Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB516: Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Providing that a law enforcement agency may not assign a law enforcement officer to duties other than administrative duties unless the officer is issued protective body armor; requiring a law enforcement agency to issue only protective body armor that meets certain standards and has not reached an expiration date; prohibiting the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy from withholding from a law enforcement agency grant funds specifically designated for the purchase of protective body armor; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting FOR the purpose of providing that a law enforcement agency may not assign a law enforcement officer to duties other than administrative duties unless the officer is issued protective body armor; requiring a law enforcement agency to issue only protective body armor that meets certain standards; requiring a law enforcement agency to replace protective body armor before a certain date…
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting FOR the purpose of providing that a law enforcement agency may not assign a law enforcement officer to duties other than administrative duties unless the officer is issued protective body armor; requiring a law enforcement agency to issue only protective body armor that meets certain standards; requiring a law enforcement agency to replace protective body armor before a certain date; requiring a law enforcement agency to notify the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission under certain circumstances; requiring the Commission to notify the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy under certain circumstances; providing that the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy may not disburse certain grant funds under certain circumstances; and generally relating to protective body armor. BY adding to Article - Public Safety Section 3-535 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Public Safety Section 4-101(a) and (e) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Public Safety 3-535. (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) "COMMISSION" MEANS THE MARYLAND POLICE TRAINING AND STANDARDS …
Sponsors
- Jeff Waldstreicher (D, 18) · primary sponsor
- William Smith (D)
- Nick Charles (D, 25)
- William Folden (R, 4)
- Shaneka Henson (D, 30)
- Mary James (D, 34)
- Sara Love (D, 16)
- Mike McKay (R, 1)
- Anthony Muse (D, SD-026)
- Charles Sydnor (D, SD-044)
- Chris West (R, 42)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 461
- : Returned Passed
- : Third Reading Passed (131-0)
- : Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- : Favorable Report by Judiciary
- : Referred Judiciary
- : Third Reading Passed (45-0)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {943724/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (131-0) (April 10, 2026): 131 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (45-0) (March 12, 2026): 45 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB516?
- SB516 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting.
- What does SB516 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting FOR the purpose of providing that a law enforcement agency may not assign a law enforcement officer to duties other than administrative duties unless the officer is issued protective body armor; requiring a law enforcement agency to issue only protective body armor that meets certain standards; requiring a law enforcement agency to replace protective body armor before a certain date…
- What is the status of SB516?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 461 (May 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB516?
- Jeff Waldstreicher (D, 18), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB516?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0516?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.