Criminal Law - Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real Property - Penalty

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.
*hb0765*

HOUSE BILL 765
E1 6lr1760
CF SB 82
By: Delegates Griffith, Buckel, Hartman, Ivey, A. Johnson, Phillips, and Pippy
Pippy, Valentine, Cardin, Nkongolo , Stinnett, Simmons, Moreno, Arikan,
Taylor, Simpson, Mangione, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 7, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Criminal Law – Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real 2
Property – Penalty 3

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person with the intent to defraud another from creating, 4
aiding in the creation of, or posse ssing a counterfeit lease of real property or rental 5
agreement relating to real property ; and generally relating to counterfeiting and 6
possession of a counterfeit lease of real property or counterfeit rental agreement 7
relating to real property. 8

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Criminal Law 10
Section 8–601 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15

Article – Criminal Law 16

8–601. 17

2 HOUSE BILL 765

(a) A person, with intent to defraud another, may not counterfeit, cause to be 1
counterfeited, or willingly aid or assist in counterfeiting any: 2

(1) bond; 3

(2) check; 4

(3) deed; 5

(4) draft; 6

(5) endorsement or assignment of a bond, draft, check, or promissory note; 7

(6) entry in an account book or ledger; 8

(7) LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY; 9

(8) letter of credit; 10

[(8)] (9) negotiable instrument; 11

[(9)] (10) power of attorney; 12

[(10)] (11) promissory note; 13

[(11)] (12) release or discharge for money or property; 14

(13) RENTAL AGREEMENT RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY; 15

[(12)] (14) title to a motor vehicle; 16

[(13)] (15) waiver or release of mechanics’ lien; or 17

[(14)] (16) will or codicil. 18

(b) A person may not knowingly, willfully, and with fraudulent intent possess a 19
counterfeit of any of the items listed in subsection (a) of this section. 20

(c) (1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a felony 21
and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding 22
$1,000 or both. 23

(2) A person who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a 24
misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fin e 25
not exceeding $1,000 or both. 26

HOUSE BILL 765 3

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the prosecution of an alleged 1
violation of this section or for an alleged violation of a crime based on an act that establishes 2
a violation of this section may be commenced in any county in which: 3

(1) an element of the crime occurred; 4

(2) the deed or other alleged counterfeit instrument is recorded in the 5
county land records, filed with the clerk of the circuit court, or filed with the register of 6
wills; 7

(3) the victim resides; or 8

(4) if the victim is not an individual, the victim conducts business. 9

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10
October 1, 2026. 11

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.