House Judiciary Committee advances wide slate of criminal justice and procedure bills

The House Judiciary Committee advanced multiple criminal-justice and administrative bills on March 12, 2025, moving several measures to the floor with amendments while holding others for further work.

Why it matters: The package touches core public-safety and due-process topics — from how courts treat testimony and AI-generated images in child-abuse cases to when people denied parole must receive a new hearing date, and how Maryland plans a women’s prerelease center. Several bills change timelines or agency duties and could affect victims’ access, agency procedures and long-term state budgeting.

Key actions and summaries

House Bill 5 (AI and child-abuse material): The committee adopted an amendment that substitutes the phrase "child sexual abuse material" for prior terminology and clarifies that computer-generated images include images produced with artificial-intelligence software. The amendment was adopted and the committee voted favorably on the bill as amended.

House Bill 74 (public notices: print/digital): Members approved an amendment clarifying that publications required by Maryland law may be distributed via print and digital formats; if a qualifying local print publication does not exist, the requirement may be met through digital publication. The amendment was adopted and the bill received a favorable vote as amended.

House Bill 246 (reporting and Adult Protective Services): The committee approved an amendment that allows certain reporting under the bill to be made via the statewide hotline and adjusts a date requested by emergency medical services stakeholders so providers could prepare training. The amendment and the bill as amended were adopted.

House Bill 293 (child testimony by closed-circuit): The committee adopted a conforming amendment aligning the House language with the Senate version. The amendment requires, among other things, that closed-circuit testimony for child victims be taken in a courthouse location the court finds will reasonably reduce emotional distress, and that defendants or child respondents have a confidential, real-time means to communicate with counsel while testimony is given remotely. The amendment passed…