Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard

Children

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee (By Request - Maryland Judicial Conference )
Last action: 2026-05-12
Official status: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 476
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify exact implementation details for the transition period between 2027 and 2029.

Minimum Security Standards for Courtrooms

This law sets minimum security requirements for courtrooms in Maryland to ensure safety during legal proceedings.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a standard for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities.
Requires that court security officers meet the qualifications of special police officers as defined by Maryland's Public Safety Article.
Starting July 1, 2027, mandates one officer per courtroom for criminal, family, or juvenile cases and two officers if an incarcerated person is involved.
By July 1, 2029, requires at least one officer in every courtroom regardless of the type of proceeding.
Adds additional security based on the number of courtrooms on each floor.

Who It Names or Affects

Courthouse facilities and their staff
Court security officers

Terms To Know

Special Police Officer: A type of law enforcement officer who meets specific qualifications set by Maryland's Public Safety Article.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact number and placement of additional officers are not specified beyond a ratio.
Implementation details for the transition period between 2027 and 2029 are not provided in the bill text.

Bill History

2026-05-12 Post Passage
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 476
2026-04-02 House
Favorable Report by Judiciary
2026-03-18 House
Third Reading Passed (120-0)
2026-03-17 House
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2026-03-17 Senate
Returned Passed
2026-03-02 Senate
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
2026-02-25 House
Referred Judiciary
2026-02-23 Senate
Third Reading Passed (43-1)
2026-02-20 Senate
Favorable Adopted
2026-02-20 Senate
Second Reading Passed
2026-02-05 Senate
Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-04 Senate
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - Senate - Committee - Judicial Proceedings
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Third - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Judiciary
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Chapter - Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard

Official Summary Text

Establishing minimum adequate security standards for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities.

Current Bill Text

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.
*sb0544*

SENATE BILL 544
D1 6lr2499
CF HB 492
By: Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee (By Request – Maryland Judicial
Conference)
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 20, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Courtroom Security – Minimum Adequate Security Standard 2

FOR the purpose of establishing minimum adequate security standards for courtroom 3
security at all courthouse facilities; and generally relating to courtroom security. 4

BY adding to 5
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 6
Section 1–206 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11

Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 12

1–206. 13

(A) THERE IS A MINIMUM AD EQUATE SECURITY STANDARD FO R 14
COURTROOM SECURITY AT ALL COURTHOUSE FACILITIES IN THE STATE. 15

2 SENATE BILL 544

(B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF T HIS SECTION , A COURT SECURITY OFFIC ER 1
MUST MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER AS DEFINED IN § 2
3–301 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 3

(C) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2027, DURING COURT PROCEEDINGS, ANY ENTITY 4
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING COURTHOUSE SECURITY SHALL USE BEST EFFORTS 5
TO HAVE PRESENT A MINIMUM OF: 6

(1) ONE COURT SECURITY OF FICER IN EACH COURTR OOM FOR A NY 7
CRIMINAL, FAMILY, OR JUVENILE PROCEEDING; 8

(2) TWO COURT SECURITY OFFICERS IN EACH COURTROOM FOR ANY 9
PROCEEDING INVOLVING AN INCARCERATED INDI VIDUAL OR AN INDIVID UAL WHO 10
MAY BE REMANDED TO CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF THE PROCEEDING; AND 11

(3) ONE ADDITIONAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER FOR EVERY FOUR OR 12
FEWER COURTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR OF A COURTHOUSE. 13

(D) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2029, DURING COURT PROCEEDINGS, ANY ENTITY 14
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING COURTHOUSE SECURITY SHALL USE BEST EFFORTS 15
TO HAVE PRESENT A MINIMUM OF: 16

(1) ONE COURT SECURITY OFF ICER IN EACH COURTRO OM FOR ANY 17
TYPE OF PROCEEDING; 18

(2) TWO COURT SECURITY OFFICERS IN EACH COURTROOM FOR ANY 19
PROCEEDING INVOLVING AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL OR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO 20
MAY BE REMANDED INTO CUSTODY AS A RESULT OF THE PROCEEDING; AND 21

(3) ONE ADDITIONAL COURT SECURITY OFFICER FOR EVERY FOUR OR 22
FEWER COURTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR OF A COURTHOUSE. 23

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2026. 25