Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0819*

HOUSE BILL 819
E2 6lr2721
CF SB 464
By: Delegates Stinnett, Addison, Fair, Pasteur, Rosenberg, Simmons, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of 3
Maryland; requiring the Commission to submit a certain report to the General 4
Assembly on or before a certain date; and generally relating to the Commission to 5
Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland. 6

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8

(a) There is a Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland. 9

(b) The Commission consists of: 10

(1) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 11
the Senate; 12

(2) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 13
the House; 14

(3) the President of the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association, or the 15
President’s designee; 16

(4) the Public Defender, or the Public Defender’s designee; 17

(5) the State Court Administrator, or the Administrator’s designee; 18

(6) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the 19
Secretary’s designee; and 20

(7) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 21
2 HOUSE BILL 819

(i) one representative of a research organization studying the 1
impact criminal records have on individuals in Maryland; 2

(ii) two individuals who are members of the Maryland bar with 3
experience providing expungement representation on behalf of Maryland residents; 4

(iii) one representative of a workforce organization in Maryland with 5
experience securing employment for individuals with criminal records; 6

(iv) one representative of an organization that assists individuals 7
with criminal records to reacclimate to society; 8

(v) two representatives of two different crime victims’ advocacy 9
groups, including one with expertise serving criminalized survivors of violence; and 10

(vi) two individuals who have a criminal record that is currently 11
ineligible for expungement. 12

(c) The members of the Commission shall elect a chair from among the members 13
of the Commission. 14

(d) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall provide staff for 15
the Commission. 16

(e) A member of the Commission: 17

(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 18

(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 19
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 20

(f) The Commission shall: 21

(1) examine the expungement laws of Maryland and the current 22
expungement process under Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the Criminal Procedure Article for issues 23
of efficiency and equity; 24

(2) review comparable states’ expungement laws and their processes; and 25

(3) develop an alternate statut ory scheme that provides a streamlined 26
process and broader eligibility. 27

(g) On or before December 31, 20 27, the Commission shall, in accordance with § 28
2–1257 of the State Government Article, submit a report to the General Assembly of its 29
findings and recommendations. 30

HOUSE BILL 819 3

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 1
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 2
30, 2028, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 3
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 4