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Criminal Justice and the 2025 Session

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Priorities for 2025

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HB  190/SB 181 - Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole

- This measure would require the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of incarcerated individuals when determining whether to grant parole.

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HB 311/SB 648 - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment  - This bill would provide a procedure for inmates who are chronically debilitated or incapacitated by a medical or mental health condition, disease, or syndrome as to be physically incapable of presenting a danger to society to be released on medical parole. 


SB 291\HB 583- Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act) - This legislation would ensure that people who have been rehabilitated and have transformed their lives after years in prison have a meaningful avenue for release. This bill will provide a path through the courts that would allow prisoners who have served at least 20 years to request hearings for possible resentencing.

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HB 647/SB 702 - Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing - This legislation would cap a single use of punitive solitary at 15 days. It would prohibit it for vulnerable people and severely limit the practice for juveniles.  This bill would also mandate that those involuntarily put in restrictive housing be allowed to contest their confinement.

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SB 514 - Maryland Fair Chance in Housing Act - Housing continues to be one of the most significant barriers for those transitioning out of prison. This bill will help returning citizens access essential housing when they transition back to the community.

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HB 545 /SB 398 -  Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement - This bill would repeal the provisions related to expunging charges of possession of cannabis and establish new procedures for the automated expungement of cases by the Department of Corrections and the Judiciary. 

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For more information, please contact Criminal Justice Reform Issue Team Lead Candy Clark at CriminalJustice@uulmmd.org​.

 

Subject
Bill Number
XFile Bill Number
Sponsor
Title
Status
Current Location
Priority
Position
Action
Synopsis
Automated Expungement
HB0545
SB0398
Delegate Moon
Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Repealing a certain provision of law requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to expunge certain cases involving charges of possession of cannabis on or before a certain date; and establishing procedures for the automated expungement of certain cases by the Department and the Judiciary.
Automated Expungement
SB0398
HB0545
Senator McKay
Criminal Procedure - Automated Expungement
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Repealing a certain provision of law requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to expunge certain cases involving charges of possession of cannabis on or before a certain date; and establishing procedures for the automated expungement of certain cases by the Department and the Judiciary.
Corrections - Restrictive Housing
HB0647
SB0702
Delegate Phillips
Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Altering a certain definition of restrictive housing; limiting the amount of time that an individual may be placed in restrictive housing from approximately 22 hours to 17 hours in a 24-hour period; requiring all restrictive housing units to create the least restrictive environment necessary for certain purposes; prohibiting the placement of a certain member of a vulnerable population in restrictive housing for any period of time; etc.
Corrections - Restrictive Housing
SB0702
HB0647
Senator Love
Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Altering a certain definition of restrictive housing; limiting the amount of time that an individual may be placed in restrictive housing from approximately 22 hours to 17 hours in a 24-hour period; requiring all restrictive housing units to create the least restrictive environment necessary for certain purposes; prohibiting the placement of a certain member of a vulnerable population in restrictive housing for any period of time; etc.
Fair Chance Housing Act
SB0514
Senator Henson
Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant; permitting a landlord to consider certain criminal history information prior to extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant and requiring the landlord to consider certain information provided by a prospective tenant relating to a criminal history records check; etc.
Geriatric and Medical Parole
HB0190
SB0181
Delegate Bartlett
Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Requiring the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of incarcerated individuals when determining whether to grant parole; altering how the Commission evaluates a request for medical parole, including providing for a meeting between the incarcerated individual and the Commission; requiring the Commission to develop procedures for assessing parole requests by older incarcerated individuals; and requiring the Commission to report yearly to the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board on the outcomes of certain parole considerations.
Geriatric and Medical Parole
SB0181
HB0190
Senator Hettleman
Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Requiring the Maryland Parole Commission to consider the age of incarcerated individuals when determining whether to grant parole; altering how the Commission evaluates a request for medical parole, including providing for a meeting between the incarcerated individual and the Commission; requiring the Commission to develop procedures for assessing parole requests by older incarcerated individuals; and requiring the Commission to report yearly to the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board on the outcomes of certain parole considerations.
Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
HB1433
SB0422
Delegate Toles
Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (Judiciary)
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed certain acts.
Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
SB0422
HB1433
Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee
Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed certain acts.
Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment
HB0311
SB0648
Delegate Bartlett
Correctional Services - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Repealing provisions relating to gubernatorial approval of a decision of the Maryland Parole Commission to grant medical parole to an incarcerated individual serving a sentence of life imprisonment.
Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment
SB0648
HB0311
Senator Muse
Correctional Services - Medical Parole - Life Imprisonment
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Repealing provisions relating to gubernatorial approval of a decision of the Maryland Parole Commission to grant medical parole to an incarcerated individual serving a sentence of life imprisonment.
