SB 732 requires Maryland's Comptroller to direct funds from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (funded by cannabis tax revenue and business fees) specifically to Baltimore City's Comptroller. The Baltimore City Comptroller must then establish a special fund to distribute these resources to community programs in areas disproportionately impacted by historical cannabis enforcement. Funds can support services like behavioral health care, job training, housing assistance, and after-school programs - but cannot fund law enforcement or replace existing city programs. The bill mandates these funds remain separate from general city revenue and are subject to audit, ensuring they directly benefit Baltimore communities most affected by past cannabis policies.
SB 536 repeals the requirement for private home detention monitoring agencies in Maryland to notify law enforcement about certain violations of home detention conditions. Currently, agencies must notify law enforcement within 24 hours for most violations, 1 hour for equipment tampering, or immediately for entering prohibited areas. The bill removes this law enforcement notification obligation while keeping the requirement to notify the court. This change directly affects private monitoring agencies and the designated law enforcement agencies in Baltimore City or the relevant county, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 746 allows municipal police chiefs in Maryland to suspend officers without pay while they appeal disciplinary decisions made by a trial board. It directly affects municipal police officers facing disciplinary actions who choose to appeal their case. The bill requires that if an officer wins their appeal, they must receive full back pay for the suspension period. This change modifies existing law to address the financial impact on officers during the appeal process.
HB 1131 (Pregnancy Outcome Protection Act) prohibits law enforcement and agencies from investigating, prosecuting, or imposing civil liability on individuals who experienced pregnancy loss (including miscarriage, stillbirth, or self-managed abortion), except when independent evidence of unrelated criminal conduct exists or the individual consents. It protects healthcare providers from liability for supporting patients during or after pregnancy loss and restricts disclosure of medical records related to pregnancy loss without evidence of abuse, unrelated criminal conduct, or patient consent. The bill creates a private right to sue for violations and establishes misdemeanor penalties for knowingly violating its provisions. These changes apply to all Maryland residents and healthcare providers within the state’s health system.
HB 1031 establishes specific use-of-force standards for National Guard members operating in Maryland under federal authority (per 32 U.S.C. § 502). It requires National Guard members to use only necessary and proportional force to prevent imminent harm or achieve legitimate law enforcement objectives, while mandating de-escalation, intervention in excessive force incidents, medical aid for injured persons, and detailed documentation of all force encounters. Violating these standards and causing serious injury or death constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The law applies directly to National Guard personnel supporting state operations under federal orders, not to regular police officers.
HB 1036 requires Maryland’s Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division to investigate deaths or serious injuries occurring during interactions with federal law enforcement or immigration officers. The bill mandates that the Division submit investigation findings to the Governor and legislature within a specified timeframe. If the Attorney General determines sufficient evidence exists, they must prosecute federal officers for potential crimes. This law directly affects Maryland’s state investigations office, federal officers, and individuals involved in such incidents. It creates a concrete state-level process for reviewing federal enforcement actions that result in death or serious harm.
HB 1415 requires all Maryland law enforcement officers to visibly wear identification (including agency, last name, and badge number) on their outermost clothing during duty, with specific standards for size, placement, and visibility. It mandates that the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission develop a model policy covering these requirements, including how identification must be displayed on uniforms, outerwear, and plainclothes, plus training for officers. Law enforcement agencies must adopt policies matching this model, and officers violating the rule face misdemeanor penalties (up to 2 years in jail or $2,000 fine) and loss of civil immunity. The law excludes active undercover officers and takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 776, the NyKayla Strawder Memorial Act, requires Maryland intake officers to automatically file a petition declaring a child under 13 a "child in need of supervision" if the child is alleged to have caused a death through a criminal act (e.g., homicide or manslaughter). This applies specifically to cases where the child's actions would be a felony if committed by an adult. The bill removes the intake officer's discretion to handle such cases informally or dismiss them, mandating formal juvenile court processing. Law enforcement must also forward these complaints directly to the Department of Juvenile Services.
HB 847 makes it a misdemeanor to possess or claim rights to residential property you don’t legally own with intent to defraud. Violations carry escalating penalties: up to 90 days in jail or $500 for a first offense, increasing to 1 year/jail or $2,500 for repeat offenses within two years. Property owners can file a sworn affidavit with the sheriff to request law enforcement remove alleged fraudsters, but officers must halt removal if the person presents evidence of lawful possession. The law explicitly states it doesn’t prevent owners from filing standard wrongful detainer lawsuits under existing property law.
HB 1008, the "Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act," allows banks and credit unions to delay or block payments from accounts of seniors (65+) or vulnerable adults (those who lack capacity to meet daily needs) if they reasonably suspect financial exploitation. The bill requires financial institutions to notify authorized account holders (unless they suspect that person of exploitation) and report the delay to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement within four business days. It also mandates that institutions provide status updates to authorities upon request, creating a formal process to address potential abuse while protecting vulnerable account holders.
