Back to Maryland

HB0338 • 2026

Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Delegates Simmons , Behler , Cardin , Fennell , Kipke , Nkongolo , Odom , Rogers , Schmidt , Stinnett , Taylor , Turner , Valentine , Phillips , McComas , Moreno , Arikan , Mangione , Conaway , Woods , and Williams
Last action
2026-04-28
Official status
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 264
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

Altering and expanding the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services; and establishing that the Department has statewide jurisdiction over and full police authority for the enforcement of the criminal laws and parking and motor vehicle laws as to the operation, maintenance, and protection of certain State-owned or leased buildings and grounds and other public improvements or grounds designated by law or by the Board of Public Works.

What This Bill Does

  • Altering and expanding the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services; and establishing that the Department has statewide jurisdiction over and full police authority for the enforcement of the criminal laws and parking and motor vehicle laws as to the operation, maintenance, and protection of certain State-owned or leased buildings and grounds and other public improvements or grounds designated by law or by the Board of Public Works.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

483022/1

None • Senator Hayes

Floor Amendment { 483022/1 (Senator Hayes) Adopted

Plain English: AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 338 (Third Reading File Bill) On page 4, after line 32, insert: “SECTION 2.

  • AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 338 (Third Reading File Bill) On page 4, after line 32, insert: “SECTION 2.
  • AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That before a police officer of the Maryland Capital Police within the Department of General Services exercises the powers granted under this Act in Baltimore City , the Maryland Capital Police must enter a memoranda of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department.”; and in line 33, strike “2.” and substitute “3.”.
  • HB0338/483022/1 BY: Senator Hayes
903728/1

None

Favorable with Amendments { 903728/1 Adopted

Plain English: AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 338 (First Reading File Bill) AMENDMENT NO.

  • AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 338 (First Reading File Bill) AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 On page 1, in the sponsor line, strike “ and Turner” and substitute “ Turner, Valentine, Phillips, McComas, Moreno, Arikan, Mangione, Conaway, Woods, and Williams”.
  • AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 On page 2, strike beginning with the first “ AS” in line 25 down through “ TO” in line 26; after line 26, insert: “(I) TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE SECRETARY, REASONABLY IN ADVANC E OF THE INVESTIGATION OR ENF ORCEMENT, UNLESS AN EMERGENCY OR EXIGENCY EXISTS; AND (II) TO THE FOLLOWING , AS APPLICABLE , AFTER THE INVESTIGATION OR ENFORCEMENT:”; in lines 27, 30, and 32, strike “(I)”, “(II)”, and “1.”, respectively, and substitute “1.”, “2.”, and “A.”, respectively.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-28 Post Passage

    Approved by the Governor - Chapter 264

  2. 2026-04-08 Senate

    Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

  3. 2026-03-24 House

    House Concurs Senate Amendments

  4. 2026-03-24 House

    Third Reading Passed (132-0)

  5. 2026-03-24 House

    Passed Enrolled

  6. 2026-03-21 Senate

    Floor Amendment { 483022/1 (Senator Hayes) Adopted

  7. 2026-03-21 Senate

    Third Reading Passed (41-0)

  8. 2026-03-19 House

    Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

  9. 2026-03-19 Senate

    Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

  10. 2026-03-08 House

    Third Reading Passed (131-0)

  11. 2026-03-06 House

    Favorable with Amendments { 903728/1 Adopted

  12. 2026-03-06 House

    Second Reading Passed with Amendments

  13. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Referred Judicial Proceedings

  14. 2026-02-16 House

    Rereferred to Judiciary

  15. 2026-02-16 House

    Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.

  16. 2026-01-19 House

    First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

  17. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

  18. Maryland General Assembly

    Vote - House - Committee - Judiciary

  19. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - Third - Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

  20. Maryland General Assembly

    Vote - Senate - Committee - Judicial Proceedings

  21. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - Enrolled - Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

  22. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - Chapter - Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

Official Summary Text

Altering and expanding the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services; and establishing that the Department has statewide jurisdiction over and full police authority for the enforcement of the criminal laws and parking and motor vehicle laws as to the operation, maintenance, and protection of certain State-owned or leased buildings and grounds and other public improvements or grounds designated by law or by the Board of Public Works.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*hb0338*

HOUSE BILL 338
E2 (6lr1706)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judiciary/Judicial Proceedings —
Introduced by Delegates Simmons, Behler, Cardin, Fennell, Kipke, Nkongolo,
Odom, Rogers, Schmidt, Stinnett, Taylor, and Turner Turner, Valentine,
Phillips, McComas, Moreno, Arikan, Mangione, Conaway, Woods, and
Williams

Read and Examined by Proofreaders:

_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.

Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this

_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’c lock, ________M.

______________________________________________
Speaker.

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Department of General Services – Maryland Capitol Police – Statewide 2
Jurisdiction 3

FOR the purpose of altering the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police of the 4
Department of General Services; and generally relating to the Maryland Capitol 5
Police and the Department of General Services. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – State Finance and Procurement 8
Section 4–601 and 4–605 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
2 HOUSE BILL 338

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2

Article – State Finance and Procurement 3

4–601. 4

(a) Subject to subsection [(b)] (C) of this section, the Department has 5
STATEWIDE jurisdiction over and full police authority for the enforcement of the criminal 6
laws and the parking and motor vehicle laws as to the operation, maintenance, and 7
protection of: 8

(1) [buildings and grounds that, on June 30, 1984, were administered by 9
the Office of Annapolis Public Buildings and Grounds, and extending to the surrounding 10
area that encompasses 1,000 feet in any direction from the boundary of those buildings and 11
grounds; 12

