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*hb0491*
HOUSE BILL 491
E2 6lr2256
CF SB 531
By: Delegate Phillips
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 22, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Criminal Procedure – Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior – Request for 2
Verbal Acknowledgement 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a law enforcement agency from making a certain request 4
for verbal acknowledgement in an interaction with a certain victim; and generally 5
relating to victims of sexually assaultive behavior. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Criminal Procedure 8
Section 11–929 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2025 Replacement Volume) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Criminal Procedure 14
11–929. 15
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
(2) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning stated in § 3–201(d) of the 17
Public Safety Article. 18
2 HOUSE BILL 491
(3) “Sexually assaultive behavior” has the meaning stated in § 10 –923 of 1
the Courts Article. 2
(4) “Victim” means any person suspected to have been subjected to sexually 3
assaultive behavior or who claims to have been subjected to sexually assaultive behavior. 4
(b) In an interaction with a victim, a law enforcement agency may not present to 5
the victim a form OR MAKE A REQUEST FOR VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT purporting 6
to: 7
(1) relieve the law enforcement agency of an obligation to the victim; 8
(2) preclude or define the scope of an investigation by the law enforcement 9
agency into an act allegedly committed against the victim; 10
(3) prevent or limit a prosecution of an act allegedly committed against the 11
victim; or 12
(4) limit a private right of action of the victim pertaining to an act allegedly 13
committed against the victim or the victim’s interaction with the law enforcement agency. 14
(c) If a victim requests that the scope of an investigation be limited or that an 15
investigation be temporarily or permanently suspended, the law enforcement agency shall: 16
(1) thoroughly document the request; and 17
(2) follow up with the victim in accordance with practices recommended by 18
the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. 19
(d) If a law enforcement agency violates this section, an affected victim may bring 20
an action seeking injunctive or declaratory relief. 21
(e) (1) On or before January 1, 2021, each law enforcement agency in the State 22
shall adopt a policy to enforce the provisions of this section. 23
(2) On or before January 15, 2021, each law enforcement agency shall 24
provide a copy of the policy required under this subsection to the Maryland Sexual Assault 25
Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2026. 28