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.
*hb0497*
HOUSE BILL 497
D4 (6lr1871)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judiciary/Judicial Proceedings —
Introduced by Delegate Simpson Delegates Simpson, Stinnett, Simmons, Moreno,
Taylor, Moon, and Woods
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval thi s
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Family Law – Temporary and Final Protective Orders – Duration and Relief 2
FOR the purpose of extending altering the time period during which a temporary protective 3
order is effective after service of the order ; extending altering the time period for 4
during which a final protective order hearing is required to be held after service of 5
the temporary protective order; providing that a final protective order may order the 6
respondent to pay to a person eligible for relief certain losses or expenses incurred 7
as a result of abuse; providing that a certain monetary award does not preclud e a 8
petitioner from bringing a subsequent claim for certain losses or expenses; and 9
generally relating to temporary and final protective orders. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Family Law 12
Section 4–505(a)(1)(i) and 4–506(a) 13
2 HOUSE BILL 497
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 2
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3
Article – Family Law 4
Section 4–505(c) and 4–506(b)(1) and (d)(13) and (14) 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Family Law 9
Section 4–506(d)(14) and (l) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Family Law 15
4–505. 16
(a) (1) (i) If, after a hearing on a petition, whether ex parte or otherwise, a 17
judge finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person eligible for relief has 18
been abused, the judge may enter a temporary protective order to protect any person 19
eligible for relief from abuse. 20
(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the temporary 21
protective order shall be effective for not more than [7] 14 days after service ISSUANCE of 22
the order. 23
(2) The judge may extend the temporary protective order as needed, but 24
not to exceed 6 months, to effectuate service of the order where necessary to provide 25
protection or for other good cause. 26
(3) If the court is closed on the day on which the temporary protective order 27
is due to expire, the temporary protective order shall be effective until the second day on 28
which the court is open, by which time the court shall hold a final protective order hearing. 29
4–506. 30
(a) A respondent under § 4 –505 of this subtitle shall have an opportunity to be 31
heard on the question of whether the judge should issue a final protective order. 32
(b) (1) (i) The temporary protective order shall state the date and time of 33
the final protective order hearing. 34
HOUSE BILL 497 3
(ii) Except as provided in § 4 –505(c) of this subtitle, or unless 1
continued for good cause, the final protective order hearing shall be held no later than [7] 2
14 days after the temporary protective order is served on the respondent ISSUED. 3
(d) The final protective order may include any or all of the following relief: 4
(13) award temporary possession of any pet of the person eligible for relief 5
or the respondent; [or] 6
(14) ORDER THE RESPONDENT TO PAY TO A PERSON E LIGIBLE FOR 7
RELIEF, BY A DATE FIXED BY THE COURT, ANY LOSSES OR EXPENSES INCURRED AS 8
A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ABUSE, INCLUDING: 9
(I) MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH TRE ATMENT 10
COSTS; 11
(II) COSTS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED PROPERTY; 12
(III) FOOD, TEMPORARY SHELTER, OR RELOCATION COSTS; 13
(IV) TRANSPORTATION COSTS; 14
(V) FILING FEES AND COURT COSTS; AND 15
(VI) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES; OR 16
[(14)] (15) order any other relief that the judge determines is necessary to 17
protect a person eligible for relief from abuse. 18
(L) A MONETARY AWARD UNDER SUBSECTION (D)(14) OF THIS SECTION 19
DOES NOT PRECLUDE A PETITIONER FROM BRIN GING A SUBSEQUENT CL AIM FOR 20
ADDITIONAL LOSSES OR EXPENSES NOT AWARDED IN THE FINAL PROTECT IVE 21
ORDER. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24