Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 285: Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers

SB 285 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. The bill amends state law to add "correctional officers" to the eligibility criteria for the Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program, which previously covered only police officers and probation agents. It defines "correctional officer" per Maryland law and allows current or future correctional officers to apply for tuition assistance if they meet residency, enrollment, and service obligation requirements. The scholarship requires recipients to work in the field for at least five years within eight years of graduation or repay funds. This change directly affects correctional officers seeking higher education in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands tuition assistance for correctional officers, directly supporting corrections workforce development within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education scholarships to correctional officers, increasing funding access for a new group under existing program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Probation & Parole Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 129: Domestic Violence - Warrantless Arrests and Victims

This bill expands domestic violence protections by allowing police to make warrantless arrests if they have strong evidence that someone battered a person they dated within the past year. It updates the legal definition of "victim of domestic violence" to include individuals injured by someone they had a sexual relationship with in the last year, not just spouses or cohabitants. Key provisions require police to have probable cause, evidence of injury, and a report filed within 48 hours to make such arrests. The law directly affects victims in dating relationships and law enforcement practices in Maryland, taking effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands domestic violence protections to include recent dating/sexual relationships, requires probable cause for arrests, updates victim definition - strengthens victim protections and police accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 52: Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)

This bill would create a toll-free voter hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights violations. It would remove the current ban preventing people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote. The law would allow incarcerated individuals to register while imprisoned, changing eligibility rules that currently exclude them. The bill is pending and would take effect January 1, 2027, if passed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves felony voting ban for incarcerated individuals, advancing civil rights and reintegration in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 187: Criminal Procedure - Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without Finding

HB 187 expands eligibility for expunging criminal records in Maryland by allowing expungement for cases terminated without a conviction. Specifically, it adds a new provision (Section 10-110(j)) permitting expungement when a case was resolved by the court with a "no finding" designation or terminated without a finding. This directly affects individuals whose cases were dismissed, dropped, or otherwise concluded without a guilty verdict or conviction. The bill modifies existing expungement rules (previously limited to certain convictions) to include these non-conviction dispositions, applying to records maintained by state or local government. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands expungement eligibility for non-convictions, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 397: Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Failure to Obey a Court Order to Report to Confinement

HB 397 allows individuals convicted of failing to report to confinement (a misdemeanor) to petition for expungement of their record. It adds this specific offense to Maryland’s list of eligible cases under expungement law. The bill requires a 5-year waiting period after completing all sentence terms before filing such a petition. This applies only to misdemeanor convictions for not showing up to jail as ordered by a court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement for misdemeanor failure to report, reducing recidivism and supporting reentry - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 670: Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties

HB 670 updates Maryland’s criminal code to prohibit possessing or viewing certain child pornography, including computer-generated images that appear realistic. It directly affects individuals who possess or access visual materials depicting children under 16 engaged in sadomasochistic abuse, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement - whether actual or digitally created to look real. The bill adds new penalties: a misdemeanor for first offenses (up to 5 years or $2,500 fine) and a felony for repeat violations (up to 10 years or $10,000 fine). It also clarifies that parents may possess non-exploitative images of their own children, and includes a defense for those who destroy or report such material. The law replaces and amends existing sections 11-207 and 11-208 of Maryland’s Criminal Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by adding strict penalties for child pornography possession, increasing mandatory sentencing (misdemeanor/felony) without reform elements.95% confidence

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 688: Intercepted Communications - Penalty

HB 688 would reclassify violations of Maryland's law against intercepting or disclosing wire, oral, or electronic communications from a felony to a misdemeanor. This affects anyone who unlawfully intercepts, discloses, or uses the contents of such communications in violation of the law. The bill amends Section 10-402(b) of Maryland's Courts and Judicial Proceedings code to change the penalty level, though it maintains the same maximum fine ($10,000) and potential imprisonment (up to 5 years) for the offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReclassifies felony violations to misdemeanor, reducing penalty severity aligning with criminal justice reform goals of less harsh sentencing.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 20: Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act

SB 20, the "Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act," modifies Maryland's domestic violence protective order process to require firearm surrender when abuse involves firearms or threats. It directly affects victims seeking protective orders, respondents (abusers) who possess firearms, and law enforcement handling these cases. Key provisions mandate petitioners to provide specific firearm details (make, model, location, and vehicle info) if firearms are alleged to be in the respondent's possession, and require courts to automatically order firearm surrender and license relinquishment in temporary protective orders when abuse involved firearm use, threats, or serious harm. This strengthens firearm safety measures during domestic violence proceedings without changing eligibility for protective orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates firearm surrender in domestic violence cases to protect victims and improve law enforcement response, aligning with criminal justice reform by enhancing victim safety and accountability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 281: Family Law - Child Care Providers - Criminal Background Investigations

HB 281 requires background checks for individuals working with children in specific settings. It mandates licensed child care centers, family child care homes, foster care facilities, schools, camps, and similar organizations to obtain national and state criminal history checks for all employees, volunteers, and certain caregivers - including neighbors or friends providing sudden care due to a primary caretaker's unavailability. Facilities must submit fingerprints and pay a fee to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository. The bill directly affects providers serving minors and expands background check requirements to include new categories like "sudden caregivers" and individuals residing in homes where informal child care occurs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires criminal background checks for child care workers, enhancing public safety and preventing harm through proactive screening in criminal justice systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

signed · Maryland · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 245: Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement Agreements - Prohibition

Maryland's SB 245 prohibits state, local governments, county sheriffs, and their agencies from entering new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It defines such agreements as contracts under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. Existing agreements must be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the bill's effective date of June 1, 2026. The law directly affects all Maryland local law enforcement entities and state agencies that previously collaborated with federal immigration enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits local law enforcement from collaborating with federal immigration enforcement, reducing potential civil rights violations and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits state/local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, directly limiting such agreements per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies