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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Bill SB 908 Restricts Solitary Confinement and Protects Vulnerable Inmates
Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Sara Love
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 908 redefines in Maryland correctional facilities as placement in a locked room for 20 hours or more per day, caps consecutive stays at 15 days, and completely prohibits placing vulnerable populations in solitary confinement starting October 1, 2026.
The measure establishes strict limits on solitary confinement and time spent outside cells across state correctional facilities, directly affecting the daily conditions and health monitoring for individuals in custody.
- Senate Bill 908 was introduced in the Maryland Senate during the 2026 regular session by Senator Love and referred to the Judicial Proceedings committee. context
- Restrictive housing, commonly known as solitary confinement, has been a subject of significant legislative scrutiny regarding inmate mental health and human rights standards in correctional facilities. 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.
Incarcerated individuals in Maryland
Individuals in state correctional facilities gain strict time caps on restrictive housing, a ban on solitary confinement if categorized as vulnerable, and guaranteed daily out-of-cell hours.
Correctional facility managing officials
Facility administrators must alter housing protocols, ensure compliance with time limits and out-of-cell requirements, and submit mandatory reporting on restrictive housing placements.
Correctional Ombudsman
The Ombudsman is tasked with conducting implementation reviews, making unannounced facility visits, reviewing daily logs, administering surveys, and reporting findings in annual reports.
Key Facts
- Restrictive housing is redefined from approximately 22 hours to 20 hours or more out of a 24-hour period in a locked room or cell.
- Placement in restrictive housing is limited to a maximum of 15 consecutive days and no more than 20 total days in any 60-day period.
- Individuals in restrictive housing must be offered at least 4 hours of out-of-cell time each day, including programming and medical or mental health treatment.
- Vulnerable population members, including individuals under 22, those 55 and older, individuals with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or those who are pregnant, may not be placed in restrictive housing for any period of time.
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- All restrictive housing units are required to create the least restrictive environment necessary for safety and security.
- The Correctional Ombudsman must review the implementation status of the Act on or before October 1, 2028, and October 1, 2030, and include summaries in annual reports.
- The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new time limit for restrictive housing under Senate Bill 908?
Who is considered a member of a vulnerable population under the bill?
How much out-of-cell time must be offered daily to someone in restrictive housing?
What else do you want to know?
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 2/25 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Redefinition of Solitary Confinement Threshold
The bill lowers the threshold defining restrictive housing from approximately 22 hours to 20 hours or more per day in a locked cell.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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