Prerelease Services - Female Inmates
HB1198
SB0632
Delegate Crutchfield
Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act)
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Altering the required location and timeline for a certain prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Commissioner of the Division of Correction to make certain services available to certain female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to implement certain comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease services by July 1, 2026; requiring the Department to report certain information to certain entities; etc.
Prerelease Services - Female Inmates
SB0632
HB1198
Senator Washington, M.
Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Altering the required location and timeline for a certain prerelease facility for female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Commissioner of the Division of Correction to make certain services available to certain female incarcerated individuals; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, by July 1, 2026, to implement certain comprehensive rehabilitative prerelease services; etc.
Reduction of sentence petition
HB0853
Delegate Pasteur
Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
x
Support
Contact Delegate on Committee
Authorizing an individual to file a petition with the court to reduce the sentence if the individual has served at least 20 years of the term of confinement and at least 5 years have passed since the court decided any previous petition filed by the individual under the Act; authorizing a court, after a hearing, to reduce a sentence if the court finds that the individual is not a danger to the public; and providing a rebuttable presumption that a petitioner is not a danger to the public under certain circumstances.
Reduction of sentence petition
SB0291
Senator Sydnor
Criminal Procedure - Petition to Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
x
Support
Contact Senator on Committee
Authorizing an individual who is serving a term of confinement to petition a court to reduce the sentence or sentences under certain circumstances; and establishing procedures for a proceeding under the Act.
Custodial Interrogation of Minors
HB0165
SB0512
Delegate Acevero
Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Establishing a certain rebuttable presumption that a statement made by a minor during a custodial interrogation is involuntary and is inadmissible in a juvenile or criminal proceeding against the minor if the law enforcement officer intentionally used information known by the officer to be false in order to elicit the statement.
Custodial Interrogation of Minors
SB0512
HB0165
Senator Henson
Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Establishing a certain rebuttable presumption that a statement made by a minor during a custodial interrogation is involuntary and is inadmissible in a juvenile or criminal proceeding against the minor if the law enforcement officer intentionally used information known by the officer to be false in order to elicit the statement.
Inmate phone calls
HB0401
SB0056
Delegate Roberson
State Correctional Facilities - Incarcerated Individuals - Costs of Telephone Communications
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Support
Establishing certain requirements relating to the use of telephone equipment and telephone services by incarcerated individuals in State correctional facilities; prohibiting a State correctional facility and telephone service provider from charging an incarcerated individual for the indivdual's use of telephone equipment and services while in the facility; and establishing the Costs of Telephone Communications Advisory Committee to review prison and jail phone call programs and report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025.
Inmate phone calls
SB0056
HB0401
Senator Waldstreicher
State Correctional Facilities - Incarcerated Individuals - Costs of Telephone Communications
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Support
Prohibiting a State correctional facility and a telephone service provider from charging an incarcerated individual or a third party, for an incarcerated individual's use of telephone equipment or telephone services while in the facility; requiring a State correctional facility to pay any costs charged by a telephone service provider; and establishing the Costs of Telephone Communications Advisory Committee to review prison and jail phone call programs and report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025.
Medical and Elder Parole
HB1123
Delegate Bartlett
Correctional Services - Medical and Elder Parole
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Support
Repealing provisions relating to gubernatorial approval of a decision of the Maryland Parole Commission to grant medical parole to an incarcerated individual serving a term of life imprisonment; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to submit to the Commission the names of certain individuals at a certain time; requiring the Commission to conduct a risk assessment for a certain individual at a certain time; etc.
Reduction of sentence for seniors
SB0141
Senator West
Criminal Procedure - Incarcerated Seniors - Motion to Reduce the Duration of a Sentence
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn
Support
Authorizing an individual who is at least 60 years old and has been imprisoned for at least 20 years to file a motion to reduce the duration of the individual's sentence; requiring the court to conduct a hearing on a motion to reduce the duration of a sentence, unless the court has held a hearing on a similar motion in the preceding 5 years; and requiring a court to consider enumerated factors in determining whether to grant a motion to reduce the duration of a sentence and to issue its decision in writing or on the record in open court.
Returning Citizens - Reentry Services
HB0646
SB0811
Delegate Taylor
Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services - Extension of Report Deadline and Task Force
Favorable Report by Judiciary
House Floor
Support
Extending the deadline for the reporting requirement for the Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services to be October 31, 2026; and extending the termination date for the Task Force to be June 30, 2027.
Returning Citizens - Reentry Services
SB0811
HB0646
Senator James
Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services - Extension of Report Deadline and Task Force
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Support
Extending the deadline for the reporting requirement for the Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services to be October 31, 2026; and extending the termination date for the Task Force to be June 30, 2027.
