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SB 746MARYLANDSession 2026State Billfiled

Maryland Bill Allows Municipal Police Chiefs to Suspend Officers Without Pay During Trial Board Appeals

Original title: Police Discipline - Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies - Suspension Pending Appeal of Trial Board Decision

Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Mike McKay

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Municipal police chiefs in Maryland may suspend a police officer without pay while a decision is being appealed, under Senate Bill 746. If the officer wins the appeal, they are entitled to receive full .

Why it matters

Municipal police officers facing discipline and the local agencies employing them face changes to their compensation status during appeal periods, with guaranteed only if the officer prevails.

Background

Senate Bill 746 was introduced in the Maryland Senate during the 2026 Regular Session and assigned to the Judicial Proceedings committee. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

municipal police officers

Municipal police officers may be suspended without pay during trial board appeals, with entitlement to back pay if they prevail.

Directly affected

municipal law enforcement agencies

Agency chiefs gain the authority to suspend officers without pay during the pendency of trial board appeals.

Key Facts

Municipal police chiefs may suspend a police officer without pay and strip police powers during the pendency of an appeal from a trial board decision under § 3-106.
Officers suspended without pay under this new provision are entitled to receive full back pay if they prevail on appeal.
The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can municipal police chiefs suspend officers without pay during an appeal?

Yes. Under Senate Bill 746, the chief of a municipal law enforcement agency is authorized to suspend a police officer without pay while an appeal from a decision is pending.

What happens to the withheld pay if the officer wins their appeal?

A police officer who was suspended without pay during the appeal is entitled to receive full if they prevail on appeal.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 12, 2026Senate
Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Judicial Proceedings

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Maryland, Mike McKay

locationMaryland“Jurisdiction where the legislation applies”Map →

PersonMike McKay“Senator sponsoring Senate Bill 746”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy55
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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