MarylandHB 10602025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Judicial and Public Safety for Service Members Act

Sponsored By: Charlotte Crutchfield (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsPublic SafetyCourts and Court Personnel - StatewideCriminal Law - ProceduresFamily LawCorrectionsReal PropertyArmed Forces -see also- Military Department; VeteransCourts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc.Family Law -see also- Adoption; Alimony; Annulment; etc.Federal GovernmentJudgesMilitary FamiliesRules and RegulationsSafety -see also- Occupational SafetyVeterans

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

16 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.

More foster support for young adults

Beginning October 1, 2025, certain former foster youth can receive continued court oversight until age 21. Their commitment to a local department must have ended after age 18 but before age 20 years and 6 months. They cannot have left care through reunification, adoption, guardianship, marriage, or Uniformed Services duty. The law also requires an out-of-home placement program for this group.

Firearm exceptions expand for service members

Beginning October 1, 2025, qualifying service members gain specified exceptions for firearm purchases, rentals, transfers, and training. Eligibility depends on the particular rule’s service status, duty, membership, or Uniformed Services identification requirements. Uniformed Services and National Guard members are also included in firearms permit eligibility, subject to the Secretary’s findings and other requirements. Current, retired, or honorably discharged armed forces or National Guard members are exempt from the certified permit-training course. These changes do not override separate possession bans where they apply or guarantee a permit.

Rent caps for reassigned military families

Beginning October 1, 2025, active service members and their spouses have capped lease costs after a qualifying assignment change. This includes specified military orders and release from active duty. Tenants must give the landlord written notice and proof of the change. Liability is limited to rent and lawful charges already due, plus 30 days’ rent after notice, plus tenant-caused damage. Reserve demobilization qualifies when activation orders covered at least 180 consecutive days.

Police certification opens to resident veterans

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland’s police training commission can certify permanent legal residents who are U.S. armed forces veterans. Applicants must have a U.S. citizenship application pending approval. An honorable discharge is not required for this path. Certification remains the commission’s decision and does not guarantee a job.

Earlier marriage licenses for military couples

Beginning October 1, 2025, a Maryland circuit court judge can let a marriage license take effect before the waiting period ends. At least one person must be a service member or Maryland resident. The couple must show good cause, and approval remains the judge’s decision.

Free claim records for military households

Beginning October 1, 2025, court clerks must give qualifying current and former service members specified records without charge. The records must support a claim against the federal government. Surviving spouses and children can get free marriage records for dependent or beneficiary claims. This does not make all court records free.

Uniforms cannot block public recreation entry

Beginning October 1, 2025, public amusement and recreation venues cannot deny covered service members admission because they are in uniform. The protection covers officers and enlisted members of the Uniformed Services and Maryland’s or another state’s organized militia.

Military moves allow penalty-free service cancellations

Beginning October 1, 2025, eligible service members and spouses can cancel covered services after military relocation orders lasting at least 90 days. Covered contracts include telecommunications, Internet, television, gym or athletic club memberships, and satellite radio. The service must be unusable at the destination; cancellation requires written or electronic notice and a copy of the orders. Providers cannot impose termination penalties or charge for the period between termination and reinstatement. Written notice within 90 days after active service ends allows reinstatement on the original terms.

Military service eases public safety hiring

Beginning October 1, 2025, honorably discharged reserve members join honorably discharged veterans in exemption from correctional-officer minimum age rules. The age minimum is 21 for Division of Correction hires after October 1, 2007. It also covers Pretrial Detention and Services and Patuxent Institution hires after October 1, 2008. Police employees who resigned to enter the Uniformed Services can also be reappointed to the Department. Neither change guarantees employment.

More service backgrounds qualify military officers

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland Defense Force appointment qualifications include Uniformed Services reserve service and Uniformed Services University graduates. General officers and colonels need prior service at grade O–4 or higher; line lieutenant-colonels and majors need two years of officer service. State military judge advocate qualifications also recognize specified Armed Forces legal designations and Coast Guard law specialists, including reservists. Judge advocates must be commissioned state military officers and members in good standing of a state’s highest court bar.

Criminal law recognizes broader service identification

Beginning October 1, 2025, a Maryland criminal-law provision recognizes Uniformed Services identification documents as government identification. This replaces its narrower reference to military identification. It does not create a general right to use that identification for every state purpose.

Listed military groups gain legal exemption

Beginning October 1, 2025, section 13–902 does not apply to Uniformed Services members or organized militia members from Maryland or another state. Maryland Defense Force officers are also exempt. Associations qualify only when all members are honorably discharged from the Uniformed Services. The supplied provision does not identify the underlying requirements, so it does not establish a clearer household effect.

More funeral honor options for veterans

Beginning October 1, 2025, a veteran’s relative, friend, or accredited veterans’ organization commander can request a burial honor guard. The Adjutant General can provide a National Guard or organized militia guard when active-service and veterans’ organization guards are unavailable. The Adjutant General can also request a veterans’ organization guard when an active-service guard is unavailable. Providing a guard must not harm Guard emergency readiness or a Guard member’s employment.

Discharge history can bar Defense Force

Beginning October 1, 2025, specified military dismissals or discharges bar commissioning or enlistment in the Maryland Defense Force. The bar covers bad conduct, dishonorable, and other-than-honorable discharges from covered military or naval organizations, the Uniformed Services, or auxiliaries.

Family courts use narrower deployment rules

Beginning October 1, 2025, certain family-law rules use a narrower definition of deployment. Orders must require combat or other active service, with the member reporting without family or to a branch-designated remote assignment. Reserve annual training, inactive duty days, and drill weekends do not count.

Undisclosed military enlistment counts as desertion

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland State military members must disclose when they have not been regularly separated from their force. Enlisting or accepting an appointment without full disclosure counts as desertion. This covers joining the same or another state military force, or the Uniformed Services. This provision states no penalty.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Charlotte Crutchfield
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Aaron M. Kaufman
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 184 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 3/12/2025