Accused Students-Attendance Prohbited
HB0068
Delegate Mangione
Public Schools - Children Suspected of a Crime of Violence - Prohibition on In-Person Attendance (Student Protection Act of 2025)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Ways and Means
Oppose
Prohibiting a child from in-person attendance at a public school if the child has been identified as a suspect in a crime of violence, until the investigation is complete and the child is no longer identified as a suspect; and requiring each local school system to provide alternative educational options for children prohibited from in-person attendance in a certain manner.
Accused Students-Attendance Prohbited
HB0137
Delegate Mangione
Public Schools - Children Charged With a Crime of Violence - Prohibition on In-Person Attendance (School Safety Act of 2025)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Ways and Means
Oppose
Prohibiting a child from in-person attendance at a public school if the child has been charged with a crime of violence, until the child is found not delinquent or the charge is dismissed; and requiring each local school system to provide alternative educational options for children prohibited from in-person attendance in a certain manner.
Diminution Credits - First-Degree Murder
HB0374
Delegate Grammer
Correctional Services - Diminution Credits - First-Degree Murder
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Oppose
Prohibiting the earning of diminution credits to reduce the term of confinement of an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence in a State or local correctional facility for murder in the first degree that occurred on or after October 1, 2025.
Hate Crimes - Law Enforcement Officers
SB0122
Senator Folden
Criminal Law - Hate Crimes - Law Enforcement Officers
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Oppose
Including law enforcement officers within the scope of certain prohibitions against committing certain crimes against certain persons, damaging certain property of certain persons, burning certain objects, and damaging certain buildings with which certain persons or groups have contacts or associations or under circumstances exhibiting animosity against a certain person or group.
Juvenile Custodial Interrogation
HB0622
SB0531
Delegate Tomlinson
Juvenile Law - Custodial Interrogation (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025)
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Oppose
Altering a certain provision of law authorizing a law enforcement officer to conduct an otherwise lawful custodial interrogation of a child if the child's parent, guardian, or custodian consents to the custodial interrogation of the child without the child's consultation with an attorney.
Juvenile Custodial Interrogation
SB0531
HB0622
Senator Folden
Juvenile Law - Custodial Interrogation (Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2025)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Oppose
Altering a certain provision of law authorizing a law enforcement officer to conduct an otherwise lawful custodial interrogation of a child if the child's parent, guardian, or custodian consents to the custodial interrogation of the child without the child's consultation with an attorney.
Juvenile sex offenders
SB0078
Senator Salling
Juvenile Child Sex Offenders - Juvenile Sex Offender Registry and Prohibition on In-Person School Attendance
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Oppose
Expanding the acts for which a child adjudicated delinquent is required to register with the juvenile sex offender registry and supervising authority; requiring law enforcement agencies and State's Attorneys to notify schools of certain information when a child is arrested for a certain offense; prohibiting a child from in-person attendance at a public school or a nonpublic school that receives State funds if the child has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses; etc.
Police Accountability Investigations
HB0139
Delegate Young
Public Safety - Police Accountability - Deadline for Completion of Investigation
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Oppose
Requiring the investigating unit of a law enforcement agency to complete its review of a certain complaint and forward its investigatory files to the administrative charging committee as soon as possible, but not later than 9 months after the filing of the complaint.
Pretrial Release - Bail
HB1356
Delegate Reilly
Criminal Procedure - Pretrial Release - Bail
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Oppose
Prohibiting a District Court commissioner from authorizing the pretrial release of a defendant on personal recognizance or unsecured bail under certain circumstances; and authorizing a judge to authorize the pretrial release of a certain defendant on secured bail bond and certain conditions.
Reporting Arrests of Students
HB1211
Delegate Long, R.
Education - Reporting Arrests of Students - Alterations
Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)
Ways and Means
Oppose
Requiring a law enforcement agency making an arrest of a student for a reportable offense or an offense related to the student's membership in a criminal organization to report the arrest to the Maryland Center for School Safety, the Juvenile Services Education Program, the State Board of Education, and the State's Attorney; requiring the State's Attorney to notify the Maryland Center for School Safety, the Juvenile Services Education Program, and the State Board of the disposition of the offense; etc.
Time limit to charge police officer
HB0238
SB0533
Delegate Cardin
Public Safety - Police Accountability - Time Limit for Filing Administrative Charges
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Oppose
Altering the deadline for the completion of the process of review by a certain investigating unit through disposition by an administrative charging committee under certain circumstances; requiring a law enforcement agency to file any administrative charges arising out of an investigation of alleged police officer misconduct that is not required to be reviewed by an administrative charging committee within a certain period of time; etc.
