Explore Bills

Altering an exception to the prohibition against the possession of certain nondomesticated animals in the State by reducing from 10 days to 48 hours the amount of time a nonresident may travel through the State with an otherwise prohibited animal; repealing the exception to the prohibition against the possession by a person with certain disabilities of certain nondomesticated animals for a certain purpose; etc.

Prohibiting a person from operating, conducting, or promoting interactive games; requiring gaming license applicants and license holders to report to the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission annually any business relationship with certain persons known to support, operate, conduct, or promote certain interactive games; requiring the Commission to deny certain license applications and revoke certain licenses under certain circumstances; etc.

Prohibiting a person from utilizing certain personal identifying information or engaging in certain conduct in order to cause physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages; prohibiting a person from using certain artificial intelligence or certain deepfake representations for certain purposes; providing penalties of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 or both where one victim is involved, and for two or more victims the term of imprisonment is up to 10 years and the fine is up to $15,000 or both; etc.

Altering the definition of "drug trafficking crime" applicable to prohibitions against possessing, using, wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

Prohibiting a person from knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining an individual for the purpose of appropriating the government benefits of an individual for the benefit of the person or another through deception, coercion, exploitation, isolation, or any other means; prohibiting a person from aiding, abetting, or conspiring with one or more persons to violate a certain provision of the Act; establishing that a violation of the Act is a felony; etc.

Increasing the maximum period of imprisonment for a first conviction for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel from 10 years to 20 years and for a second or subsequent conviction, or having been previously convicted for certain other crimes, from 15 years to 30 years; etc.

Prohibiting a person from knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining an individual for the purpose of appropriating the government benefits of an individual for the benefit of the person or another through deception, coercion, exploitation, isolation, or any other means; prohibiting a person from aiding, abetting, or conspiring with one or more persons to violate a certain provision of the Act; establishing that a violation of the Act is a felony; etc.

Prohibiting a person, acting alone or with others, from preventing another from entering or exiting a religious facility; and establishing that a violation of the Act is a misdemeanor with a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both on conviction.

Altering the prohibition against taking and breaking open a letter; providing that a person may not knowingly and intentionally open mail addressed to another without permission of the person or an authorized designee; providing certain penalties for violations of the Act; prohibiting the theft of mail under certain circumstances; prohibiting a person from possessing an arrow key under certain circumstances; and providing for concurrent jurisdiction in the District Court and circuit court to try a violation of the Act.

Prohibiting a person from possessing more than 100 images of certain child pornography or possessing or viewing images of certain child pornography depicting a minor or an individual indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable child under the age of 13 years; providing that a violation of the Act is a felony and on conviction a violator is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years; and providing that a sentence under the Act may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence imposed for certain other crimes.

Prohibiting a law enforcement officer from engaging in certain sexual acts, sexual contact, or vaginal intercourse with a student enrolled in a school where the law enforcement officer is assigned as a school resource officer; etc.

Prohibiting a law enforcement officer from engaging in certain sexual acts, sexual contact, or vaginal intercourse with a student enrolled in a school where the law enforcement officer is assigned as a school resource officer; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a term of imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine not exceed $3,000 or both.

Prohibiting a person with the intent to defraud another from creating, aiding in the creation of, or possessing a counterfeit lease of real property or rental agreement relating to real property; etc.

Prohibiting a person from operating, conducting, or promoting interactive games; requiring gaming license applicants and license holders to report to the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission annually any business relationship with certain persons known to support, operate, conduct, or promote certain interactive games; requiring the Commission to deny certain license applications and revoke certain licenses under certain circumstances; etc.

Prohibiting a person from distributing personal identifying information or images of a student enrolled in an institution of secondary education or an institution of postsecondary education with intent or knowledge that the information will be used to harm the student or with reckless disregard for the risk the information will be used to harm the student; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Establishing that engaging in sexual contact with another without the consent of the other in connection with a first-, second-, or third- degree burglary constitutes sexual offense in the third degree; and altering the definitions of "tier I sex offender", "tier II sex offender", and "tier III sex offender" applicable to provisions relating to sex offender registration to include certain acts constituting sexual offense in the third degree.

