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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
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SENATE BILL 322
D1 6lr2775
CF HB 414
By: Senator Sydnor
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 20, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Courts – Jury Service – Disqualification 2
FOR the purpose of altering the circumstances under which an individual who has been 3
convicted of a crime is not qualified for jury service; and generally relating to jury 4
service. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 7
Section 8–103 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 13
8–103. 14
(a) Notwithstanding § 8 –102 of this subtitle, an individual qualifies for jury 15
service for a county only if the individual: 16
(1) Is an adult as of the day selected as a prospective juror; 17
(2) Is a citizen of the United States; and 18
2 SENATE BILL 322
(3) Resides in the county as of the day sworn as a juror. 1
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and subject to the federal 2
Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual is not qualified for jury service if the 3
individual: 4
(1) Cannot comprehend spoken English or speak English; 5
(2) Cannot comprehend written English, read English, or wri te English 6
proficiently enough to complete a juror qualification form satisfactorily; 7
(3) Has a disability that, as documented by a health care provider’s 8
certification, prevents the individual from providing satisfactory jury service; 9
(4) Has been convicted, in a federal or State court of record, of [a]: 10
(I) A crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year and 11
[received a sentence of imprisonment for more than 1 year] IS CURRENTLY SERVING THE 12
SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR THE CONVICTION , INCLUDING A T ERM OF PAROLE OR 13
PROBATION; or 14
(II) A CRIME INVOLVING OR RELATING TO: 15
1. PERJURY; 16
2. WITNESS INTIMIDATION; 17
3. JURY INTIMIDATION; OR 18
4. A CRIME UNDER TITLE 8 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW 19
ARTICLE; OR 20
(5) Has a charge pending, in a federal or State court of record, for a crime 21
punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year. 22
[(c) An individual qualifies for jury service notwithstanding a disqualifying 23
conviction under subsection (b)(4) of this section if the individual is pardoned.] 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2026. 26