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*hb1152*
HOUSE BILL 1152
E4 6lr2173
By: Delegate Williams
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of State Police – Special Police Officers – Study 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of State Police to conduct a certain study 3
regarding special police officers; and generally relating to special police officers. 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That: 6
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 7
(2) “Department” means the Department of State Police. 8
(3) “Special police officer” has the meaning stated in § 3 –301 of the Public 9
Safety Article. 10
(b) The Department shall study and make recommendations on the employment 11
and use of special police officers, including: 12
(1) the commissioning process; 13
(2) employment requirements; 14
(3) special police operations, training, and equipment; 15
(4) the jurisdiction of special police officers; and 16
2 HOUSE BILL 1152
(5) regulatory oversight to suspend or revo ke the commission of special 1
police officers. 2
(c) In conducting the study required under subsection (b) of this section , the 3
Department shall: 4
(1) survey and document the licensing of and regulatory requirements for 5
special police officers and the equivalent in surrounding states; and 6
(2) analyze best practices for the use of special police officers by public and 7
private employers in the State and surrounding states by considering: 8
(i) the number of special police officers in the State and surrounding 9
states; 10
(ii) mandated training for special police officers , including firearms 11
training; 12
(iii) the impact of the use of special police officers on p ublic safety; 13
and 14
(iv) recorded complaints. 15
(d) In carrying out the study, the Department shall consult with: 16
(1) special police officers; 17
(2) employers of special police officers, including local or county 18
governments that employ special police officers; 19
(3) a representative of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association; 20
(4) a representative of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association; 21
(5) a representative of the Maryland State Police Licensing Division; 22
(6) a representative of the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association; 23
(7) a representative of the Office of the Secretary of State; and 24
(8) a representative of a security training academy that provides training 25
for special police officers. 26
(e) On or before December 1, 20 26, the Department shall submit a report of its 27
findings and recommendations to the Governor and , in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the 28
State Government Article, the General Assembly. 29
HOUSE BILL 1152 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
1, 2026. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.