Time limit to charge police officer
SB0533
HB0238
Senator Folden
Public Safety - Police Accountability - Time Limit for Filing Administrative Charges
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Senate Floor
Oppose
Altering the deadline for the completion of the process of review by a certain investigating unit through disposition by an administrative charging committee under certain circumstances; requiring a law enforcement agency to file any administrative charges arising out of an investigation of alleged police officer misconduct that is not required to be reviewed by an administrative charging committee within 1 year and 1 day after the date that the appropriate official employed by the law enforcement agency became aware of the incident; etc.
Apprenticeships for inmates
HB0289
Delegate Metzgar
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Incarcerated Individual Apprenticeship Program
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to develop and offer an apprenticeship program in skilled trades for incarcerated individuals; establishing the purpose of the program is to assist incarcerated individuals to develop marketable job skills and to earn money that can be used once the individual is released from incarceration; authorizing the Department to pay all or part of an incarcerated individual's wages to a spouse, child, or other dependent in need of financial support; etc.
Assessment of State Correctional System
HB1157
SB0694
Delegate Phillips
Correctional Services - Assessment of State Correctional System
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Requiring the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman to engage an independent consultant to perform a comprehensive assessment of the State's correctional system beginning on or before October 1, 2026; altering the items required to be included in a certain annual report of the Office; and requiring the consultant to complete the assessment and provide the Office with a written report of its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2028.
Assessment of State Correctional System
SB0694
HB1157
Senator Love
Correctional Services - Assessment of State Correctional System
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Requiring the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman to engage an independent consultant to perform a comprehensive assessment of the State's correctional system beginning on or before October 1, 2026; altering the items required to be included in a certain annual report of the Office; and requiring the consultant to complete the assessment and provide the Office with a written report of its findings and recommendations by October 1, 2028.
Auto. Restoration of Voting Registration
HB1110
Delegate Wilkins
Election Law - Individuals Released from State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration
Hearing 2/24 at 11:00 a.m.
Ways and Means
Requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to transmit a list that includes the name and new residential address of individuals released from incarceration at a State correctional facility to the State Board of Elections on a weekly basis; and requiring the State Board to automatically restore the voter registration of certain individuals released from State correctional facilities who were registered to vote in the State before being incarcerated.
Body-Worn Cameras - Requirements
HB0669
Delegate Williams
Law Enforcement Officers - Body-Worn Cameras - Requirements
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing a recording of a body-worn camera worn by a law enforcement officer to be used as evidence in certain proceedings; requiring a custodian to deny inspection of a recording made with the use of a body-worn camera used by a law enforcement officer, subject to certain exceptions; establishing minimum requirements for a body-worn camera policy for a law enforcement agency and the model policy created by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission; etc.
Child Police Record - Confidentiality Exception
HB0366
SB0404
Delegate Embry
Juvenile Law - Police Record Concerning a Child - Confidentiality Exception
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Authorizing the public disclosure by the Office of the Attorney General of the name and age of a child injured or killed in a police-involved incident resulting in the death or injury of a child, subject to the express consent of the child's parent or guardian.
Child Police Record - Confidentiality Exception
SB0404
HB0366
Senator Sydnor
Juvenile Law - Police Record Concerning a Child - Confidentiality Exception
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Authorizing the public disclosure by the Office of the Attorney General of the name and age of a child injured or killed in a police-involved incident, subject to the express consent of the child's parent or guardian.
Child in Need of Supervision
HB1518
Delegate Addison
Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty
First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations
Rules and Executive Nominations
Altering the penalty for storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access to the firearm; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both.
Correctional Ombudsman-Juvenile Justice
SB0924
Senator Smith
State Government - Office of the Correctional Ombudsman - Juvenile Justice Monitor - Appointment
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Providing that the Director of Juvenile Justice Monitoring is appointed by the Correctional Ombudsman to serve a term of 4 years; and requiring the appointment of the Director of Juvenile Justice Monitoring to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate if the appointee has already served in that role.
Corrections - Medication Assisted Treatment
HB1084
SB0942
Delegate Pena-Melnyk
Correctional Services - Medication-Assisted Treatment Funding
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m. (Judiciary)
Judiciary
Requiring the Maryland Secretary of Health to provide funding to counties for medication-assisted treatment programs; requiring counties that receive funding to submit a certain report; authorizing the Governor to appropriate certain funds in the annual budget bill; altering the requirements for a certain report; authorizing funds in the Opioid Restitution Fund to be used for medication-assisted treatment programs; etc.
Corrections - Medication Assisted Treatment
SB0942
HB1084
Senator Sydnor
Correctional Services - Medication-Assisted Treatment Funding
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Requiring the Maryland Secretary of Health to provide funding to counties for medication-assisted treatment programs; requiring counties that receive funding to submit a certain report; authorizing the Governor to appropriate certain funds in the annual budget bill; altering the requirements for a certain report; authorizinazg funds in the Opioid Restitution Fund to be used for medication-assisted treatment programs; etc.
