House committee chair identifies crimes added for expungement in Judiciary panel's reform bill; House advances measure

Annapolis — Floor members pressed the Judiciary committee chair on which offenses would become eligible for expungement under Senate Bill 432, a package of reforms to record expungement and Maryland Judiciary case search practices. The bill advanced after the committee chair's responses.

The floor leader asked for clarification about which crimes the bill would newly make eligible for expungement. The committee chair replied that two criminal statutes had been added to the bill's scope: "8106 and 8204 of the criminal law article. 8106 goes to bad checks, and 8204 goes to the theft of an actual credit card," the chair said on the record. The chair also noted that driving without a license (referenced to the Transportation Article) was included among the changes discussed.

Following that exchange, the House adopted the committee's favorable report and ordered the bill to pass the third reading.

Why it matters: Changes to expungement eligibility alter who can clear records and affect reentry and employment outcomes for individuals with past convictions. The transcript's exchange identifies the specific statutory additions under consideration on the floor.

What the transcript shows: The committee chair named two criminal-code sections added under the bill and confirmed an inclusion related to driving without a license; no floor amendment on these points was recorded in the transcript segment, and the bill's favorable report was adopted as presented.

Next steps: Senate Bill 432 was ordered to pass the third reading on March 16 and will return to the calendar for final passage votes or concurrence as required.