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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0699*
HOUSE BILL 699
E4, E1 6lr0925
By: Delegates Acevero, Addison, Amprey, Hornberger, Ivey, Lewis, Martinez,
Patterson, Ruff, Sample–Hughes, Stinnett, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Use of Force Statute – Failure to Prevent Excessive Force or Render 2
First Aid – Misdemeanor 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a police officer from intentionally violating the requirement 4
that a police officer intervene to prevent or terminate the use of certain force by 5
another police officer; prohibiting a police officer from intentionally violating the 6
requirement to render certain first aid to a person injured as a result of police action 7
and request certain assistance at a certain time; and generally relating to use of force 8
by police officers. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Public Safety 11
Section 3–524 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Public Safety 17
3–524. 18
(a) This section shall be known as the Maryland Use of Force Statute. 19
(b) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
(2) “Law enforcement agency” has the meaning stated in § 3 –201 of this 21
title. 22
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(3) “Police officer” means: 1
(i) a police officer as defined in § 3–201 of this title; or 2
(ii) a special police officer as defined in § 3–301 of this title. 3
(4) “Serious physical injury” has the meaning stated in § 3 –201 of the 4
Criminal Law Article. 5
(c) Each police officer shall sign an affirmative written sanctity of life pledge to 6
respect every human life and act with compassion toward others. 7
(d) (1) A police officer may not use force against a person unless, under the 8
totality of the circumstances, the force is necessary and proportional to: 9
(i) prevent an imminent threat of physical injury to a person; or 10
(ii) effectuate a legitimate law enforcement objective. 11
(2) A police officer shall cease the use of force as soon as: 12
(i) the person on whom the force is used: 13
1. is under the police officer’s control; or 14
2. no longer poses an imminent threat of physical injury or 15
death to the police officer or to another person; or 16
(ii) the police officer determines that force will no longer accomplish 17
a legitimate law enforcement objective. 18
(e) A police officer shall: 19
(1) when time, circumstances, and safety allow, take steps to gain 20
compliance and de–escalate conflict without using physical force; 21
(2) intervene to prevent or terminate the use of force by another police 22
officer beyond what is authorized under subsection (d) of this section; 23
(3) render basic first aid to a person injured as a result of police action and 24
promptly request appropriate medical assistance; and 25
(4) fully document all use of force incidents that the officer observed or was 26
involved in. 27
(f) A police supervisor shall: 28
HOUSE BILL 699 3
(1) respond to the scene of any incident during which a police officer used 1
physical force and caused serious physical injury; and 2
(2) gather and review all known video recordings of a use of force incident. 3
(g) A law enforcement agency shall: 4
(1) have a written de–escalation of force policy; and 5
(2) adopt a written policy requiring supervisory and command–level review 6
of all use of force incidents. 7
(h) A police officer shall: 8
(1) undergo training on when a police officer may or may not draw a 9
firearm or point a firearm at a person and enforcement options that are less likely to cause 10
death or serious physical injury, including scenario –based training, de –escalation tactics 11
and techniques, and reasonable alternatives to decrease physical injury; and 12
(2) sign a training completion document stating that the officer 13
understands and shall comply with the Maryland Use of Force Statute. 14
(i) (1) A police officer may not intentionally violate subsection (d) of this 15
section, resulting in serious physical injury or death to a person. 16
(2) A police officer who violates paragraph (1) of this subsection is guilty of 17
a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years. 18
(3) A sentence imposed under this subsection may be separate from and 19
consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for any crime based on the act establishing a 20
violation of this subsection. 21
(J) (1) A POLICE OFFICER MAY NOT INTENTIONALLY VI OLATE 22
SUBSECTION (E)(2) OR (3) OF THIS SECTION. 23
(2) A POLICE OFFICER WHO V IOLATES PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 24
SUBSECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND ON CONVICTION IS SUB JECT TO 25
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 5 YEARS. 26
(3) A SENTENCE IMPOSED UNDER THIS S UBSECTION MAY BE 27
SEPARATE FROM AND CO NSECUTIVE TO OR CONC URRENT WITH A SENTEN CE FOR 28
ANY CRIME BASED ON THE ACT ESTABLISHING A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBSECTION. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 30
October 1, 2026. 31