County Police Accountability Boards
HB0836
Delegate Davis
County Police Accountability Boards - Investigation of Complaints of Police Misconduct
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing the local governing body of a county to authorize, by local law, the county's police accountability board to exercise investigatory and subpoena powers; and authorizing a police accountability board to conduct an investigation of police misconduct concurrently with a law enforcement agency investigating the complaint.
Death of Incarcerated Individual
HB0775
Delegate Otto
Correctional Services - Death of Incarcerated Individual - Notification
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Requiring the Commissioner of Correction to notify certain elected representatives whenever an incarcerated individual dies in a Division of Correction facility; and requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to adopt certain regulations compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Drug Paraphernalia - Decriminalization
HB0556
SB0370
Delegate Simpson
Drug Paraphernalia for Administration - Decriminalization
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Repealing the prohibition against a person using or possessing with intent to use, delivering or selling under certain circumstances, or manufacturing or possessing with intent to deliver or sell under certain circumstances drug paraphernalia to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled dangerous substance; altering a prohibition against a person possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia under certain circumstances; etc.
Drug Paraphernalia - Decriminalization
SB0370
HB0556
Senator McCray
Drug Paraphernalia for Administration - Decriminalization
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Repealing the prohibition against a person using or possessing with intent to use, delivering or selling under certain circumstances, or manufacturing or possessing with intent to deliver or sell under certain circumstances drug paraphernalia to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled dangerous substance; altering a prohibition against a person possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia under certain circumstances; etc.
Expungement - Effect
HB0777
Delegate Grammer
Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Effect
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Establishing that a person who has been granted an expungement shall be determined for all purposes not to have been arrested for, cited for, charged with, or convicted of the underlying offense.
Expungement - Good Cause
HB0055
Delegate Ruff
Criminal Procedure - Expungement of Records - Good Cause
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing a person to file a petition for expungement of any misdemeanor or felony conviction after the completion of the sentence, parole, probation, and any other form of mandatory treatment associated with the conviction; authorizing a court to grant a petition at any time on a showing of good cause; and providing that a denial of a certain petition may not be appealed and a subsequent petition may not be filed for at least 5 years.
Expungement - Refusal to hire/admit
HB0621
Delegate Moon
Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Adverse Actions and Removal From Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) System
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Clarifying that refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for a unit, an official, or an employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State to deny the person's application for a license, permit, registration, or governmental service; providing that refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for an educational institution to expel or refuse to admit the person; etc.
Expungement Reform Act
HB0499
SB0432
Speaker
Criminal Records - Expungement and Maryland Judiciary Case Search (Expungement Reform Act of 2025)
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Altering certain provisions of law relating to waiting periods for the filing of certain petitions for expungement to authorize the filing of a petition a certain amount of time after the completion of the sentence; adding to the list of misdemeanor convictions that a person may expunge under certain circumstances; prohibiting the Maryland Judiciary Case Search from in any way referring to the existence of a charge of possession of cannabis if the conviction was later pardoned by the Governor; etc.
Expungement Reform Act
SB0432
HB0499
President
Criminal Records - Expungement and Maryland Judiciary Case Search (Expungement Reform Act of 2025)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Altering certain provisions of law relating to waiting periods for the filing of certain petitions for expungement to authorize the filing of a petition a certain amount of time after the completion of the sentence; adding to the list of misdemeanor convictions that a person may expunge under certain circumstances; prohibiting the Maryland Judiciary Case Search from in any way referring to the existence of a charge of possession of cannabis if the conviction was later pardoned by the Governor; etc.
Expungement-Administrative Investigations
SB0762
Senator McKay
Law Enforcement - Records of Administrative Investigation - Expungement
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn
Requiring a certain record relating to an administrative investigation of misconduct by a police officer to be expunged under certain circumstances.
Expungement-Case Without Finding
HB0610
SB0649
Delegate Taylor
Criminal Procedure - Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without Finding
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing the expungement of a charge under a certain provision of law if the charge was not disposed of by an unequivocal conviction, but was instead disposed of by the court with a no finding designation or included in a case that was designated by the court as having been terminated without finding.
Expungement-Case Without Finding
SB0649
HB0610
Senator Muse
Criminal Procedure - Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without Finding
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Authorizing the expungement of a charge under a certain provision of law if the charge was not disposed of by an unequivocal conviction, but was instead disposed of by the court with a no finding designation or included in a case that was designated by the court as having been terminated without finding.
Incarcerated - Voting Rights
HB0710
SB0647
Delegate Wilkins
Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Ways and Means
Requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a certain voter hotline for incarcerated individuals; and altering the circumstances under which an individual is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals convicted of a felony and serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction to register to vote.
