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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0418*
HOUSE BILL 418
D2 6lr1008
By: Prince George’s County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Prince George’s County – Courts – Remote Public Access to Bail Review 2
Hearings 3
PG 302–26 4
FOR the purpose of requiring each court in Prince George’s County to provide remote 5
audio–visual access to bail review hearings, except under certain circumstances; and 6
generally relating to remote access to bail review hearings. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 9
Section 1–101 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 14
Section 1–206 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 20
1–101. 21
(a) In this title the following words or terms have the meanings indicated. 22
(b) “Circuit court” means the circuit court for a county. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 418
(c) “Court” means the Supreme Court of Maryland, Appellate Court of Maryland, 1
circuit court, and District Court of Maryland, or any of them, unless the context clearly 2
requires a contrary meaning. It does not include an orphans’ court, or the Maryland Tax 3
Court. 4
(d) “Judge” means a judge of a court. 5
1–206. 6
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY. 7
(B) EACH COURT SHALL PROV IDE REMOTE PUBLIC AC CESS FOR BAIL 8
REVIEW HEARINGS, UNLESS A HEARING IS DEEMED CLOSED , CONFIDENTIAL, OR 9
RESTRICTED BY FEDERAL OR STATE LAW. 10
(C) UNLESS THERE IS AN OVERRIDI NG PUBLIC INTEREST C OMPELLING 11
DISCLOSURE, A PRESIDING JUDGE MAY PROHIBIT THE BROADCAST OF ANY PORTION 12
OF A HEARING ON THE REQUEST OF ANY PARTY, WITNESS, OR COUNSEL INVOLVED 13
IN THE HEARING. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That t his Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16