Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB205: Violent Criminals - Parole Limitation and Legislative Testimony Removal (Sexual Offender Accountability and Victim Protection Act)
Status: Failed, February 23, 2026
Providing that an incarcerated individual who is serving a certain sentence for a certain sexual crime may be considered for parole only one time after becoming eligible; providing that if a victim, victim's family, victims' advocacy organization, or victim's representative objects to the granting of parole to a certain individual, parole shall be denied permanently; etc.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Violent Criminals - Parole Limitation and Legislative Testimony Removal (Sexual Offender Accountability and Victim Protection Act) FOR the purpose of providing that an incarcerated individual who is serving a certain sentence for a certain sexual crime may be considered for parole only one time after becoming eligible; providing that if a victim, victim's family, victims' advocacy organization, or victim's representative objects to the granting of parole to a certain individual, parole shall be denied permanently…
From the introduced text, January 12, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Violent Criminals - Parole Limitation and Legislative Testimony Removal (Sexual Offender Accountability and Victim Protection Act) FOR the purpose of providing that an incarcerated individual who is serving a certain sentence for a certain sexual crime may be considered for parole only one time after becoming eligible; providing that if a victim, victim's family, victims' advocacy organization, or victim's representative objects to the granting of parole to a certain individual, parole shall be denied permanently; requiring that a certain record of legislative testimony of an individual who has been convicted of a certain crime of violence be removed from the General Assembly's website on request of the victim, victim's family, or victim's representative; and generally relating to violent criminals and victims' rights. BY adding to Article - Correctional Services Section 7-311 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) BY adding to Article - Criminal Procedure Section 11-106 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Correctional Services EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb0205* HOUSE BILL 7-311. (A) AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SERVING A SENTENCE OF LIFE PLUS ANY NUMBER …