disciplinary cases, creating barriers to timely discipline and weakening oversight of law enforcement conduct.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 620: Criminal Law - Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun - Prior Convictions

SB 620 modifies Maryland's sentencing for handgun violations by expanding the list of prior convictions that trigger enhanced penalties. It adds certain convictions from other states, federal courts, or tribal courts to the list that count toward stricter sentencing under Section 4-203(c) of the Criminal Law. Specifically, if a person has prior convictions (including out-of-state or federal offenses that would violate Maryland's handgun laws), they face longer mandatory minimum sentences for subsequent violations. This directly affects individuals with prior criminal records who are convicted of carrying, wearing, or transporting a handgun in Maryland.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands prior conviction list for enhanced handgun sentencing, increasing mandatory minimums under Section 4-203(c).95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 520: Property Tax - Charter Counties - Application of County Tax Limitation on Public Safety Budget

SB 520 allows charter counties in Maryland to set property tax rates above their charter limits - via simple majority vote - to fund public safety budgets (like police and fire services). It requires that any excess tax revenue collected beyond the charter limit must be allocated solely to public safety, not other county programs. The bill applies only to charter counties (e.g., Baltimore County) and mandates annual reporting to the Governor and legislature on tax rates and revenue usage. This changes existing tax rules by creating a specific exemption for public safety funding while maintaining other budget constraints.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables increased property tax revenue allocation specifically for public safety budgets, advancing funding for essential services under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirectly funds public safety (police/fire) via property tax increases with dedicated allocation, advancing law enforcement resources under criminal justice.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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