# Maryland SB 0131: Estates and Trusts - Fiduciaries - Attorney-Client Privilege

Maryland SB 0131, Estates and Trusts - Fiduciaries - Attorney-Client Privilege, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Chris West (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 500) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0131-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0131
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Estates and Trusts - Fiduciaries - Attorney-Client Privilege
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-21
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 500
- Sponsor: Chris West (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Estates and Trusts, Agents and Brokers, Attorneys, Attorneys' Fees, Beneficiaries, Estates and Trusts -see also- Beneficiaries, Ethics, Fiduciaries, Privileged Communications
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (163 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Attorney client privacy for fiduciaries and agents: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, an "agent" under Maryland law counts as a fiduciary. Talks between a lawyer and a client acting as a fiduciary stay private, even if the estate or trust pays the lawyer, unless the client waives it. A fiduciary’s tie to a beneficiary does not, by itself, waive that privac…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: 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 |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 500
- 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)
- 2026-02-27: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-26: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Hearing 1/22 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-10-21: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_500_sb0131t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-02-24: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0131t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0131f.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_500_sb0131t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0131t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0131f.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-SB0131-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).