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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Senate Bill 716 adds judiciary special police officers to the legal definition of law enforcement officers for charging document procedures
Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Bill Folden
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland Senate Bill 716 expands the legal definition of a law enforcement officer regarding criminal charging procedures to include special police officers commissioned for the Maryland Judiciary, effective October 1, 2026.
Judiciary special police officers will now be included under special review procedures requiring the State's Attorney to investigate and make charging recommendations before the District Court Commissioner files a for alleged offenses committed during official duties.
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.
Special police officers for the Maryland Judiciary
They are added to the statutory definition of law enforcement officers, subjecting potential criminal charging applications to mandatory State's Attorney investigation and recommendation procedures.
State's Attorneys
They are required to investigate circumstances and issue recommendations to the District Court Commissioner for charging applications involving judiciary special police officers.
Key Facts
- Senate Bill 716 amends Section 2-608(a)(10) of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article to include special police officers for the Maryland Judiciary in the definition of a law enforcement officer.
- Applications requesting statements of charges against covered personnel for offenses committed during their duties must be immediately forwarded to the State's Attorney.
- The State's Attorney must investigate the circumstances and recommend whether a statement of charges, summons, or warrant should issue.
- No statement of charges may be filed against covered personnel until the State's Attorney completes an investigation and issues recommendations.
Show all 6 facts
- The statute does not prevent a State's Attorney from filing an information or convening a grand jury for an indictment.
- The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Senate Bill 716 add to the existing law enforcement officer definition?
What happens when someone files an application for a statement of charges against a covered officer?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 12, 2026SenateHearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst 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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance35How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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