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Judiciary Committee approves a slate of concurrences and amendments; Maryland Values Act and Capitol Police jurisdiction changes pass
Summary
On April 9 the Judiciary Committee approved multiple concurrences and amendments, including receding on a firearm regulation bill, adopting the Maryland Values Act as amended, and adding an MOU requirement for Maryland Capitol Police operations in Baltimore; several technical concurrences passed unanimously.
The Judiciary Committee on April 9 considered a large slate of bills and technical concurrences and voted to advance the majority of them, with several unanimous or lopsided votes.
Several House bills were approved on concurrence without extended debate. The committee concurred on House Bill 467 (parole commission transparency/conforming Senate language), House Bill 11 (creates three 'major' supervisory positions for the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office as at‑will employees), House Bill 187 (expungement for certain dispositions, by application), House Bill 17 (technical grammatical correction), House Bill 284 (penalty tiering: first violation up to $250; second/subsequent $1,000), and House Bill 738 (technical conforming edits). Most of those items were described by staff as technical or conforming changes and passed by voice or unanimous assent.
On firearm regulation language, the committee agreed to a motion to recede on Senate Bill 334 so the House and Senate versions would match; staff noted a fiscal note of $220,000 and said budget authority was available. "The fiscal note was then $220,000, and we needed to get permission, and we found out that the money is in the budget," Holly said during the discussion.
The committee also considered Senate Bill 810 (the Maryland Values Act of 2026) and adopted amendments replacing the term 'judicial officer' with 'covered officer' and restoring a courthouse policy requirement that may consider Attorney General guidance on sensitive locations and immigration enforcement. The amendment carried and a roll call produced a 12‑6 committee vote in favor; the motion carried.
The committee amended Senate Bill 298 to add a provision requiring the Maryland Capitol Police to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department before exercising certain powers in Baltimore City; members noted an MOU already exists and said the change brings statutory language into alignment. The amended bill passed the committee by roll call, 18‑0 (one absent).
A proposal not to concur with Senate changes to third‑degree assault proceeded to preserve specific drafting language related to excluding domestic violence victims from the offense; members agreed the remaining differences are drafting questions to resolve in conference.
With these actions the committee completed its agenda and adjourned.
Votes at a glance (outcome and committee tally): HB 467 — concur (motion passed; voice vote) HB 11 — concur (unanimous) HB 187 (expungement) — concur (motion passed; voice vote) HB 17 — concur (technical; unanimous) HB 284 — concur (adopt Senate penalty tiering; voice vote) HB 738 — concur (technical; unanimous) SB 334 — motion to recede adopted (to make House/Senate language match; fiscal note $220,000) SB 810 — passed in committee as amended (12‑6) SB 187 — passed in committee as amended (13‑5) SB 298 (as amended) — passed in committee (18‑0) Motion not to concur on Senate changes to third‑degree assault — adopted (will go to conference)
The committee chair said members had completed work at the desk, confirmed availability for conference committee assignments and adjourned.
