Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1359: Police Pursuits of Fleeing Suspects - Standards (Dimeka Thornton Act)

HB 1359, the "Dimeka Thornton Act," requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to annually submit their current policies on police pursuits of fleeing suspects to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission by January 1, starting in 2027. The Commission must then annually report detailed data on pursuits - including reasons, outcomes, injuries, and termination reasons - to the Governor and General Assembly by June 1, starting in 2027. By January 1, 2028, the Commission must develop a model policy prioritizing officer and bystander safety, which all agencies must adopt by July 1, 2028, or exceed. This bill directly affects every law enforcement agency in Maryland, establishing standardized reporting and policy requirements for police pursuits.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires data collection on police pursuits to enhance accountability and transparency, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1311: Higher Education – Student Financial Assistance for Incarcerated Individuals – Alterations

HB 1311 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety to help incarcerated individuals access federal Pell Grants and state student financial aid. It mandates that correctional facilities assist eligible incarcerated people in applying for these funds and explicitly states that financial aid established under Maryland law must be available to those meeting eligibility criteria. The bill affects incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities, directing the Department to collaborate with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and specific higher education institutions to facilitate access. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, without creating new funding but altering access procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables incarcerated individuals to access education funding, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands educational access by requiring correctional facilities to assist incarcerated individuals in accessing financial aid for higher education, removing barriers to post-secondary opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HJ 8: Apology and Acknowledgement of the State's Responsibility in Racial Terror Lynchings

HJ 8 is a symbolic resolution apologizing for Maryland's historical role in racial terror lynchings. It formally acknowledges the state's complicity in 38 documented lynchings between 1854-1933, including failures to protect Black citizens, colluding with local governments to conceal perpetrators, and failing to pass anti-lynching laws. The resolution commits Maryland to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, though it does not establish new programs or allocate funds. It directly addresses the legacy of harm experienced by Black Marylanders and their descendants. This is a procedural resolution, not a law with enforceable provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill acknowledges historical state complicity in racial lynchings and commits to reparative actions, aligning with civil rights protection and criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1123: Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

HB 1123 amends Maryland's criminal code to impose misdemeanor penalties for adults who store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where they knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. The law directly affects adult firearm owners responsible for storage safety, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Key exemptions include supervised access by an adult, unlawful entry, law enforcement use during duty, or minors with valid hunter safety certificates. The bill explicitly states violations cannot be used as evidence of negligence in civil cases involving firearm-related injuries or property damage. This bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes penalties to prevent minors' firearm access, promoting public safety and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing responsible storage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 937: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

SB 937, the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, prohibits landlords from requiring or considering a prospective tenant's criminal history before making a rental offer. Landlords may only review criminal history after extending a conditional offer and must allow tenants to provide evidence about inaccuracies, rehabilitation, or mitigating factors. The bill also bans upfront criminal history checks, restricts discriminatory housing ads, and makes violations enforceable under Maryland's consumer protection laws. It directly affects all residential landlords and tenants with past criminal records in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminal history checks in housing decisions, aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing barriers to housing for individuals with records, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits criminal history discrimination in rentals, protects tenants from bias, aligns with tenant protection and anti-discrimination housing policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 854: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Restrictions

SB 854 restricts federal law enforcement officers in Maryland to exercising powers only when acting in accordance with state law, requiring coordination with local agencies during joint operations or emergencies. It prohibits all law enforcement officers from engaging in racial profiling - defined as relying on race, ethnicity, or national origin in enforcement actions - while allowing such reliance only when describing a specific suspect in an active investigation. The bill mandates law enforcement agencies to develop and implement written racial profiling policies by a specified date and prohibits retaliation against officers who report such profiling. Violations allow for civil lawsuits and provide legal protections for whistleblowers reporting racial profiling incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits racial profiling by law enforcement, enhancing accountability and civil rights protections in criminal justice reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 984: Correctional Services - Private Detention Facilities - Zoning Requirement

SB 984 prohibits Maryland state and local governments from approving private companies to operate immigration detention facilities in buildings unless the facility's use is explicitly permitted by local zoning laws. It defines an immigration detention facility as any building housing individuals in involuntary custody, including those with perimeter security, locked areas, or controlled access points. Private operators violating this law face civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, and the Attorney General can enforce the law through court action. The bill also applies retroactively to existing agreements for facilities intended for immigration detention, regardless of prior permits or construction investments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts private immigration detention facilities via zoning, aligning with correctional reform by limiting unchecked facility expansion and protecting civil rights through oversight.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits state/local approval of private immigration detention facilities without zoning compliance, restricting expansion of such facilities and limiting state involvement in immigration enforcement infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1018: Correctional Services - Correctional Facilities and Immigration Detention Facilities - Minimum Mandatory Standards

HB 1018 establishes minimum mandatory standards for the care, custody, and conditions of individuals held in Maryland's immigration detention facilities. It directly affects immigration detainees, facility operators (including private entities), and healthcare/security staff who must report violations. Key provisions require the Secretary of Public Safety to adopt regulations covering safety, housing, food, and rights; mandate facility inspections and annual certifications; and authorize the Commission to shut down facilities deemed life-threatening or health-endangering. The bill also obligates staff to report violations with disciplinary consequences for non-compliance and allows the Attorney General to sue private facility operators for violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes mandatory standards for immigration detention facilities' safety, housing, and rights protections, enhancing oversight and conditions in correctional settings.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationEstablishes mandatory standards for detainee care, safety, housing, and rights in immigration facilities, directly protecting immigrant rights within detention95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 531: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement (Verbal Waiver Transparency Act)

SB 531 prohibits law enforcement agencies from requesting verbal acknowledgments from victims of sexually assaultive behavior that would limit investigations, prevent prosecutions, or restrict the victim's legal rights. The bill requires agencies to document any victim request to limit or pause an investigation and follow recommended practices for follow-up. Victims who believe the law was violated can seek court orders to address the issue. This law directly affects sexual assault victims interacting with police and mandates new policies for all Maryland law enforcement agencies by January 2021. It takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits law enforcement from seeking verbal waivers that limit investigations/prosecutions of sexual assault, requiring documentation and court remedies for violations. Protects victims' civil rights and enhances law enforcement accountabil...95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 463: Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit

SB 463 (Maryland Senate Bill 463) repeals a provision in Maryland law that allowed municipalities to prohibit "vagrancy." Specifically, it removes the authority from local governments to ban vagrancy under Section 5-207(c)(2) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This change directly affects all Maryland municipalities, eliminating their ability to enforce vagrancy laws as a separate prohibition. The bill does not create new restrictions but removes this specific historical provision from local ordinance powers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals vagrancy law, reducing criminalization of homelessness and aligning with justice reform by removing outdated local enforcement authority.95% confidence

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