Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 1053: Criminal Law - Second Degree Assault - Sports Official

HB 1053 makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally cause physical injury to a sports official (such as an umpire, referee, or judge) during a sporting event when the attacker knows the person's role. The bill amends Maryland’s assault law to specifically include these officials under second-degree assault protections, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison or a $2,500 fine. It also expands warrantless arrest authority for police to immediately detain individuals who commit this specific assault, as it now qualifies under the list of crimes allowing such arrests. This directly affects athletes, coaches, or spectators who assault officials at sports events.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens legal protections for sports officials via specific assault penalties, advancing accountability within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Judges Policing

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 759: Criminal Procedure - Motion to Reduce Duration of Sentence - Repeal of Sentencing Date Limitation

HB 759 removes a time limit preventing certain individuals from filing motions to reduce their prison sentences. It directly affects adults convicted as adults for crimes committed when they were minors (before October 1, 2021) after serving 20+ years, or adults aged 18-24 convicted of non-violent offenses (excluding sex offenders or specific murders) after 20+ years in prison. The bill repeals a prior restriction, allowing these individuals to submit new motions to reduce their sentences, requiring court hearings where they may present evidence and victims may submit impact statements. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals time limit for sentence reduction motions for eligible offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing lengthy sentences for non-violent cases after long incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 757: Theft of Mail and Packages and Victim Notification

HB 757 makes theft of mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or delivery companies a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. It directly affects anyone who steals such items and requires prosecutors to notify victims or their representatives about key court proceedings, including DNA evidence status and case updates. The bill specifies that "victim" includes family members or guardians of minors, deceased, or disabled individuals. It streamlines notification through mailed forms or an electronic system while allowing victims to keep their contact information confidential. These changes aim to strengthen penalties for package theft and improve victim communication in criminal cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for theft (felony, 5-year sentence), expanding criminalization and aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' oppose indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 863: Gun Theft Felony Act of 2026

HB 863 reclassifies the theft of a firearm as a felony under Maryland law, previously treated as a lower-level offense. It establishes felony penalties based on the firearm's value: up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine for theft valued at $1,500-$25,000, up to 10 years for $25,000-$100,000, and up to 20 years for $100,000 or more. Convicted individuals must also return the firearm or pay its value to the owner. The bill directly affects anyone who steals a firearm or knowingly possesses stolen firearms, raising penalties for these offenses under Section 7-104 of Maryland’s Criminal Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies firearm theft as felony with mandatory prison terms, expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 752: Criminal Law - Theft and Fraud Crimes - Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards

HB 752 modifies Maryland law to clarify how gift card theft and fraud are treated. It defines "closed-loop" (store-specific) and "open-loop" (network-branded) gift cards and sets a new standard for determining their value in theft cases: the highest of the face value, the defendant’s claimed value, or the actual loss incurred. The bill also prohibits altering or tampering with gift cards or packaging with intent to defraud, creating a misdemeanor punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $500 fine. This directly affects individuals committing gift card theft or forgery and law enforcement prosecuting such offenses. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor for gift card fraud, expanding criminalization without reform elements; increases prosecution scope for minor offenses85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 540: Home Detention Monitoring Agencies - Promotion and Solicitation of Business - Prohibition

SB 540 prohibits private home detention monitoring agencies, their agents, and courthouse or correctional facility employees from soliciting business or promoting services on courthouse or correctional facility grounds. Specifically, it bans approaching individuals to use their services, distributing promotional materials, or otherwise soliciting business in these locations. The law applies directly to agencies providing home detention monitoring services and staff working at courthouses or correctional facilities. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors with fines up to $5,000 and potential license suspensions for licensed individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits solicitation in courthouses to prevent coercion of defendants, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 815: Correctional Services – Maryland Correctional Enterprises – Report

SB 815 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), working with a Maryland university, to study prison industry programs in Maine, Ohio, Kansas, and California. The bill mandates an interim progress report by December 1, 2026, and a final report with improvement recommendations for Maryland Correctional Enterprises (MCE) by December 1, 2027. These recommendations must focus on enhancing MCE programs to support successful prisoner reentry. The bill expires automatically on December 31, 2027, without needing further legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study to enhance prison industry programs for successful prisoner reentry, directly supporting rehabilitation and criminal justice reform through program improvement recommendations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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

HB 1386: Criminal Law - Distribution of Heroin or Fentanyl Causing Death or Serious Bodily Injury (Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader's Law)

HB 1386, "Victoria, Scottie, Ashleigh, and Yader’s Law," makes it a felony for repeat drug distributors to provide heroin, fentanyl, or similar drugs when that distribution causes death or serious injury to another person. It applies only to individuals with prior convictions for distributing controlled substances under Maryland law. The law holds every person who transferred the drugs before the harm occurred liable, mandates a maximum 20-year prison sentence (served consecutively to other sentences), and clarifies that the law covers cases where drugs were mixed with other substances or distributed directly to the victim. This bill directly affects repeat drug distributors whose actions result in fatal or severe injuries, not general users or first-time offenders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates 20-year consecutive sentences for repeat drug distributors causing death/injury, increasing mandatory penalties under criminal justice without rehabilitation focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1123: Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

HB 1123 amends Maryland's criminal code to impose misdemeanor penalties for adults who store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where they knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. The law directly affects adult firearm owners responsible for storage safety, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Key exemptions include supervised access by an adult, unlawful entry, law enforcement use during duty, or minors with valid hunter safety certificates. The bill explicitly states violations cannot be used as evidence of negligence in civil cases involving firearm-related injuries or property damage. This bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes penalties to prevent minors' firearm access, promoting public safety and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing responsible storage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 1467: Criminal Law - Fourth Degree Sexual Offense - Out-of-State Convictions

HB 1467 amends Maryland's criminal code to allow out-of-state, federal, or tribal court convictions for certain sex offenses to count as prior convictions for enhanced sentencing. Specifically, it expands the definition of "prior conviction" under fourth-degree sexual offense penalties to include crimes that would qualify as violations of specific Maryland statutes (e.g., sexual offenses involving minors) if committed in Maryland. This directly affects repeat offenders who have prior convictions for equivalent offenses in other jurisdictions, potentially leading to longer prison terms (up to 3 years) for subsequent offenses. The bill does not change the underlying offenses but modifies sentencing eligibility based on prior convictions from outside Maryland. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands prior conviction use for enhanced sentencing of repeat offenders, increasing penalties under fourth-degree sexual offense provisions95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

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