# Maryland HB 0491: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement

Maryland HB 0491, Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by N. Scott Phillips (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 406) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0491-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0491
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-27
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 406
- Sponsor: N. Scott Phillips (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Procedures, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Sexual Offenses, Victims -see also- Criminal Injuries Compensation, Waivers
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (167 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Police can't ask victims to waive rights: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, police cannot ask sexual assault victims to sign or say they waive rights. Agencies cannot use forms or verbal requests to narrow an investigation, stop prosecution, or limit a victim’s right to sue. If a victim asks to narrow or pause a case, police must write it down an…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: N. Scott Phillips (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 39 | 0 | 6 |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 128 | 0 | 4 |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 406
- 2026-04-09: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (39-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Third Reading Passed (128-0) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-29: Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-27: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_406_hb0491t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0491t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-27: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0491f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_406_hb0491t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0491t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0491f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0491-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).