Establishing that engaging in sexual contact with another without the consent of the other in connection with a first-, second-, or third- degree burglary constitutes sexual offense in the third degree; and altering the definitions of "tier I sex offender", "tier II sex offender", and "tier III sex offender" applicable to provisions relating to sex offender registration to include certain acts constituting sexual offense in the third degree.

Altering the prohibition against taking and breaking open a letter; providing that a person may not knowingly and intentionally open mail addressed to another without permission of the person or an authorized designee; providing certain penalties for violations of the Act; prohibiting the theft of mail under certain circumstances; prohibiting a person from possessing an arrow key under certain circumstances; and providing for concurrent jurisdiction in the District Court and circuit court to try a violation of the Act.

Prohibiting a person from utilizing certain personal identifying information or engaging in certain conduct in order to cause physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages; prohibiting a person from using certain artificial intelligence or certain deepfake representations for certain purposes; providing penalties of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of up $10,000 or both where one victim is involved, and for two or more victims the term of imprisonment is up to 10 years and the fine is up to $15,000 or both; etc.

Prohibiting the intentional fraudulent sale, conveyance, or lease or attempted sale, conveyance, or lease of real property by a person who does not own the real property; prohibiting the acquisition, sale, or conveyance or the attempted acquisition, sale, or conveyance of real property by deception, intimidation, threat, or undue influence; establishing the Deed Fraud Prevention Grant Fund; and establishing the Task Force to Study Deed Fraud.

Prohibiting a person from knowingly and willfully causing another to ingest an abortion-inducing drug when the person knows or believes that the other person is pregnant and without consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force or threat of force.

Repealing prohibitions relating to drug paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia.

Prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2027, a person from manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, receiving, or transferring a certain machine gun convertible pistol, subject to certain exceptions.

Altering the penalty to add imprisonment not exceeding 5 years 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.

Repealing the prohibition against intentionally inflicting bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit; and prohibiting a person from harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing or causing serious physical injury to an emergency response animal.

Requiring a qualified organization to hold a gaming license whenever the qualified organization conducts certain gaming in St. Mary's County; authorizing the County Commissioners of St. Mary's County to adopt certain regulations; and requiring the Board to designate a person to administer the issuance of gaming licenses in the county.

Altering the definition of "sexual orientation" applicable to certain hate crime statutes; and defining "hate bias incident" applicable to a certain requirement that the Department of State Police collect, analyze, and report certain information provided by certain law enforcement agencies.

Altering the penalties for the misdemeanor of sexual offense by a person in a position of authority; prohibiting a certain person in a position of authority from committing a certain violation involving a child at least 6 years younger than the person in a position of authority; prohibiting a person who has been previously convicted of a certain crime from committing a certain violation; adding sexual offense by a person in a position of authority as a predicate crime for sexual solicitation of a minor; etc.

Repealing prohibitions relating to drug paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia.

Prohibiting an individual from smoking, vaping, or consuming cannabis in the passenger area of a motor vehicle in which a minor is an occupant.

Prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2027, a person from manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, receiving, or transferring a certain machine gun convertible pistol, subject to certain exceptions.

Prohibiting a person from distributing personal identifying information or images of a student enrolled in an institution of secondary education or an institution of postsecondary education with intent or knowledge that the information will be used to harm the student or with reckless disregard for the risk the information will be used to harm the student; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Repealing the prohibition against intentionally inflicting bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit; prohibiting a person from harassing, interfering with, injuring, or killing or causing serious physical injury to an emergency response animal; and establishing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject certain imprisonment, fines, or both upon conviction.

Prohibiting a person from intentionally, willfully, and without authorization committing a certain act with the intent to interrupt or impair the functioning of critical infrastructure; providing that a person convicted of violating the Act is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine not to exceed $50,000, or both; etc.

Requiring a qualified organization to hold a gaming license whenever the qualified organization conducts certain gaming in St. Mary's County; authorizing the County Commissioners of St. Mary's County to adopt certain regulations; and requiring the Board to designate a person to administer the issuance of gaming licenses in the county.

Increasing the penalties for a violation of the prohibition against making certain threats against a State official, a local official, a deputy State's Attorney, an assistant State's Attorney, or an assistant Public Defender.

Prohibiting a person from intentionally or knowingly providing certain assisted reproductive treatment to another using the person's sperm or ovum without the other's consent to assisted reproductive treatment using the person's sperm or ovum; and establishing a civil cause of action for a violation of the Act.

