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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0131*
HOUSE BILL 131
E2 6lr0658
HB 621/25 – JUD (PRE–FILED) CF 6lr0828
By: Delegate Moon
Requested: July 29, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Criminal Procedure – Expungement – Adverse Actions and Removal From 2
Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) System 3
FOR the purpose of clarifying that refusal by a person to disclose information about 4
criminal charges that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for a unit, an 5
official, or an employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State to deny the 6
person’s application for a license, permit, registration, or governmental ser vice; 7
providing that refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges 8
that have been expunged may not be the sole reason for an educational institution 9
to expel or refuse to admit the person; prohibiting the Maryland Electronic Courts 10
(MDEC) system from in any way referring to the existence of a certain case in which 11
possession of cannabis is the only charge in the case and the charge was disposed of 12
before a certain date; requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional 13
Services to remove from the MDEC system all references to the existence of a certain 14
case in which possession of cannabis is the only charge in the case and the charge 15
was disposed of before a certain date; and generally relating to expungement. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Criminal Procedure 18
Section 10–109, 10–111, and 10–112 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume) 21
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
Article – Criminal Procedure 24
10–109. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 131
(a) (1) Disclosure of expunged information about criminal charges in an 1
application, interview, or other means may not be required: 2
(i) by an employer or educational institution of a person who applies 3
for employment or admission; or 4
(ii) by a unit, official, or employee of the State or a political 5
subdivision of the State of a person who applies for a license, permit, registration, or 6
governmental service. 7
(2) A person need not refer to or give information concerning an expunged 8
charge when answering a question concerning: 9
(i) a criminal charge that did not result in a conviction; or 10
(ii) a conviction that the Governor pardoned. 11
(3) Refusal by a person to disclose information about criminal charges that 12
have been expunged may not be the sole reason for: 13
(i) an employer to discharge or refuse to hire the person; [or] 14
(ii) a unit, official, or employee of the State or a political subdivision 15
of the State to deny the person’s application FOR A LICENSE, PERMIT, REGISTRATION, 16
OR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICE; OR 17
(III) AN EDUCATIONAL INSTI TUTION TO EXPEL OR R EFUSE TO 18
ADMIT THE PERSON. 19
(b) (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on 20
conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year 21
or both for each violation. 22
(2) In addition to the penalties provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, 23
an official or employee of the State or a political subdivision of the State who is convicted 24
under this section may be removed or dismissed from public service. 25
10–111. 26
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search AND THE MARYLAND ELECTRONIC 27
COURTS (MDEC) SYSTEM may not in any way refer to the existence of a criminal case in 28
which: 29
(1) possession of cannabis under § 5–601 of the Criminal Law Article is the 30
only charge in the case; and 31
HOUSE BILL 131 3
(2) the charge was disposed of before July 1, 2023. 1
10–112. 2
(a) In this section, “expunge” means to remove all references to a specified 3
criminal case from the Central Repository AND THE MARYLAND ELECTRONIC COURTS 4
(MDEC) SYSTEM. 5
(b) On or before July 1, 2024, the Department of Public Safety and Cor rectional 6
Services shall expunge all cases in which: 7
(1) possession of cannabis under § 5–601 of the Criminal Law Article is the 8
only charge in the case; and 9
(2) the charge was issued before July 1, 2023. 10
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2026. 12