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SB0066 • 2026

Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)

Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senators West and Bailey
Last action
2026-01-13
Official status
In the Senate - Hearing 1/22 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)

Increasing the maximum period of imprisonment for a first conviction for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel from 10 years to 20 years and for a second or subsequent conviction, or having been previously convicted for certain other crimes, from 15 years to 30 years; etc.

What This Bill Does

  • Increasing the maximum period of imprisonment for a first conviction for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel from 10 years to 20 years and for a second or subsequent conviction, or having been previously convicted for certain other crimes, from 15 years to 30 years; etc.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-14 Senate

    First Reading Judicial Proceedings

  2. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Hearing 1/22 at 1:00 p.m.

  3. 2025-09-25 Senate

    Pre-filed

  4. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Increased Penalties (Jamari's Law)

  5. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - Racial Equity Impact Note

Official Summary Text

Increasing the maximum period of imprisonment for a first conviction for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel from 10 years to 20 years and for a second or subsequent conviction, or having been previously convicted for certain other crimes, from 15 years to 30 years; etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0066*

SENATE BILL 66
E1 6lr0980
SB 364/25 – JPR (PRE–FILED)
By: Senators West and Bailey
Requested: September 25, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Increased Penalties 2
(Jamari’s Law) 3

FOR the purpose of increasing the maximum periods of imprisonment for an individual 4
convicted of manslaughter by vehicle or vessel; and generally relating to penalties 5
for manslaughter by vehicle or vessel. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Criminal Law 8
Section 2–209 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Criminal Law 14

2–209. 15

(a) In this section, “vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, streetcar, locomotive, 16
engine, and train. 17

(b) A person may not cause the death of another as a result of the person’s driving, 18
operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a grossly negligent manner. 19

(c) A violation of this section is manslaughter by vehicle or vessel. 20

2 SENATE BILL 66

(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who 1
violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not 2
exceeding [10] 20 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both. 3

(2) (i) A person who violates this section, having previously been 4
convicted under this section, § 2–210, § 2–503, § 2–504, § 2–505, § 2–506, or § 3–211 of this 5
article, or § 21–902 of the Transportation Article, is guilty of a felony and on conviction is 6
subject to imprisonment not exceeding [15] 30 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or 7
both. 8

(ii) For the purposes of application of subsequent offender penalties 9
under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, a conviction for a crime committed in another 10
state or federal jurisdiction that, if committed in this State would constitute a violation of 11
this section, § 2 –210, § 2 –503, § 2 –504, § 2 –505, § 2 –506, or § 3 –211 of this article, or § 12
21–902 of the Transportation Article, shall be considered a violation of this section. 13

(e) (1) An indictment or other charging document for manslaughter by vehicle 14
or vessel is sufficient if it substantially states: 15

“(name of defendant) on (date) in (county) killed (name of victim) in a grossly 16
negligent manner against the peace, government, and dignity of the State.”. 17

(2) An indictment or other charging document for manslaughter by vehicle 18
or vessel need not set forth the manner or means of death. 19

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2026. 21