(2) buildings and grounds that, on June 30, 1984, were administered by the 13
Office of Baltimore Public Buildings and Grounds, and extending to the surrounding area 14
that encompasses 1,000 feet in any direction from the boundary of those buildings and 15
grounds; 16

(3) multiservice centers designated by law or by the Board of Public Works 17
and extending to the surrounding area that encompasses 1,000 feet in any direction from 18
the boundary of those multiservice centers; 19

(4) buildings and grounds that, on June 30, 2019, were administered by the 20
Maryland Department of Labor, and extending to the surrounding area that encompasses 21
1,000 feet in any direction from the boundary of those buildings; 22

(5)] State–owned or State –leased buildings and grounds and ext ending to 23
the surrounding area that encompasses [1,000] 2,000 feet in any direction from the 24
boundary of those buildings and grounds; and 25

[(6)] (2) other public improvements or grounds designated by law or by 26
the Board of Public Works. 27

(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION, AND 28
IN ADDITION TO THE P OWERS CONFERRED UNDE R SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS 29
SECTION, A POLICE OFFICER OF THE MARYLAND CAPITOL POLICE WITHIN THE 30
DEPARTMENT MAY INVEST IGATE AND OTHERWISE ENFORCE STATEWIDE TH E 31
CRIMINAL LAWS, TITLE 12 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE, AND PARKING 32
AND MOTOR VEHICLE LAWS. 33

HOUSE BILL 338 3

(2) IF A POLICE OFFICER O F THE MARYLAND CAPITOL POLICE 1
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT EXERCISES THE POWERS GRANTED UNDER PARAGRAPH 2
(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , NOTIFICATION OF THE INVESTIGATION AND 3
ENFORCEMENT SHALL BE PROVIDED AS SOON AS REASONABL Y PRACTICABLE AND 4
AS APPLICABLE TO: 5

(I) TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE OR THE DESIGNE E 6
OF THE SECRETARY, REASONABLY IN ADVANC E OF THE INVESTIGATI ON OR 7
ENFORCEMENT, UNLESS AN EMERGENCY OR EXIGENCY EXISTS; AND 8

(II) TO THE FOLLOWING , AS APPLICABLE , AFTER THE 9
INVESTIGATION OR ENFORCEMENT: 10

(I) 1. THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT 11
AGENCY LISTED IN § 1–101(C)(1)(II) OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE OR THE 12
DESIGNEE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE; 13

(II) 2. IN A COUNTY IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 14
POLICE PROVIDES GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT: 15

1. A. THE COMMANDER OF THE LOCAL BARRACKS FOR THE 16
DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE COMMANDER; AND 17

2. B. THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE OR THE 18
DESIGNEE OF THE SECRETARY; 19

(III) 3. IN BALTIMORE CITY: 20

1. A. THE POLICE COMMISSIONER OR THE D ESIGNEE OF 21
THE POLICE COMMISSIONER; AND 22

2. B. THE SHERIFF OR THE DESIGN EE OF THE SHERIFF; 23
AND 24

(IV) 1. 4. A. THE SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE OR THE 25
DESIGNEE OF THE SECRETARY; 26

2. B. THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE MARYLAND TRANSIT 27
ADMINISTRATION POLICE FORCE OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE CHIEF; 28

3. C. THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE MARYLAND 29
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SECURED TRANSPORT AND INVESTIGATION UNIT OR 30
THE DESIGNEE OF THE CHIEF; AND 31
4 HOUSE BILL 338

4. D. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MARYLAND 1
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES POLICE OR THE DESIGNE E OF THE 2
SUPERINTENDENT. 3

(3) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 4
SUBSECTION SHALL BE MADE I N ACCORDANCE WITH AD OPTED STATE 5
REGULATIONS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING. 6

[(b)] (C) Consistent with Article 8 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights, with 7
respect to State legislative buildings in the City of Annapolis, the presid ing officers of the 8
General Assembly shall have final authority over the use of and access to the buildings by 9
the members of the General Assembly, their staff, and Department of Legislative Services 10
personnel. 11

4–605. 12

(a) (1) In accordance with the provisions of the State Personnel and Pensions 13
Article, the Secretary may establish a police and security force, known as the Maryland 14
Capitol Police of the Department of General Services, WITH STATEWIDE JURISDICTION 15
to protect PUBLIC OFFICIALS, people, and property [on or about improvements, grounds, 16
and multiservice centers under the jurisdiction of the Department, and in the surrounding 17
areas of the buildings and grounds in the State as described ] in ACCORDANCE WITH § 18
4–601 of this subtitle. 19

(2) (i) The Secretary shall appoint the Chief of the Maryland Capitol 20
Police of the Department of General Services. 21

(ii) The Chief of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of 22
General Services serves at the pleasure of the Secretary. 23

(iii) The Chief of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of 24
General Services shall supervise and direct the affairs and operations of the Maryland 25
Capitol Police. 26

(3) The Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services 27
may include sworn police officers. 28

(b) A member of the Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General 29
Services may not be involuntarily transferred from a site to another site. 30

(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, a Maryland Capitol Police officer has 31
all the powers granted to a peace officer and a police officer of the State. 32

HOUSE BILL 338 5

(d) A Maryland Capitol Police officer may exercise the powers described in 1
subsection (c) of this section within the Department’s jurisdiction as specified in § 4–601 of 2
this subtitle provided the police officer: 3

(1) meets the legal requirements set forth by the Maryland Police Training 4
and Standards Commission; and 5

(2) is designated by the Department as a police officer. 6

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That before a poli ce officer of the 7
Maryland Capitol Police within the Department of General Services exercises the powers 8
granted under this Act in Baltimore City, the Maryland Capit ol Police must enter a 9
memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department. 10

SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
July 1, 2026. 12

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.