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

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

HB 465: Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act)

HB 465 (Stop Silencing Survivors Act) creates legal immunity for individuals who in good faith disclose allegations of sexually assaultive behavior (defined as acts meeting Maryland’s criminal law standards for sexual offenses or equivalent offenses). It protects disclosers from liability claims unless proven to have acted with actual malice or intentionally shared false information. The bill also requires courts to award attorney fees and costs to successful defendants in such cases. This directly affects survivors reporting abuse, individuals sharing such information, and courts handling related civil cases. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects survivors' disclosures from liability, promoting victim access to justice and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like enhancing victim rights and reducing barriers to reporting.95% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 66: Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)

SB 66, titled "Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)," aims to raise criminal penalties for cases where a person causes death through negligent or reckless operation of a vehicle or vessel. It directly affects drivers, operators, or individuals responsible for vehicular or maritime incidents resulting in manslaughter. The bill’s key provision increases the severity of sentencing for these offenses, though specific penalty levels are not detailed in the provided text. This legislation is currently pre-filed for the 2025 session with a scheduled hearing in January 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases sentencing severity for vehicular manslaughter, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher penalties and expanded criminalization.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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

HB 626: Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements (Exonerated 5 Act)

This bill creates a rule that a minor's statement during a custodial interrogation is presumed involuntary and inadmissible in court if law enforcement intentionally used false information to obtain it. It directly affects minors facing juvenile or criminal charges, as their statements could be excluded from proceedings under this presumption. The presumption can be overcome only with clear and convincing evidence proving the statement was voluntary despite the false information. The law applies to all custodial interrogations of minors in Maryland, modifying admissibility standards under Maryland's judicial code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePreserves minors' rights by barring coerced statements obtained via deception, aligning with due process and civil rights protections in criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 22: Correctional Services - Incarcerated Individuals - Identification Cards, Driver's Licenses, and Birth Certificates

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFacilitates post-release reintegration by requiring ID return and document assistance, reducing barriers to employment/housing and aligning with recidivism reduction goals.90% confidence

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died · Maryland · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 210: Correctional Services - Home Detention - Monitoring and Security

SB 210 transfers responsibility for monitoring and security of Maryland's home detention programs from Correctional Services to the Warrant Apprehension Unit within the Department of Public Safety. It directly affects individuals participating in home detention programs, requiring their supervision to be conducted by this law enforcement unit using electronic monitoring and direct contact. Key provisions authorize unit employees to execute search warrants, make arrests for program violations, and exercise peace officer powers under specific training and qualification standards. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, restructuring oversight without creating new eligibility criteria or penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeTransfers home detention supervision to law enforcement unit with arrest powers, increasing punitive enforcement over rehabilitation and reducing rehabilitative focus in correctional supervision.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

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

HB 692: Criminal Law - Mail and Package Theft (Porch Piracy Act)

HB 692, the "Porch Piracy Act," criminalizes the theft of mail and packages in Maryland. It creates new penalties for stealing mail or packages under specific circumstances, including prohibiting possession of certain items (like "arrow keys," likely a drafting error for key fobs) used in theft. The bill directly affects individuals who steal mail or packages, adding these acts to the state’s criminal code under new sections 3-905 and 3-905.1 of the Criminal Law Article. It also clarifies that both District and Circuit Courts can handle these cases, updating jurisdiction rules for such thefts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds new criminal penalties for mail/package theft, expanding criminalization without reform elements or reduced sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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died · Maryland · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 97: Reentry and Reintegration Support Program - Establishment

SB 97 establishes a voluntary program to help individuals released from Maryland state prisons access essential benefits more smoothly. It requires the Departments of Human Services, Public Safety, and Health to create a coordinated system where correctional facilities assist "returning citizens" (those expected to be released within 90 days) in applying for SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, and Maryland Medical Assistance *before* release. Key provisions include a standardized prerelease application process, help obtaining required documents (like birth certificates and Social Security cards), and secure data sharing to ensure benefits are active upon release. The program must be implemented by October 1, 2026, with departments required to finalize a data-sharing agreement by April 2027. This directly affects people transitioning from incarceration to community life in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 97 creates pre-release assistance for SNAP, TCA, and Medicaid access, directly improving reintegration and reducing recidivism risk through essential support coordination.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires pre-release assistance for Maryland Medical Assistance enrollment, directly expanding healthcare access for returning citizens through coordinated application support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill facilitates access to SNAP, cash assistance, and medical aid for returning citizens, removing barriers to reemployment and aligning with labor support indicators like expanding worker benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 82: Criminal Law - Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real Property - Penalty

SB 82 amends Maryland law to specifically prohibit creating, aiding, or possessing counterfeit leases or rental agreements with fraudulent intent. It directly affects individuals who attempt to defraud landlords or tenants through fake housing documents. The bill adds "lease" and "rental agreement" to the list of forgery targets (alongside checks, deeds, and other documents), making it a felony to create such counterfeits (up to 10 years in prison or $1,000 fine) and a misdemeanor to knowingly possess them (up to 3 years or $1,000 fine). The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by adding lease forgery to felony offenses, increasing penalties for housing fraud without reform context.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 172: Municipalities - Enforcement Officers - Body-Worn Cameras

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands body-worn camera use for municipal enforcement officers to enhance accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of transparency and oversight in law enforcement.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates policies for body camera use with state standards, requiring data handling protocols that protect privacy, aligning with data privacy protections under the topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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