The candidate explanation includes details about future requirements starting July 1, 2029, which are not covered in the official summary text.
Minimum Security Standards for Courtrooms
This law sets minimum security standards for courtrooms in Maryland, requiring a certain number of trained security officers to be present during different types of proceedings.
What This Bill Does
Establishes minimum adequate security standards for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities in Maryland.
Requires court security officers to meet the qualifications of special peace police officers as defined by the Public Safety Article.
Requiring at least one court security officer per courtroom for criminal, family, or juvenile cases starting July 1, 2027.
Requiring two court security officers per courtroom if proceedings involve an incarcerated individual or someone who may be remanded into custody.
Adding one additional court security officer for every four or fewer courtrooms on each floor of a courthouse.
Who It Names or Affects
Courthouse facilities in Maryland
Court security officers
Terms To Know
Special Peace Police Officer
A type of law enforcement officer with specific qualifications and duties as defined by the Public Safety Article.
Limits and Unknowns
The exact number of security officers required may vary based on the number of courtrooms per floor.
Implementation details, such as training requirements for new roles, are not specified in this legislation.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 492
(First Reading File Bill)
On page 1, in line 17, strike “PEACE” and substitute “POLICE”.
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 492
(First Reading File Bill)
On page 1, in line 17, strike “PEACE” and substitute “POLICE”.
HB0492/403522/1
BY: Judiciary Committee
Bill History
2026-05-12Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 475
2026-04-08Senate
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
2026-03-25House
Returned Passed
2026-03-22Senate
Third Reading Passed (34-0)
2026-03-19House
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
2026-03-19Senate
Favorable Adopted
2026-03-19Senate
Second Reading Passed
2026-03-08House
Third Reading Passed (130-0)
2026-03-06House
Favorable with Amendments { 403522/1 Adopted
2026-03-06House
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
2026-03-06Senate
Referred Judicial Proceedings
2026-01-29House
Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-27House
First Reading Judiciary
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Judiciary
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Judicial Proceedings
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard
Official Summary Text
Establishing minimum adequate security standards for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities; requiring a court security officer to meet the qualifications for a special police officer; and requiring a minimum number of court security officers be present for certain types of proceedings.
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.
*hb0492*
HOUSE BILL 492
D1 6lr2569
CF SB 544
By: Chair, Judiciary Committee (By Request – Maryland Judicial Conference)
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER _____
AN ACT concerning 1
Courtroom Security – Minimum Adequate Security Standard 2
FOR the purpose of establishing minimum adequate security standards for courtroom 3
security at all courthouse facilities; and generally relating to courtroom security. 4
BY adding to 5
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 6
Section 1–206 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2020 Replacement 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 – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 12
1–206. 13
(A) THERE IS A MINIMUM AD EQUATE SECURITY STAN DARD FOR 14
COURTROOM SECURITY AT ALL COURTHOUSE FACILITIES IN THE STATE. 15
(B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF T HIS SECTION , A COURT SECURITY OFF ICER 16
MUST MEET THE QUALIF ICATIONS FOR A SPECI AL PEACE POLICE OFFICER AS 17
DEFINED IN § 3–301 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 18
2 HOUSE BILL 492
(C) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2027, DURING COURT PROCEEDINGS, ANY ENTITY 1
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING COURTHOUSE SECURITY SHALL USE BEST EFFORTS 2
TO HAVE PRESENT A MINIMUM OF: 3
(1) ONE COURT SECURITY OF FICER IN EACH COURTR OOM FOR ANY 4
CRIMINAL, FAMILY, OR JUVENILE PROCEEDING; 5
(2) TWO COURT SECURITY OFFICERS IN EACH COURTROOM FOR ANY 6
PROCEEDING INVOLVING AN INCARCERATED INDI VIDUAL OR AN INDIVID UAL WHO 7
MAY BE REMANDED TO CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF THE PROCEEDING; AND 8
(3) ONE ADDITIONAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER FOR EVERY FOUR OR 9
FEWER COURTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR OF A COURTHOUSE. 10
(D) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2029, DURING COURT PROCEEDINGS, ANY ENTITY 11
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING COURTHOUSE SECURITY SHALL USE BEST EFFORTS 12
TO HAVE PRESENT A MINIMUM OF: 13
(1) ONE COURT SECURITY OF FICER IN EACH CO URTROOM FOR ANY 14
TYPE OF PROCEEDING; 15
(2) TWO COURT SECURITY OFFICERS IN EACH COURTROOM FOR ANY 16
PROCEEDING INVOLVING AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL OR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO 17
MAY BE REMANDED INTO CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF THE PROCEEDING; AND 18
(3) ONE ADDITIONAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER FOR EVERY FOUR OR 19
FEWER COURTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR OF A COURTHOUSE. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 21
October 1, 2026. 22
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.