Altering the penalties for the misdemeanor of sexual offense by a person in a position of authority; prohibiting a certain person in a position of authority from committing a certain violation involving a child at least 6 years younger than the person in a position of authority; prohibiting a person who has been previously convicted of a certain crime from committing a certain violation; adding sexual offense by a person in a position of authority as a predicate crime for sexual solicitation of a minor; etc.

Altering the definition of "drug trafficking crime" applicable to prohibitions against possessing, using, wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

Providing for the valuation of a gift card for the purpose of determining value for crimes involving theft; and prohibiting a person, with the intent to defraud another, from altering or tampering with a gift card or its packaging.

Prohibiting a person from possessing more than 100 images of certain child pornography or possessing or viewing images of certain child pornography depicting a minor or an individual indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable child under the age of 13 years; providing that a violation of the Act is a felony and on conviction a violator is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years; and providing that a sentence under the Act may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence imposed for certain other crimes.

Prohibiting a police officer from intentionally violating the requirement that a police officer intervene to prevent or terminate the use of certain force by another police officer; prohibiting a police officer from intentionally violating the requirement to render certain first aid to a person injured as a result of police action and request certain assistance at a certain time; and classifying a violation of the Act by an officer as a misdemeanor and providing, on conviction, a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Altering the prohibition against taking and breaking open a letter; prohibiting the theft of mail under certain circumstances; prohibiting a person from possessing an arrow key under certain circumstances; and providing for concurrent jurisdiction in the District Court and circuit court to try a violation of the Act.

Altering the definition of "item" relating to the prohibition against displaying or distributing obscene material to minors to include a drawing or illustration; and prohibiting certain public schools from displaying certain obscene material under certain circumstances.

Prohibiting a person from intentionally, willfully, and without authorization committing a certain act with the intent to interrupt or impair the functioning of critical infrastructure; providing that a person convicted of violating the Act is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine not to exceed $50,000, or both; etc.

Establishing that it is a misdemeanor to intentionally cause offensive contact, engage in conduct tending to put another in fear of offensive contact, or attempt to cause offensive contact; and altering a certain list of convictions that are eligible for expungement under certain circumstances.

Increasing the penalties for stalking to a period of imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $10,000 or both if the victim had a protective order in effect against the defendant at the time of the offense or the defendant had previously been convicted of stalking.

Increasing, from 2 years to 3 years, the statute of limitations for the crime of theft of property or services with a value greater than $100 but less than $1,500.

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages; requiring the prosecutor of a violation of the Act to notify the victim or the victim's representative about each court proceeding, the right of the victim to submit a victim impact statement, any posttrial court proceeding, any appeal, and any sentence review related to the court proceedings; and providing that a person who violates the Act by depriving an owner of mail or a package is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Providing for the valuation of a gift card for the purpose of determining value for crimes involving theft; prohibiting a person, with the intent to defraud another, from altering or tampering with a gift card or its packaging; and providing that a violation of the Act is a misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine not to exceed $500, or both.

Prohibiting a person, acting alone or with others, from preventing another from entering or exiting a religious facility; and establishing that a violation of the Act is a misdemeanor with a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both on conviction.

Requiring a court to notify the United States Postmaster General of a certain conviction involving the theft, taking, or opening of mail or packages, under certain circumstances.

Prohibiting a person with the intent to defraud another from creating, aiding in the creation of, or possessing a counterfeit lease or rental agreement.

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages delivered or left to be collected by the United States Postal Service or a delivery service; providing for the disposition of interest on unpaid restitution in certain cases involving the theft of mail or packages; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages delivered or left to be collected by the United States Postal Service or a delivery service company; authorizing the court to order a person convicted of a certain crime to stay away from certain locations; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages from intended recipients; and authorizing the court to order a person convicted under the Act for a third or subsequent offense to participate in substance use disorder evaluation and treatment.

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages delivered or left to be collected by the U.S. Postal Service or a delivery service company; requiring the Central Collection Unit to report certain overdue restitution to certain consumer reporting agencies; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Increasing the fine for violating the prohibition against taking and breaking open a letter addressed to another without the other's permission from $15 to $500.

