# Maryland SB 0082: Criminal Law - Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real Property - Penalty

Maryland SB 0082, Criminal Law - Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real Property - Penalty, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Ron Watson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 550) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0082-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0082
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - Counterfeiting and Possession of Counterfeit Lease of Real Property - Penalty
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-31
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 550
- Sponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Forgery, Fraud -see also- Forgery, Leases and Rent, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Real Property
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (156 yes, 5 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Penalties for fake leases and rentals: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland treats fake real estate leases and rental agreements as crimes. Making or helping make a fake lease with intent to defraud is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Knowingly, willfully possessing a fake lease or rental agreemen…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jack Bailey (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Benjamin Brooks (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Guy Guzzone (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike McKay (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Justin Ready (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johnny Ray Salling (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 119 | 0 | 9 |
| 2026-02-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 37 | 5 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 550
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (119-0) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-20: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-19: Third Reading Passed (37-5) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Favorable with Amendments {193821/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-10-31: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_550_sb0082t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-02-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0082t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0082f.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_550_sb0082t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0082t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0082f.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-SB0082-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).