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 and the bill moved forward as amended.

House Bill 302 (commissioner charging: add APS/child welfare workers): The committee approved a bill to add adult protective services workers and child-welfare caseworkers to the list of professions for which charging documents go directly to the state's attorney for initial review. Committee members debated whether the problem prompting the bill was statewide or jurisdiction-specific; sponsors said the measure responded to a local case and sought quicker, early screening by prosecutors. The bill received a favorable report.

House Bill 492 (fingerprint-assisted background checks): A local bill allowing an expanded fingerprint-assisted background check option passed without amendment; the committee voted favorably.

House Bill 610 (expungement: "no finding" dispositions): The committee approved an amendment and the bill to permit certain dispositions labeled "no finding" or "case terminated without a finding" (notably identified in Prince George's County) to be eligible for expungement similar to convictions in specified circumstances.

House Bill 674 (concealing crimes / dismemberment language): Committee debate on this bill was extensive and technical. Sponsors and members discussed amendment language that moved from "concealing the death of another" toward prohibiting knowingly dismembering, destroying, removing, burying or otherwise obliterating any portion of human remains with the intent to conceal a crime. Members raised questions about scope (for example, whether possession of a single bone taken from an anatomy lab could trigger the felony provision) and about removing a provision that had criminalized failing to contact emergency services. The chair concluded the bill would be held for further revision and discussion, and members agreed to return to it the next day.

House Bill 1123 (medical parole): The committee accepted an amendment that replaces the phrase "licensed medical professional" with "licensed physician" to clarify who provides medical parole assessments; the amendment was adopted and the bill as amended received a favorable vote.

House Bill 1198 (women’s prerelease center): Committee members discussed the long history of the women’s prerelease center project, available funding, and site-selection concerns. Witnesses and sponsors said an estimated $2 million was previously requested in 2023 with roughly $9 million appropriated overall to date but not yet spent; current construction estimates vary and locations will drive price (committee discussion referenced an $85 million estimate tied to a proposed site and earlier, larger figures tied to different proposals). The committee gave the bill a favorable report while members urged faster, site-appropriate progress and coordination with the Department of General Services and Department of Corrections.

House Bill 1156 (parole commission reorganization): The committee advanced a bill eliminating hearing examiners and increasing the number of commissioners (the bill would change appointment and compensation structures). Members asked about fiscal implications including positions and salary changes; the bill received a favorable vote with questions about fiscal implementation.

House Bill 238 ("year-and-a-day" for internal police complaints): The committee approved a bill clarifying timing for internal complaints against law-enforcement officers, typically preserving a one-year-plus-one-day limit for investigations that begin after an internal complaint is initiated. Some members voiced concern this could limit remedies where litigation lasts beyond the statutory window; one member recorded a "no" vote for that reason but the bill otherwise moved forward.

House Bill 1147 (parole due-process and hearing scheduling): A substantial package of amendments was presented to require date-certain hearings for people denied parole (eliminating or reducing the number left in procedural "refused" status), to provide automatic access to files and redacted audio recordings of parole hearings, to clarify victim-impact-statement treatment, and to shorten the time for the commission to issue written reasons from 30 to 14 days. Sponsors described tiered rescheduling timelines by sentence length (for example, shorter windows for non-victim offenses; a proposed 5-year interval would apply only to crimes against individuals in compromise language). Committee members and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services discussed transcription costs and staffing; sponsors said converting to audio and limiting redactions reduced projected costs. Final interlineated amendments were pending and committee members agreed to continue work before a final vote.

Votes at a glance (committee disposition)

- HB 5 — Favorable as amended (adopted by committee) - HB 74 — Favorable as amended (adopted by committee) - HB 246 — Favorable as amended (adopted by committee) - HB 293 — Favorable as amended (adopted by committee) - HB 302 — Favorable (adopted by committee) - HB 492 — Favorable (adopted by committee) - HB 610 — Favorable (adopted by committee) - HB 674 — Held for amendment and further consideration (no final vote) - HB 1123 — Favorable as amended (adopted by committee) - HB 1198 — Favorable (adopted by committee) - HB 1156 — Favorable (adopted by committee) - HB 238 — Favorable (adopted by committee) - HB 1147 — Amendments pending; further work required (no final vote)

What the committee directed next: Several measures will be refiled with interlineated amendment text and taken up again in the next session. The chair scheduled follow-up drafting and subcommittee meetings; members asked staff to supply clarified fiscal figures and redlined amendment text before the next consideration. The committee also signaled an expectation of continued negotiations between sponsors, DPSCS, victim-advocate groups and agency staff on parole-related timeline and redaction questions.

Meeting context: The hearing covered a high volume of bills with sustained member engagement and multiple technical amendments. Several items required coordination with state agencies (Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Department of General Services, Department of Corrections) and some outcomes depend on future procurement and budget decisions.

Next steps: Bills reported favorably will move to the House floor for further debate. Measures the committee held or left with pending interlineations will return for final consideration after sponsors and staff circulate revised text.