Criminal Justice (Policing)

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

HB 464: Criminal Procedure - No-Knock Search Warrants - Repeal

HB 464 repeals Maryland's existing law allowing no-knock search warrants, requiring law enforcement officers to always announce their presence and authority before entering a residence during a search. This directly affects police officers executing search warrants and residents living in properties subject to searches. The bill removes all exceptions permitting entry without notice, mandating that officers provide audible announcement of their authority and purpose prior to entry. It specifically repeals provisions in Maryland's Criminal Procedure and Public Safety codes that previously permitted no-knock warrants under certain conditions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals no-knock warrants requiring officer announcements, enhancing police accountability and resident civil rights protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 563: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

HB 563 strengthens protections for law enforcement and search/rescue animals by making it a crime to harm them during their duties. The bill prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing emergency response animals (including police dogs, horses used by police, and search/rescue dogs), and adds penalties for these acts. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with fines up to $15,000 or jail terms up to 5 years, depending on the severity. This directly affects anyone who targets these animals while they are performing official law enforcement or rescue tasks. The law replaces an outdated provision that previously allowed intentional harm to such animals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly strengthens law enforcement protections by criminalizing harm to police/search-rescue animals, enhancing operational effectiveness within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

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

HB 113: Criminal Procedure - Expungement of Records - Resisting Arrest and Making a False Statement to a Law Enforcement Officer

HB 113 would allow individuals convicted of misdemeanor resisting arrest (§9-408) or making false statements to police (§9-501, §9-502) to petition for expungement of those records under Maryland law. It directly affects people with these specific misdemeanor convictions who currently cannot clear such records. The bill amends the expungement statute (§10-110(a)(1)(xii)) to add these offenses to the list of eligible misdemeanors. This change applies only to misdemeanor offenses (not felonies) and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds misdemeanor resisting arrest/false statements to expungement eligibility, advancing criminal justice reform by clearing records for eligible individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 321: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Agencies - Use of Body-Worn Cameras

SB 321 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to mandate body-worn cameras for every sworn officer while they are in uniform, in public, and performing law enforcement duties. It directly affects all sworn officers across Maryland, with specific deadlines: named agencies (State Police, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Harford County) must comply by July 1, 2023, and other county agencies by July 1, 2025. Agencies must develop their own policies governing camera use, but the mandate applies uniformly regardless of an officer’s rank. The bill amends Maryland’s public safety code to establish this requirement, focusing on transparency during public interactions. It does not specify data retention or public access details, only the operational mandate for officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body cameras for officers to enhance police accountability and transparency, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like improved oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Tags Public Safety

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

HB 699: Maryland Use of Force Statute - Failure to Prevent Excessive Force or Render First Aid - Misdemeanor

HB 699 amends Maryland's use of force statute to require police officers to intervene when another officer uses excessive force and to provide basic first aid to individuals injured during police actions. It creates two new misdemeanor offenses: intentionally failing to intervene (penalty: up to 10 years imprisonment) or failing to render first aid and request medical assistance (penalty: up to 5 years imprisonment). The bill directly affects all police officers and supervisors, mandating they sign a "sanctity of life pledge," undergo de-escalation training, document force incidents, and supervisors must review video evidence of use-of-force cases. These provisions aim to enforce accountability during police encounters by codifying specific duties to prevent harm and provide aid.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates police intervention in excessive force cases and first aid, enhancing accountability and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 588: Missing and Murdered American Indian and Alaskan Native Women and Girls - Day of Awareness and Reporting Requirement

HB 588 designates May 5 as an annual "Missing and Murdered American Indian and Alaskan Native Women and Girls Awareness Day" for the Governor to proclaim. It requires the Department of State Police to submit a report to the Maryland General Assembly by December 1, 2026, on whether law enforcement agencies collect sufficient data about violence against these communities. The report must include policy recommendations to improve data collection methods, coordinate with federal agencies during investigations, and raise public awareness. This bill directly affects state agencies and aims to address gaps in tracking violence against American Indian and Alaskan Native women and girls, who face disproportionately high rates of violence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires improved data collection on violence against Native women/girls, aligning with criminal justice reform by enhancing law enforcement transparency and accountability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Tags Tribal Nations

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 360: Criminal Law - Emergency Response Animal - Prohibited Actions Against

SB 360 modifies Maryland's criminal law to specifically protect emergency response animals used by law enforcement. It prohibits intentionally harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing these animals - such as police dogs, law enforcement horses, or search/rescue dogs - while they are performing official duties. Violations are classified as misdemeanors with penalties including fines up to $15,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, depending on the severity. The law directly affects individuals who target these animals during operations and law enforcement agencies that rely on them. It does not change general animal cruelty laws but adds targeted protections for animals serving in emergency response roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects law enforcement animals during official duties, strengthening operational effectiveness within criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 44: State Retirement and Pension System - Forfeiture of Benefits

SB 44 would require forfeiture of pension benefits for public employees convicted of specific crimes committed while performing job duties. It applies to members of systems like police, teachers, correctional officers, and judges' pensions. The bill establishes procedures for courts to review requests for partial benefit payments within one year of conviction, considering factors like crime severity and financial need. It also protects existing court orders for spousal support or child custody from being altered by the forfeiture.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reduces government spending by forfeiting pension benefits for convicted public employees, promoting fiscal responsibility in state budget management.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates pension forfeiture for law enforcement/correctional employees convicted of crimes during duty, enhancing accountability within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill mandates forfeiture of pension benefits for public employees convicted of job-related crimes, restricting a key employment benefit.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Courts Policing

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

HB 155: Public Safety - Law Enforcement Officers - Prohibition on Face Coverings

HB 155 requires all Maryland law enforcement agencies to adopt policies prohibiting officers from wearing face coverings (like opaque masks or helmets) during routine duties, with specific exceptions. The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission must create a model policy emphasizing transparency and excluding religious items, medical masks, or safety gear (such as helmets for motorcycle operations). Officers violating this rule face potential fines or loss of civil immunity, but exceptions cover religious garments, medical protection, and occupational safety needs. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits face coverings to enhance officer transparency and accountability in law enforcement, directly supporting criminal justice reform through increased police oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Tags Public Safety

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

HB 508: Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Not Administratively Charged, Unfounded, and Exonerated Complaints

HB 508 requires Maryland police departments to remove certain investigation records from an officer’s personnel file 3 years after a determination that the officer was not administratively charged, the complaint was deemed unfounded, or the officer was exonerated. It directly affects police officers whose misconduct complaints were cleared through administrative or trial processes. The key provision mandates this removal for records related to internal affairs investigations, disciplinary decisions, or hearing records, excluding cases where formal charges were filed. This change aims to limit the long-term impact of unsubstantiated or cleared complaints on officers’ records. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes unfounded/exonerated complaint records from officer files after 3 years, reducing stigma for cleared officers and promoting fairer police accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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