Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction, Detention, and Confinement (Youth Charging Reform Act)
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed any crime punishable by life imprisonment; requiring an intake officer to authorize detention for a child that is at least 16 years old and is accused of certain crimes; altering and establishing certain provisions relating to the detention, confinement, and transportation of certain children; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction, Detention, and Confinement (Youth Charging Reform Act) FOR the purpose of altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed certain acts; requiring an intake officer to authorize detention of a certain child; altering and establishing certain provisions relating to the detention, confinement, and transportation of certain children; and generally relating to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction, Detention, and Confinement (Youth Charging Reform Act) FOR the purpose of altering the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by repealing provisions specifying that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have committed certain acts; requiring an intake officer to authorize detention of a certain child; altering and establishing certain provisions relating to the detention, confinement, and transportation of certain children; and generally relating to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 3-8A-03 and 3-8A-27(a)(2)(iii), 3-8A-15(b), and 3-8A-16 Annotated Code of Maryland (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Criminal Procedure Section 4-202(b), (c), and (i), 4-202.2(a), 10-215(a)(20), and 10-216(d) 4-202(h) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Education Section 7-303(a)(6) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Human Services Section 9-201 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Human Services Section 9-224 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Ch. 609 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND Article - State Government Section …