Altering from 10 business days to 14 calendar days the period of time during which a hearing must be held after the filing of a wrongful detainer action; etc.

Prohibiting a person from possessing or claiming a right to possess residential real property the person does not lawfully possess or own with the intent to defraud another; authorizing the owner of certain residential real property to file a certain sworn affidavit and requiring a law enforcement officer to remove a certain person from residential real property under certain circumstances; and providing that the Act does not prohibit the owner of residential real property from filing a wrongful detainer action.

Increasing the maximum period of imprisonment for a first conviction for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel from 10 years to 20 years and for a second or subsequent conviction, or having been previously convicted for certain other crimes, from 15 years to 30 years; etc.

Classifying the theft of a firearm as a felony; establishing a penalty for a first conviction for theft of a firearm of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both; and establishing a penalty for subsequent convictions of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $2,500 or both.

Prohibiting a person from knowingly and willfully causing another to ingest an abortion-inducing drug when the person knows or believes that the other person is pregnant and without consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force or threat of force.

Establishing that the prohibition against abandoning an animal does not apply to a person who is providing care to a community cat under a certain trap-neuter-return policy; establishing that a local law that establishes a trap-neuter-return policy is subject to certain requirements and restrictions; and providing that the Act supersedes and preempts any law, ordinance, policy, or regulation of any local government body and any policy or rule of any person or corporation that prohibits or restricts the practice of trap-neuter-return.

Establishing that it is a misdemeanor to intentionally cause offensive contact, engage in conduct tending to put another in fear of offensive contact, or attempt to cause offensive contact; and altering a certain list of convictions that are eligible for expungement under certain circumstances.

Prohibiting certain conduct relating to child exploitation material; establishing a civil action for a certain violation of the Act; authorizing the Attorney General to enforce certain provisions of the Act; defining "computer-generated image" in certain provisions relating to crimes involving child pornography to include an image created through the use of artificial intelligence software; and increasing from 16 to 18 the requisite age of a child considered to be a victim of certain child pornography crimes.

Prohibiting a person from knowingly and willfully interfering with a custody order over which a court of the State has jurisdiction by enticing or persuading a minor away or withholding a minor from a lawful custodian, a court-appointed guardian, or a person lawfully standing in loco parentis; and requiring a written warning for a violation of the Act to include certain information and a notice of the potential penalties that may be imposed for subsequent violations.

Altering the list of convictions that subject a defendant to enhanced sentencing for wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun to include certain extra-jurisdictional crimes.

Prohibiting certain persons from operating, offering, conducting, engaging in, or promoting illegal online gambling in the State; prohibiting certain persons from knowingly supporting, directly or indirectly, the operation, conduct, or promotion of illegal online gambling in the State; authorizing the Attorney General and certain prosecuting attorneys to take certain actions, issue certain notices, and seek certain relief in order to enforce the Act; etc.

Altering from a misdemeanor to a felony the crime of making a threat of mass violence.

Establishing certain use of force standards applicable to certain National Guard members acting in the State; and prohibiting a National Guard member from violating the use of force standards, resulting in serious physical injury or death to a person.

Prohibiting a person from intentionally causing physical injury to another if the person knows or has reason to know that the other is an official, an umpire, a referee, or a judge officiating at a sporting event; authorizing a police officer to arrest a person without a warrant if the police officer has probable cause to believe that the person has committed a certain assault; and establishing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor of assault in the second degree and is subject to certain penalties.

Altering the list of convictions that subject a defendant to enhanced sentencing for wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun to include certain extra-jurisdictional crimes.

Increasing the maximum age from 16 to 18 of a certain child that may not be depicted in certain visual representations; altering the penalties for knowingly possessing and intentionally retaining, and knowingly or intentionally accessing and intentionally viewing, certain visual representations; authorizing a person depicted in a certain visual representation to bring a certain civil action; and requiring the Attorney General to submit a certain annual report by December 1.

Establishing that the prohibition against abandoning an animal does not apply to a person who is providing care to a community cat under a certain trap-neuter-return policy; establishing that a local law that establishes a trap-neuter-return policy is subject to certain requirements and restrictions; and providing that the Act supersedes and preempts any law, ordinance, policy, or regulation of any local government body and any policy or rule of any person or corporation that prohibits or restricts the practice of trap-neuter-return.