Incarcerated - Voting Rights
SB0647
HB0710
Senator Muse
Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Education, Energy, and the Environment
Requiring the State Board of Elections to provide a certain voter hotline for incarcerated individuals; and altering the circumstances under which an individual is not qualified to be a registered voter for the purpose of allowing individuals convicted of a felony and serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment for the conviction to register to vote.
Infant Separation from Incarcerated
HB0837
Delegate Mireku-North
Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Establishing the Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals to study and make recommendations regarding methods to reduce forced infant separation in the State and facilitate bonds between postpartum incarcerated individuals and their children; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2025.
Interference with Critical Infrastructure
HB0444
Delegate Hill
Criminal Law - Interference With Critical Infrastructure or a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Prohibiting a person from taking certain actions with the intent to deny access to an authorized user or interrupt or impair the functioning of critical infrastructure or a public safety answering point; prohibiting a person from taking certain actions that deny access to an authorized user or interrupt or impair the functioning of critical infrastructure or a public safety answering point; and authorizing certain penalties for certain violations.
Interference with PS Answering Point
HB0445
SB0081
Delegate Hill
Criminal Law - Interference With a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Prohibiting a person from taking certain actions with the intent to interrupt or impair the functioning of a public safety answering point; prohibiting a person from taking certain actions that interrupt or impair the functioning of a public safety answering point; and authorizing penalties for certain violations.
Interference with PS Answering Point
SB0081
HB0445
Senator Kagan
Criminal Law - Interference With a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties
First Reading Judiciary
Judiciary
Prohibiting a person from taking certain actions with the intent to interrupt or impair the functioning of a public safety answering point; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to $25,000 or both.
Juvenile Court - Theft of a Motor Vehicle
HB0873
Delegate Rosenberg
Juvenile Law - Juvenile Court Jurisdiction - Theft of a Motor Vehicle
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court over a child of at least 13 years of age alleged to have committed a certain offense.
Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation Funding
HB0522
Delegate Taveras
Department of Juvenile Services - Rehabilitation Services - Funding
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Authorizing the Department of Juvenile Services to provide funding for up to 1 year of certain rehabilitation services to certain rehabilitation institutions.
Juvenile Law - Restrictive Housing
HB1107
SB0827
Delegate Bartlett
Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Limiting the circumstances under which an incarcerated minor may be involuntarily placed in restrictive housing to the extent necessary to eliminate identifiable risk; prohibiting the placement of a minor in restrictive housing for more than 6 hours; authorizing a correctional facility to place a minor in restrictive housing at the minor's request; establishing certain requirements for detaining, confining, or transporting a child; etc.
Juvenile Law - Restrictive Housing
SB0827
HB1107
Senator Love
Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Limiting the circumstances under which an incarcerated minor may be involuntarily placed in restrictive housing to the extent necessary to eliminate identifiable risk; prohibiting the placement of a minor in restrictive housing for more than 6 hours; and authorizing a correctional facility to place a minor in restrictive housing at the minor's request; establishing certain requirements for detaining, confining, or transporting a child; etc.
Juvenile sex offenders - Registration
HB0638
Delegate Grammer
Juveniles - Sexual Offenses - Registration and Reporting Requirements
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Requiring a person who has been adjudicated delinquent for an act that, if committed by an adult, would constitute a certain sexual offense to register as a juvenile sex offender; requiring a juvenile registrant to remain on the juvenile sex offender registry until the registrant reaches 21 years of age under certain circumstances; expanding the definition of 'reportable offense' to include certain sexual offenses; etc.
Juveniles - Reportable Offenses
HB0588
Delegate Grammer
Juveniles - Reportable Offenses
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Requiring the Department of Juvenile Services to notify of a certain student's arrest a local superintendent of schools or school principal of a school in which the student has enrolled or to which the student has been transferred; and requiring the Department to provide certain educational programming information to a certain student.
Juveniles Arrested for Reportable Offenses
HB1265
Chair, Ways and Means Committee
Juveniles - Arrests for Reportable Offenses
Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)
Ways and Means
Altering certain provisions relating to the provision of notification to certain school personnel of the arrest of a student for a certain reportable offense; and requiring the Department of Juvenile Services and the State Department of Education to develop an operational protocol to guide the transmission of reportable offense information.
Liability of Parent for Juvenile Acts
HB0683
Delegate Grammer
Criminal Law - Criminal or Delinquent Act of a Child - Liability of a Parent, Guardian, or Custodian
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Prohibiting the parent, guardian, or custodian of a child from intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently acting or failing to act in a manner that results in the child committing a crime or delinquent act; requiring an individual convicted under the Act to participate in certain proceedings and programs and establishing the failure to do so as contempt of court; and requiring the court to order a parent, guardian, or custodian to pay certain court costs and restitution related to a child's crime or delinquent act.
