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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.
*hb0432*
HOUSE BILL 432
L3 6lr1748
HB 734/24 – JUD CF SB 463
By: Delegates Mireku–North, Embry, Roberson, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 14, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Municipalities – Vagrancy – Repeal of Authority to Prohibit 2
FOR the purpose of repealing the authority of a municipality to prohibit vagrancy; and 3
generally relating to vagrancy. 4
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – Local Government 6
Section 5–207 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Local Government 12
5–207. 13
(a) A municipality may establish and maintain: 14
(1) a fire department; and 15
(2) a police force. 16
(b) A municipality may: 17
2 HOUSE BILL 432
(1) provide for the removal of fire hazards; 1
(2) control the use and handling of dangerous and explosive materials; and 2
(3) prevent the discharge of firearms or other explosive instruments. 3
(c) A municipality may: 4
(1) pay rewards for information relating to crime committed in the 5
municipality; 6
(2) prohibit [vagrancy,] vice, gambling, and houses of prostitution in the 7
municipality; 8
(3) enforce all ordinances relating to disorderly conduct and nuisances 9
equally: 10
(i) within the municipality; and 11
(ii) up to one –half mile outside the municipal limits, except where 12
there is a conflict with the powers of another municipality; and 13
(4) prohibit minors from being on the streets and in public places at certain 14
hours of the night. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 16
October 1, 2026. 17
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.