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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
amendment.
*sb0433*
SENATE BILL 433
D4 6lr1873
CF HB 497
By: Senators Love, Henson, Hettleman, and Muse
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 21, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Family Law – Temporary and Final Protective Orders – Duration and Relief 2
FOR the purpose of extending altering the time period during which a temporary protective 3
order is effective after service of the order ; extending altering the time period for 4
during which a final protective order hearing is required to be held after service of 5
the temporary protective order; providing that a final protective order may order the 6
respondent to pay to a person eligible for relief certain losses or expenses incurred 7
as a result of abuse; providing that a certain monetary award does not preclude a 8
petitioner from bringing a subsequent claim for certain losses or expenses; and 9
generally relating to temporary and final protective orders. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Family Law 12
Section 4–505(a)(1)(i) and 4–506(a) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Family Law 17
Section 4–505(c) and 4–506(b)(1) and (d)(13) and (14) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY adding to 21
Article – Family Law 22
2 SENATE BILL 433
Section 4–506(d)(14) and (l) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
Article – Family Law 6
4–505. 7
(a) (1) (i) If, after a hearing on a petition, whether ex parte or otherwise, a 8
judge finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person eligible for relief has 9
been abused, the judge may enter a temporary protective orde r to protect any person 10
eligible for relief from abuse. 11
(c) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the temporary 12
protective order shall be effective for not more than [7] 14 days after service ISSUANCE of 13
the order. 14
(2) The judge may ext end the temporary protective order as needed, but 15
not to exceed 6 months, to effectuate service of the order where necessary to provide 16
protection or for other good cause. 17
(3) If the court is closed on the day on which the temporary protective order 18
is due to expire, the temporary protective order shall be effective until the second day on 19
which the court is open, by which time the court shall hold a final protective order hearing. 20
4–506. 21
(a) A respondent under § 4 –505 of this subtitle shall have an opportunity to be 22
heard on the question of whether the judge should issue a final protective order. 23
(b) (1) (i) The temporary protective order shall state the date and time of 24
the final protective order hearing. 25
(ii) Except as provided in § 4 –505(c) of this subtitle, or unless 26
continued for good cause, the final protective order hearing shall be held no later than [7] 27
14 days after the temporary protective order is served on the respondent ISSUED. 28
(d) The final protective order may include any or all of the following relief: 29
(13) award temporary possession of any pet of the person eligible for relief 30
or the respondent; [or] 31
SENATE BILL 433 3
(14) ORDER THE RESPONDENT TO PAY TO A PERSON E LIGIBLE FOR 1
RELIEF, BY A DATE FIXED BY T HE COURT, ANY LOSSES OR EXPENSES INCURRED AS 2
A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ABUSE, INCLUDING: 3
(I) MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH TRE ATMENT 4
COSTS; 5
(II) COSTS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED PROPERTY; 6
(III) FOOD, TEMPORARY SHELTER, OR RELOCATION COSTS; 7
(IV) TRANSPORTATION COSTS; 8
(V) FILING FEES AND COURT COSTS; AND 9
(VI) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES; OR 10
[(14)] (15) order any other relief that the judge determines is necessary to 11
protect a person eligible for relief from abuse. 12
(L) A MONETARY AWARD UNDER SUBSECTION (D)(14) OF THIS SECTION 13
DOES NOT PRECLUDE A PETITIONER FROM BRIN GING A SUBSEQUENT CL AIM FOR 14
ADDITIONAL LOSSES OR EXPENSES NOT AWARDED IN THE FINAL PROTECT IVE 15
ORDER. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2026. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.