Criminal Justice (Courts)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 477: Criminal Procedure - Admission of Out-of-Court Statements - Assault in the Second Degree

HB 477 modifies Maryland's evidence rules to allow certain out-of-court statements in assault in the second degree cases where the defendant caused the witness's unavailability. It permits such statements as evidence if the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the defendant engaged in wrongdoing to make the witness unavailable. The bill requires statements to have been given under oath, written and signed, or recorded verbatim, and mandates early notice to the defense about the statement's use. This directly affects criminal trials for assault in the second degree by expanding admissible evidence while adding procedural safeguards. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModifies evidence rules to require preponderance standard for witness unavailability and mandates early defense notice, protecting defendant rights in criminal procedure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 67: Criminal Procedure - Incompetency to Stand Trial Dismissal

SB 67 changes the time limits for dismissing criminal charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial. For serious crimes like rape or first-degree assault, charges must be dismissed after 10 years (or the maximum sentence for the crime); for other felonies or violent crimes, after 5 years; and for other offenses, after 3 years. The bill requires courts to give the State’s Attorney and victims (or their representatives) advance notice and a chance to argue against dismissal before proceeding. It also allows prosecutors to request more time for "extraordinary cause" and mandates notifying victims and the state crime database if charges are dismissed. These changes directly affect defendants, prosecutors, and crime victims in Maryland court cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires victim and prosecutor notice before dismissal, protecting victim rights within criminal procedure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 313: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Housing - Rental Applications and Tenant Screening

HB 313 prohibits landlords in Maryland from charging application or screening fees unless a rental unit is immediately available or will become available within 30 days. Landlords must provide written disclosures about screening criteria, fees, and reporting agencies before collecting any fees, and must give prospective tenants specific reasons, copies of screening reports, and the right to dispute inaccuracies if denying an application. The bill also bans landlords from considering sealed court records or failure-to-pay rent proceedings in screening decisions. Violations are treated as consumer protection law violations under Maryland law, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents landlords from using sealed criminal records in tenant screening, protecting individuals with rehabilitated histories and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits unfair landlord fees and mandates transparency in tenant screening, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 287: Criminal Procedure - Lifetime Sexual Offender Supervision - Conditions, Violations, and Petitions for Discharge

HB 287 modifies Maryland's lifetime sexual offender supervision requirements. It mandates lifelong supervision for individuals convicted of specific serious sexual offenses (like crimes against minors under certain age thresholds or repeat offenses), requiring conditions such as GPS tracking, restrictions near schools, mandatory treatment programs, and prohibitions on contact with minors. Violating these conditions can result in misdemeanor or felony penalties (up to 10 years in jail), with supervision continuing even after punishment. Individuals may petition for discharge after serving at least five years, subject to court review.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates lifelong supervision, GPS tracking, and felony penalties for violations, expanding restrictions and increasing penalties beyond standard sentencing, opposing reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 483: Criminal Procedure - Automated Shielding (Clean Slate Act of 2026)

SB 483 (Clean Slate Act of 2026) automatically removes certain criminal records from public view without requiring individuals to apply. It affects people with eligible misdemeanor convictions (excluding domestic violence cases and specific assaults) that are at least 7 years old, or cases where all charges were dismissed (with at least 3 years elapsed since the outcome). The law requires the Department of Public Safety and the Judiciary to expunge all currently eligible cases by July 1, 2028, and then automatically process newly qualifying cases monthly starting August 1, 2028. Expungement means permanently removing all references to the case from electronic court records and the central repository, with no need for manual redaction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically expunges eligible misdemeanor records, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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

HB 471: Public Safety - State and Local Governments - Use of Unmanned Aircraft

HB 471 restricts how Maryland state and local governments can use drones (unmanned aircraft). It prohibits most deployments for surveillance or evidence collection, and bans using information gathered by drones unless specific exceptions apply. Evidence obtained through unauthorized drone use becomes inadmissible in court. Exceptions allow drone use only for activities like executing search warrants, active rescues, or responding to credible terrorism threats, as outlined in the bill. This directly affects state agencies and local governments operating drones for public safety purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement drone surveillance, requires exceptions for evidence collection, and makes unauthorized evidence inadmissible, protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts government drone surveillance to prevent unauthorized data collection, protecting privacy rights through explicit prohibitions and inadmissible evidence rules.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Emerging Technology

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 9, 2026

HB 687: Criminal Procedure - Evidence - Protecting Artists' Creative Expression (PACE Act)

HB 687 (the PACE Act) protects criminal defendants and juvenile respondents in Maryland from having their creative works (like music, poetry, visual art, or film) used as evidence against them in court. It blocks such evidence unless a court finds, by a preponderance of evidence, that the creator intended the work to be literal (not fictional), it directly references the specific facts of the alleged crime, and it's relevant to a disputed fact. The bill explicitly excludes this protection for juvenile cases where creative expression is used to evaluate mental health or diversion programs. This law directly affects artists facing criminal or juvenile charges in Maryland, changing how their original creative expression can be considered as evidence. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendants' creative expression from misuse as evidence, strengthening civil rights and defendant protections in court proceedings per bill's explicit intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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