Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 450: Criminal Procedure - Protection of Identity of Victim of Sexual Assault or Stalking

HB 450 protects victims of sexual assault or stalking by requiring courts and parties in criminal or juvenile cases to redact identifying information (like names or addresses) from public court records and filings. It directly affects victims, courts, and legal parties by prohibiting disclosure of such information to nonparties unless the court finds "clear and convincing evidence" of good cause to allow it. The bill mandates redaction of victim identifiers in all filings - including charging documents - and requires courts to redact existing records upon written request from the victim. Exceptions only apply when a court specifically authorizes disclosure after reviewing evidence of necessity. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects victims' identities in court records, advancing victim-centered criminal justice reform by preventing re-victimization and encouraging reporting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HB 307: Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund - Alterations

HB 307 modifies the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund by directing the Comptroller to administer the Fund under the Office of Social Equity’s guidance instead of previous oversight. It requires counties to consult with the Office when adjusting their fund distribution plans and clarifies that county expenditures from the Fund must be supplemental (not replacing) existing local programs. The bill also updates reporting requirements and reaffirms that Fund money cannot fund law enforcement or supplant other public services. These changes aim to align Fund administration with social equity goals while maintaining its focus on community-based initiatives like housing, job training, and behavioral health services in historically impacted areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires supplemental fund spending (not replacing existing programs), ensuring responsible budget use and protecting current services without defunding.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits fund use for law enforcement, redirects to community programs via Office of Social Equity, mandates supplemental spending to avoid replacing existing services - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingDirects Community Reinvestment Fund under Social Equity with supplemental funding for housing repairs, preventing replacement of existing housing programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Law Enforcement Community Development

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 89: Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)

SB 89, the "Voting Rights for All Act," would require Maryland's State Board of Elections to create a toll-free hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights issues. It would remove a previous rule that barred people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote, allowing them to become registered voters while incarcerated. The bill also repeals a law that made voting while incarcerated a felony offense. These changes would directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland convicted of felonies and are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves voting barriers for incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and promoting reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

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

HB 513: Hate Crimes and Hate Bias - Definitions of Sexual Orientation and Hate Bias Incident

HB 513 updates Maryland's legal definitions related to hate crimes and hate bias incidents. It redefines "sexual orientation" to focus on an individual's identity or others' perception of that identity regarding attraction, explicitly stating it does not include gender identity. The bill also defines "hate bias incident" to include non-criminal acts like slurs, offensive symbols, or online threats targeting protected classes (including sexual orientation, gender, disability, and others). It requires law enforcement agencies to report such incidents to the Department of State Police, which must collect, analyze, and quarterly report this data to the Commission on Civil Rights. These changes directly affect law enforcement reporting requirements and the scope of protections under hate crime laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands civil rights protections in hate crime definitions by including non-criminal bias incidents and broadening covered classes, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 501: Criminal Law - Sexual Offense by a Person in a Position of Authority

HB 501 amends Maryland law to prohibit individuals in positions of authority (such as teachers, coaches, or school staff working with minors) from engaging in sexual contact with minors who are at least six years younger. It increases penalties for violations: first offenses carry up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, while repeat offenders face up to three years in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill also adds this offense as a predicate crime for sexual solicitation of minors and updates definitions related to sex offender registry tiers. It directly affects educators, program leaders, and others in supervisory roles working with minors under age 18.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for sexual offenses by authority figures, strengthening criminal justice protections for minors through enhanced sentencing and predicate crime designation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects students from abuse by school staff (teachers/coaches), enhancing school safety and trust in educational environments, directly advancing student protection within education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 418: Prince George's County - Courts - Remote Public Access to Bail Review Hearings PG 302-26

HB 418 requires all courts in Prince George’s County to provide remote audio-visual access for the public to attend bail review hearings, effective October 1, 2026. This applies unless a hearing is legally closed, confidential, or restricted by federal/state law. Judges may temporarily block specific parts of a hearing upon request from a party, witness, or attorney, but only if no overriding public interest requires disclosure. The bill directly affects Prince George’s County courts, defendants, attorneys, and the public seeking to observe bail proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public remote access to bail hearings, enhancing transparency and accountability in court proceedings per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires remote audio-visual access for public court hearings, expanding digital access to judicial proceedings via technology.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 330: Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Not Administratively Charged, Unfounded, and Exonerated Complaints

SB 330 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies to remove certain investigation records from police officers' personnel files three years after specific findings: when an administrative committee decides not to charge an officer, or a trial board finds misconduct allegations "unfounded" or "exonerated." It directly affects police officers whose misconduct complaints were resolved without administrative action. The bill amends Maryland's Public Safety laws to mandate this removal, replacing prior rules that prohibited expungement or destruction of such records. Key provisions specify the exact timeline (3 years post-determination) and define terms like "unfounded" (allegations unsupported by fact) and "exonerated" (officer acted lawfully). The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves unfounded/exonerated complaint records from officer files, enhancing accountability by preventing long-term stigma from unsubstantiated claims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction, Detention, and Confinement (Youth Charging Reform Act)

SB 323 (Youth Charging Reform Act) removes restrictions that previously prevented Maryland juvenile courts from handling cases involving youth aged 16 and older accused of serious crimes. It repeals provisions that excluded such cases for offenses like murder, robbery, gun crimes, and aggravated violence, expanding juvenile court jurisdiction to include these charges. Now, youth 16+ facing these specific allegations will be processed in juvenile court instead of being automatically sent to adult court. This change affects juvenile courts, prosecutors, and youth aged 16+ charged with the listed offenses under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands juvenile court jurisdiction for 16+ youth in serious crimes, shifting cases from adult system to rehab-focused juvenile court, advancing reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

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

HB 475: Department of Juvenile Services - Employees - Prohibited Convictions (Juvenile Offender Protection Act)

HB 475, the Juvenile Offender Protection Act, prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, sexual offenses against minors, and certain assaults. It directly affects individuals seeking or holding jobs with the Department of Juvenile Services who have prior convictions for the listed offenses. The law adds these restrictions to Maryland's Code, with an exception allowing hiring if the conviction was reversed or vacated. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits hiring employees with serious convictions in juvenile services to protect minors, strengthening institutional safety standards within criminal justice system oversight.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 557: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process

HB 557 creates a pre-approval review process for individuals with non-violent criminal convictions seeking occupational licenses (e.g., cosmetology, contracting, healthcare roles) in Maryland. It requires state departments (excluding Public Safety and Correctional Services) to provide a binding determination on whether an applicant’s criminal history would block their license *before* they formally apply, based on specific criteria like the nature of the offense, time since conviction, and rehabilitation evidence. The bill prohibits denial solely for past non-violent convictions unless a direct relationship to the job or safety risk exists, and establishes a $100 fee (waivable for low-income applicants) for the review. It applies to most occupational licenses but excludes sex offense convictions and automatically allows licenses after 7 years without new offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates pre-approval for occupational licenses post-non-violent conviction, reducing reentry barriers and promoting rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves licensing barriers for non-violent offenders, expanding employment access and protecting workers' rights to pursue licensed careers in healthcare, cosmetology, etc.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Tags Licensing