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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Restricts Federal Officer Powers, Bans Racial Profiling, and Prohibits Retaliation Against Whistleblowers
Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Charles Sydnor
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland Senate Bill 854 restricts federal law enforcement officers to acting in accordance with state law, bans by any law enforcement officer or agency, and prohibits retaliatory punitive actions against officers who disclose information about racial profiling. The measure also establishes civil causes of action with potential and attorney's fees for violations and takes effect immediately as an emergency measure.
Individuals harmed by racial enforcement practices or retaliated against for reporting them gain the right to sue for monetary damages and in circuit court.
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.
Federal law enforcement officers
Federal officers operating under state law are restricted to acting in accordance with State law and must meet specific jurisdictional conditions.
Law enforcement agencies
Agencies are prohibited from engaging in racial profiling and taking retaliatory action against reporting officers, and must develop a written policy by January 1, 2027.
State and local law enforcement officers
Officers are barred from engaging in racial profiling and cannot take actions prohibited by State law even when deputized under federal agreements.
Key Facts
- Federal law enforcement officers may exercise powers under state law only when acting in accordance with State law and participating in joint investigations, rendering assistance, acting at local/state request, or during an active emergency.
- Law enforcement officers and agencies are expressly prohibited from engaging in racial profiling, defined as relying to any degree on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, or national origin.
- Racial profiling does not include relying on race, ethnicity, or national origin in combination with other identifying factors when seeking to apprehend a specific suspect matching that description.
- Law enforcement agencies are prohibited from taking retaliatory punitive action against any officer who discloses information concerning racial profiling.
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- A person harmed by a violation of the racial profiling or anti-retaliation provisions may bring a civil action in the circuit court where the violation occurred or where the plaintiff resides.
- A plaintiff may establish a violation using direct or circumstantial evidence, and evidence of animus is not required.
- If a court finds a violation occurred, it may award compensatory damages, injunctive relief, reasonable attorney's fees, litigation expenses, expert witness fees, and other appropriate relief.
- Law enforcement agencies must develop and maintain a written policy consistent with the racial profiling and retaliation provisions on or before January 1, 2027.
- State or local law enforcement officers may not take any action prohibited by State law, even when acting under color of federal law pursuant to an agreement deputizing the officer.
- The Act takes effect immediately as an emergency measure upon being passed by a three-fifths vote in both houses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can federal law enforcement officers operate independently under state law in Maryland?
What remedies are available if someone experiences racial profiling by law enforcement?
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 2/24 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.
Codification of Anti-Profiling Civil Remedies
The bill creates explicit statutory civil causes of action for racial profiling and retaliation, explicitly allowing circumstantial evidence and waiving any requirement to prove animus.
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
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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