Minors convicted as adults-sentencing
HB0441
SB0389
Delegate Simpson
Minors Convicted as Adults - Sentencing - Transfer to Juvenile Court
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Establishing a presumption that the sentencing of a minor convicted as an adult should be transferred to the juvenile court, under certain circumstances, and authorizing the court to do so; and requiring the juvenile court to make a juvenile determination under certain circumstances.
Minors convicted as adults-sentencing
SB0389
HB0441
Senator Folden
Minors Convicted as Adults - Sentencing - Transfer to Juvenile Court
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Establishing a presumption that the sentencing of a minor convicted as an adult should be transferred to the juvenile court, under certain circumstances, and authorizing the court to do so; and requiring the juvenile court to make a juvenile determination under certain circumstances.
Municipalities - Body-Worn Cameras
HB0748
Delegate Schindler
Municipalities - Enforcement Officers - Body-Worn Cameras
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing a municipality to adopt an ordinance or a resolution authorizing an official who is authorized to act as an enforcement officer to utilize a body-worn camera; and requiring that a municipality that adopts a certain ordinance or resolution to publish a policy for the issuance and use of body-worn cameras by enforcement officers.
No-Knock Warrants
HB0255
Delegate Acevero
No-Knock Warrants
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Repealing the authority for the issuance and execution of a no-knock search warrant; establishing that a warrant may not authorize an officer to enter a building, apartment, premises, or place without first announcing the officer's purpose and authority; specifying that a warrant may be executed only between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and requiring an officer executing a search warrant, prior to entering certain areas to be searched, to give reasonable notice to alert any occupants of the officer's authority and purpose.
Occupational Licensing-Criminal History
HB0482
Delegate Harrison
Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
House Floor
Establishing a predetermination review process for occupational licenses and certificates in certain departments of State government; authorizing a department to charge a criminal history review fee of not more than $100; and authorizing the fee to be waived if the individual's income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.
Out-of-Court Statement of Child
HB0442
SB0333
Delegate Simpson
Criminal Procedure - Victims and Witnesses - Out of Court Statement of Child to Forensic Interviewer
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Expanding the evidentiary rule on the admissibility of out of court statements made by child victims or witnesses to make admissible an out of court statement made by a child to a forensic interviewer.
Out-of-Court Statement of Child
SB0333
HB0442
Senator West
Criminal Procedure - Victims and Witnesses - Out of Court Statement of Child to Forensic Interviewer
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Expanding the evidentiary rule on the admissibility of out of court statements made by child victims or witnesses to make admissible an out of court statement made by a child to a forensic interviewer.
Parental Accountability Act
SB0075
Senator Benson
Juvenile Law - Probation and Treatment Services - Required Disposition (Parental Accountability Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Requiring the juvenile court to order certain probation for a child found to have committed certain delinquent acts or adjudicated to be a child in need of supervision because of habitual truancy; requiring probation of a child adjudged delinquent for certain acts or a child in need of supervision to include the adoption of a treatment service plan and providing the child and the child's family with certain services; and requiring the juvenile court to order a parent, guardian, or custodian to participate in a treatment service plan.
Police - No White Supremacy Affiliation
HB1435
Delegate Acevero
Public Safety - Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission - Prohibition Against Certain Affiliation or Support by Police Officers
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to prohibit police officers from affiliating with, supporting, or advocating for White supremacist groups, ideologies, or causes or participating in or actively promoting a certain extremist group.
Police Accountability Investigations
HB0885
SB0625
Delegate Hornberger
Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Unfounded and Exonerated Complaints
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Requiring that all investigation records relating to a complaint of misconduct by a police officer be removed from the police officer's personnel record 3 years after an administrative charging committee or a trial board issues a finding that the complaint is unfounded or exonerated.
Police Accountability Investigations
SB0625
HB0885
Senator Folden
Public Safety - Police Accountability - Investigation Records Relating to Unfounded and Exonerated Complaints
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Requiring that all investigation records relating to a complaint of misconduct by a police officer be removed from the police officer's personnel record 3 years after an administrative charging committee or a trial board issues a finding that the complaint is unfounded or exonerated.
Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause
HB0537
SB0532
Delegate Cardin
Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing a police officer who is denied a certain right to apply to the circuit court at any time before a hearing is held by the hearing board for an order that directs the law enforcement agency to show cause why the right should not be granted.
Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause
SB0532
HB0537
Senator Folden
Police Discipline - Order to Show Cause
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judicial Proceedings
Authorizing a police officer who is denied a certain right to apply to the circuit court at any time before a hearing is held by the hearing board for an order that directs the law enforcement agency to show cause why the right should not be granted.
Police Officer Complainant
HB0122
Delegate Young
Public Safety - Police Accountability - Police Officer Complainant
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Authorizing a police officer to file a complaint of police misconduct with a police accountability board.