Prohibiting a person from knowingly and willfully interfering with a custody order over which a court of the State has jurisdiction by enticing or persuading a minor away or withholding a minor from a lawful custodian, a court-appointed guardian, or a person lawfully standing in loco parentis; and requiring a written warning for a violation of the Act to include certain information and a notice of the potential penalties that may be imposed for subsequent violations.

Requiring a federal firearms licensee or law enforcement agency operating a gun buyback program to destroy each firearm and all its component parts that is traded in as part of a gun buyback program; authorizing a licensee or agency to contract with a law enforcement agency or a business to destroy certain firearms; requiring a law enforcement agency operating a program to determine if a firearm is a crime firearm or has been reported lost or stolen before destroying the weapon; etc.

Requiring certain junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers to register and provide a description including certain information of purchased telecommunications equipment with a certain law enforcement official; prohibiting junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers from purchasing telecommunications equipment other than by check mailed to the seller's address; prohibiting the sale or disposal of certain telecommunications equipment for a period of 30 days after the date of purchase; etc.

Prohibiting a certain individual from distributing heroin or fentanyl or chemical analogues of heroin or fentanyl, the use of which results in the death of or serious bodily injury to another; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and, in addition to any other penalty imposed for a certain violation, on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.

Requiring certain junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers to register and provide a description including certain information of purchased telecommunications equipment with a certain law enforcement official; prohibiting certain junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers from purchasing telecommunications equipment other than by check mailed to the seller's address; etc.

Authorizing a designated Howard County department to place certain surveillance systems at certain dumping sites in Howard County; requiring the District Court, in consultation with the designated department, to prescribe a certain citation form; requiring the designated department to mail a certain citation or warning to the owner of a motor vehicle that is recorded by a certain surveillance system; etc.

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 to include the possibility of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years.

Prohibiting a person from committing a crime of violence while the person is in a medical facility or a place of worship; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Prohibiting certain persons from operating, offering, conducting, engaging in, or promoting illegal online gambling in the State; prohibiting certain persons from knowingly supporting, directly or indirectly, the operation, conduct, or promotion of illegal online gambling in the State; authorizing the Attorney General and certain prosecuting attorneys to take certain actions, issue certain notices, and seek certain relief in order to enforce the Act; etc.

Altering the term "child pornography" to be "child sexual abuse material" for purposes of certain criminal offenses; and defining "computer-generated image" to include images created through the use of artificial intelligence software as the term pertains to provisions of law related to child sexual abuse material.

Establishing that a certain conspiracy involving a controlled dangerous substance crime has the same penalty as the underlying crime; providing for the venue for prosecution of a certain crime related to a controlled dangerous substance; and providing for the venue for prosecution of a certain crime committed in furtherance of a crime involving a criminal organization.

Prohibiting a certain individual from distributing heroin or fentanyl or chemical analogues of heroin or fentanyl, the use of which results in the death of or serious bodily injury to another; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a felony and, in addition to any other penalty imposed for a certain violation, on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.

Authorizing a person charged with murder or manslaughter in any degree or a crime under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the Criminal Law Article to assert the defense that the person acted in self-defense and need not prove that the person believed danger was imminent or immediate if the victim had previously committed a certain act against the person.

Providing that a specified conviction from another state or a federal, military, or Native American tribal court may serve as a predicate crime for a specified enhanced penalty for certain repeat sex offenders.

Providing that a State's Attorney may not enter into a certain plea agreement in a prosecution for certain human trafficking offenses if the victim is a minor; and prohibiting a person convicted of a certain offense against a minor from knowingly operating or entering a certain place for children.

Altering a certain provision of law that prohibits a person from storing or leaving a certain firearm in a location if the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor is likely to gain access to the firearm; requiring an authorized individual to store a firearm in a certain secure storage depository at a certain time; prohibiting a certain individual from violating a certain firearm storage requirement; etc.

Prohibiting certain conduct relating to child exploitation material; establishing a civil action for a certain violation of the Act; authorizing the Attorney General to enforce certain provisions of the Act; defining "computer-generated image" in certain provisions relating to crimes involving child pornography to include an image created through the use of artificial intelligence software; and increasing from 16 to 18 the requisite age of a child considered to be a victim of certain child pornography crimes.