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Committee Considers Extending Temporary Protective Orders, Adding Limited Financial Relief (HB 497)
Summary
Sponsors asked the Judiciary Committee to extend the temporary-protective-order window from 7 to 14 days and to allow courts to award limited financial losses caused by abuse. Advocates and MSBA supported extension; judiciary raised narrow concerns about scope of monetary relief but did not oppose the 14-day change.
Delegate Simpson and coalition witnesses described House Bill 497 as a practical set of improvements to the protective-order process. The bill would extend the temporary protective-order (TPO) period from seven to 14 days to reduce postponements and allow more time for service and counsel access. It also would permit courts at final hearings to award limited, direct financial losses (for example small emergency expenses and property repair) caused by the abuse.
Advocates from Maryland Legal Aid, House of Ruth (written), TurnAround and other crisis centers described frequent difficulty securing counsel and service for TPO hearings within the existing seven-day window. One victim-services representative described a survivor who walked miles to a police station and could not secure legal help in time.
The Maryland State Bar Association supported the extension from seven to 14 days and said the expanded window would improve attorney preparedness. MSBA and some judges urged careful drafting of the monetary-relief provision to limit scope and preserve efficient process. Sponsors volunteered to work with judiciary staff on limiting language to avoid protracted contested issues at final hearings.
Ending: Committee concluded the hearing without a vote. Sponsors and interested stakeholders agreed to continue conversations to narrow monetary-relief language while advancing the 14-day TPO window.