Police Peer Support Programs
HB0309
SB0326
Delegate Cardin
Public Safety - Law Enforcement Agencies - Peer Support Programs
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Establishing certain confidentiality requirements for peer support counseling programs for law enforcement agencies; prohibiting a peer support specialist from disclosing the contents of any written or oral communication regarding a peer support interaction; and providing certain exceptions.
Police Peer Support Programs
SB0326
HB0309
Senator Waldstreicher
Public Safety - Law Enforcement Agencies - Peer Support Programs
First Reading Judiciary
Judiciary
Establishing certain confidentiality requirements for peer support counseling programs for law enforcement agencies; prohibiting a peer support specialist from disclosing the contents of any written or oral communication regarding a peer support interaction; and providing certain exceptions.
Police Trial Boards
HB0186
Delegate Young
Police Discipline - Trial Board Composition
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Altering the composition of trial boards responsible for adjudicating matters of police discipline to include certain attorneys.
Prison Education Delivery Commission
HB0877
Delegate Amprey
Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission - Reporting and Sunset Extension
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Extending the time for submission of the interim report and final report of the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission by 3 years; and extending the termination date for the Commission by 3 years.
Racial Disparities in Justice System
HB1423
Delegate Crutchfield
Commission to Review and Assess Racial Disparities in the State Criminal Justice System - Establishment
Hearing 3/06 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Establishing the Commission to Review and Assess Racial Disparities in the State Criminal Justice System to study and make recommendations on certain matters involving the disparate treatment of African Americans, Hispanics, and other non-White individuals in the State's criminal justice system and other criminal justice issues in the State; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations on or before September 1, 2026.
Reduction of sentence petition
SB0039
Senator Benson
Criminal Procedure - Petition to Modify or Reduce Sentence (Maryland Second Look Act)
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn
Authorizing an individual serving a term of confinement to petition a court to modify or reduce the sentence under certain circumstances; providing that a certain petitioner is entitled to assistance of counsel and, if indigent, representation by the Office of the Public Defender; and authorizing a certain person to apply to the Appellate Court of Maryland for leave to appeal a certain order in a certain manner and within a certain period of time after the court passes a certain order in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Schools - Reportable Offenses
HB0620
Delegate Atterbeary
Primary and Secondary Education - Reportable Offense - Alteration
Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)
Ways and Means
Altering the definition of a reportable offense to include only references to offenses defined as crimes of violence in relation to reporting arrests of students attending public and nonpublic schools in the State.
Theft of a Handgun
SB0300
Senator Salling
Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn
Establishing the felony of theft of a handgun; establishing a penalty for theft of a handgun of, for a first conviction, imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both and, for a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $2,500 or both; and requiring that a sentence imposed under the Act be separate from and consecutive to a sentence for any other offense.
Unmask Hate Act
HB1081
SB0709
Delegate Boafo
Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act)
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Prohibiting a person from intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person while hiding or concealing their face; providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 90 days or a fine of up to $500 or both for a first offense, and for subsequent offenses, imprisonment of up to 180 days and a fine not to exceed $1,000 or both; and establishing certain affirmative defenses for a violation of the Act.
Unmask Hate Act
SB0709
HB1081
Senator Waldstreicher
Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act)
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judicial Proceedings
Prohibiting a person from intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening another person while hiding or concealing their face; providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 90 days or a fine of up to $500 or both for a first offense, and for subsequent offenses, imprisonment of up to 180 days and a fine not to exceed $1,000 or both; and establishing certain affirmative defenses for a violation of the Act.
Use of Psychotropic Meds in Prison
HB0779
Chair, Judiciary Committee
Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual
Hearing held; awaiting committee vote
Judiciary
Authorizing the establishment of a medication review committee within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services that convenes to determine whether to approve the administration of psychotropic medication to a certain incarcerated individual under certain circumstances; providing that psychotropic medication may not be administered to an incarcerated individual who refuses the medication except under certain circumstances; etc.
Violent Crimes - Diminution Credit Limits
SB0735
Senator Folden
Real Time for Violent Crime Act (Geri's Law)
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Judicial Proceedings
Prohibiting the earning of diminution credits to reduce the term of confinement of an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence for murder in the first degree or murder in the second degree in a State or local correctional facility; prohibiting a deduction of diminution credits of more than 10% of an incarcerated individual's aggregate sentence for crimes of violence for an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence for a crime of violence; etc.
Youth Accontability and Safety Act
HB1190
Delegate Crutchfield
Criminal Law - Youth Accountability and Safety Act
Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Judiciary
Providing that a person who was a child at the time of the offense may not be found to have committed felony murder in the first degree under certain provisions of law unless the person was a principal in the first degree; and providing for a motion for review of a certain conviction under certain circumstances.

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