SB0295 • 2026

Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act)

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Senators Love , Gile , and Hettleman
Last action: 2026-01-27
Official status: In the Senate - Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 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.

Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act)

Establishing an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith; establishing a presumption of good faith unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the person acted with actual malice or intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information; providing for the award of attorney's fees and costs in certain circumstances; etc.

What This Bill Does

Establishing an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith; establishing a presumption of good faith unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the person acted with actual malice or intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information; providing for the award of attorney's fees and costs in certain circumstances; 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

2026-01-27 Senate
Hearing canceled
2026-01-27 Senate
Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m.
2026-01-22 Senate
Hearing 2/03 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-21 Senate
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act)

Official Summary Text

Establishing an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith; establishing a presumption of good faith unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the person acted with actual malice or intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information; providing for the award of attorney's fees and costs in certain circumstances; 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.
*sb0295*

SENATE BILL 295
D3 6lr1802
SB 549/25 – JPR CF 6lr1804
By: Senators Love, Gile, and Hettleman
Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Civil Actions – Immunity – Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive 2
Behavior 3
(Stop Silencing Survivors Act) 4

FOR the purpose of establishing that a person who in good faith discloses information about 5
allegations of sexually assaultive behavior may not be held liable for the disclosure; 6
requiring a court to award attorney’s fees and costs in certain circumstances; and 7
generally relating to immunity from liability for disclosure of allegations of sexually 8
assaultive behavior. 9

BY adding to 10
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 11
Section 5–809 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 15
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 16
Section 10–923(a) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21

Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 22

5–809. 23

2 SENATE BILL 295

(A) IN THIS SECTION , “SEXUALLY ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR” HAS THE 1
MEANING STATED IN § 10–923 OF THIS ARTICLE. 2

(B) A PERSON ACTING IN GOO D FAITH MAY NOT BE H ELD LIABLE FOR 3
DISCLOSING ANY INFOR MATION ABOUT ALLEGAT IONS OF SEXUALLY ASS AULTIVE 4
BEHAVIOR TO ANOTHER PERSON. 5

(C) A PERSON WHO DISCLOSES INFORMATION UNDER SU BSECTION (B) OF 6
THIS SECTION SHALL B E PRESUMED TO HAVE A CTED IN GOOD FAITH U NLESS IT IS 7
SHOWN BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT THE PERSON: 8

(1) ACTED WITH ACTUAL MALICE TOWARD THE PERSON ALLEGED TO 9
HAVE COMMITTED SEXUALLY ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR; OR 10

(2) INTENTIONALLY OR RECK LESSLY DISCLOSED FAL SE 11
INFORMATION ABOUT TH E PERSON ALLEGED TO HAVE COMMITTED SEXUA LLY 12
ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR. 13

(D) THE COURT SHALL AWARD REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS 14
TO A PERSON WHO SUCC ESSFULLY DEFENDS A C LAIM THAT THE PERSON DID NOT 15
ACT IN GOOD FAITH IN DISCLOSING INFORMATI ON ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF 16
SEXUALLY ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR, UNLESS THE PARTY FROM WHOM THE FEES AND 17
COSTS ARE SOUGHT EST ABLISHES THAT THE AWARD WO ULD BE CLEARLY 18
INAPPROPRIATE. 19

10–923. 20

(a) In this section, “sexually assaultive behavior” means an act that would 21
constitute: 22

(1) A sexual crime under Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Criminal Law Article; 23

(2) Sexual abuse of a minor under § 3–602 of the Criminal Law Article; 24

(3) Sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult under § 3 –604 of the Criminal Law 25
Article; 26

(4) A violation of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 109A; or 27

(5) A violation of a law of another state, the United States, or a foreign 28
country that is equivalent to an offense under item (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection. 29

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 30
October 1, 2026. 31