Read the full stored bill text
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.
*sb0464*
SENATE BILL 464
E2 6lr2723
CF HB 819
By: Senator Muse Senators Muse, Smith, Waldstreicher, Charles, Henson, James,
Love, McKay, Sydnor, and West
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 4, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of 3
Maryland; requiring the Commission to submit a certain report to the General 4
Assembly on or before a certain date; and generally relating to t he Commission to 5
Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland. 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) There is a Commission to Examine the Expungement Laws of Maryland. 9
(b) The Commission consists of: 10
(1) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 11
the Senate; 12
(2) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 13
the House; 14
(3) the President of the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association, or the 15
President’s designee; 16
(4) the Public Defender, or the Public Defender’s designee; 17
2 SENATE BILL 464
(5) the State Court Administrator, or the Administrator’s designee; 1
(6) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the 2
Secretary’s designee; and 3
(7) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 4
(i) one representative of a research organization studying the 5
impact criminal records have on individuals in Maryland; 6
(ii) two individuals who are members of the Maryland bar with 7
experience providing expungement representation on behalf of Maryland residents; 8
(iii) one representative of a workforce organization in Maryland with 9
experience securing employment for individuals with criminal records; 10
(iv) one representative of an organization that assists indiv iduals 11
with criminal records to reacclimate to society; 12
(v) two representatives of two different crime victims’ advocacy 13
groups, including one with expertise serving criminalized survivors of violence; and 14
(vi) two individuals who have a criminal record that is currently 15
ineligible for expungement; 16
(vii) one representative of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association; 17
(viii) one representative of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association; 18
(ix) one representative of the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource 19
Center; and 20
(x) one representative of the Maryland Network Against Domestic 21
Violence. 22
(c) The members of the Commission shall elect a chair from among the members 23
of the Commission. 24
(d) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall provide staff for 25
the Commission. 26
(e) A member of the Commission: 27
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 28
SENATE BILL 464 3
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 1
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 2
(f) The Commission shall: 3
(1) examine the expungement laws of Maryland and the current 4
expungement process under Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the Criminal Procedure Article for issues 5
of efficiency and equity; 6
(2) review comparable states’ expungement laws and their processes; and 7
(3) develop an alternate statutory scheme that provides a streamlined 8
process and broader eligibility. 9
(g) On or before December 31, 2027 2028, the Commission shall, in accordance 10
with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, submit a report to the General Assembly of 11
its findings and recommendations. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 13
1, 2026 2027. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and 1 month and, at the end 14
of June 30, 2028 2029, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, 15
shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.