Criminal Justice

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JusticeRepeals vagrancy law, reducing criminalization of homelessness and aligning with justice reform by removing outdated local enforcement authority.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 390: Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027)

HB 390 is Maryland's 2027 state budget bill, allocating $859 million in total funding for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It directs $208 million to civil divisions (including $203.6 million for Disparity Grants and $3.0 million for cannabis tax distributions), $163.6 million to legislative operations (like the Office of Legislative Audits), and $859.2 million to the judiciary (covering courts, public defenders, and judicial systems). The bill primarily affects state agencies and programs by authorizing specific funding amounts for their operations, with no new policy requirements. It serves as the formal appropriations framework for state government spending under Maryland's constitutional budget process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $859M to state services including courts, public defenders, Disparity Grants, and cannabis tax distributions, directly funding essential public programs and fiscal operations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $859M to judiciary including public defenders and $203.6M Disparity Grants addressing racial inequities in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget Drug Policy

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 194: Incarcerated Individual Apprenticeship Pilot Program

HB 194, the Incarcerated Job Training Act, requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to create a paid apprenticeship program for incarcerated individuals in skilled trades. The bill mandates that participants earn at least the state minimum wage, with earnings deposited into their personal accounts for use after release. Employers - such as state agencies, local governments, or private businesses - can participate, but may reject assignments or withdraw from the program. Successful completers receive a certificate within 30 days of release, and the program must prioritize developing marketable job skills. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates paid job training for incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism and support post-release reintegration through earned wages.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates state minimum wage for incarcerated participants in job training, protecting compensation rights and advancing reentry employment opportunities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Minimum Wage Workforce Development

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 612: Correctional Education and Workforce Skills Training Programs - State Correctional Ombudsman and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training Program for Incarcerated Individuals

HB 612 creates a new Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training Program within Maryland's Department of Labor for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Director of Correctional Education to consult with the State Correctional Ombudsman when operating education programs and mandates the Department of Labor to establish two new positions: one to support correctional education staff and another to assist certified peer recovery specialists. The program provides funding for training, compensation for participants, and prepares incarcerated individuals to work in behavioral health and community recovery services after release. This directly affects incarcerated individuals in Maryland's correctional system by offering structured career pathways through peer support training.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates correctional education and peer recovery training programs to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, directly advancing criminal justice reform through workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates workforce training program under Department of Labor for incarcerated individuals, advancing employment standards and workforce development for reentry into labor market.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 61: Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program

SB 61 establishes a Release Preparation Program within Maryland's Division of Correction to help formerly incarcerated individuals prepare for reentry. The program allows these individuals to access state correctional facilities to receive assistance with release planning. It amends the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund to include funding for this program, directing the fund to cover related costs. The bill requires participants to provide written schedules for facility visits, and prohibits denial of access unless it disrupts facility operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes reentry program for formerly incarcerated individuals, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through structured release planning and funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole

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

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 197: Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act

HB 197 creates a new excise tax on firearms, accessories, and ammunition sales by dealers in Maryland. The tax applies to all retail sales within the state, with revenue distributed to five specific community safety programs: 26% to violence prevention, 26% to trauma care, 20% to community support, 20% to survivor services, and 8% to the University of Maryland Medical System. The bill directs funds to supplement existing programs rather than replace them. This tax targets firearms dealers as the direct taxpayers, with revenue funding state-level safety initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new excise tax on firearms dealers to fund community safety programs, supplementing existing services without replacement.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds violence prevention & trauma care programs, key criminal justice reform initiatives targeting root causes of violence.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 26% to trauma care and 8% to University of Maryland Medical System, directly funding healthcare services without replacement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Firearms

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 497: Family Law - Temporary and Final Protective Orders - Duration

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends protective order timelines and mandates victim compensation for abuse costs, enhancing victim access to justice within criminal justice framework85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 118: Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act

SB 118 imposes a new excise tax on gross receipts from firearm, accessory, and ammunition sales by federally licensed dealers in Maryland. The tax revenue will fund specific community safety programs: 26% to violence prevention initiatives, 26% to trauma centers, 20% to community safety partnerships, and smaller portions to survivor support and trauma physician services. The bill rewrites multiple sections of Maryland law to create this tax, establish revenue distribution rules, and define key terms like "firearm" and "ammunition." It explicitly states the funding is intended to supplement, not replace, existing state funding for these programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new excise tax on firearm sales to fund community safety programs (violence prevention, trauma centers), directly advancing fiscal management through targeted revenue allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds violence prevention (26%) and trauma centers (26%) via firearm tax, aligning with reform goals like reducing recidivism and community safety partnerships.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 26% of tax revenue to trauma centers, directly funding healthcare infrastructure and emergency services as part of community safety programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Firearms

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 282: Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027)

This is a procedural budget bill (SB 282) that allocates $859 million in state funds for Maryland's fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It directly funds state agencies including the judiciary (courts, public defender office, and legal services), legislative operations, and administrative offices. The total includes $771 million in general fund appropriations, $86 million in special fund appropriations, and $1.4 million in federal funds. This bill establishes the baseline funding for state operations but does not create new policies or affect citizens directly.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $859M for state agencies including judiciary and legislative operations, directly funding government spending and fiscal management per budget bill language.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds judiciary (courts, public defender office) and legal services, core criminal justice components per bill summary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget