PRIA Logo™
MarylandSB 01872026 Regular SessionSenate

Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals (Monica Cooper Prerelease Act)

Sponsored By: Mary Washington (Democratic)

Became Law

CorrectionsAccessibility - see also- Blind; Deaf; Disabilities; etcBaltimore CityBoundariesCertificationsConstructionContracts -see also- ProcurementCorrectional Institutions -see also- Patuxent InstitutionEducation -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc.Emergency BillsGender -see also- WomenGeneral Services, Department ofHealth Care Facilities -see also- Clinics; Hospices; etcHousing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf HomesIncarcerated IndividualsJob Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational RehabLabor, Department ofMass Transit -see also- Buses; RailroadsMedical TreatmentsMental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc.Parents and GuardiansPrerelease and ReentryPrivacyProcurementPublic Benefits -see also- Housing; MedAsst; SupplNutrAsstPPublic Safety and Correctional Services, Department ofRehabilitationReportsSafety -see also- Occupational SafetySocial Services -see also- Public BenefitsSports and RecreationTimeTrauma Informed Approach -see also- Mental&Behavioral HealthWomen -see also- GenderWork, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

On-site reentry services and benefits

Eligible women at the center get evidence‑based, trauma‑informed, gender‑responsive help. Services include education, job training, parenting help, medical care, counseling, mental health and substance use treatment, and a personal reentry plan. Before release, staff screen for public benefits and help complete applications, like Medicaid, SNAP, and housing aid. The law bars moving people to other prisons to get these required services. Care and programs must be delivered on‑site.

New prerelease center for women

The law creates and requires a separate, community‑based prerelease center for eligible women, run by the Commissioner. The site must be near the communities most women return to; if in Baltimore City, it must be at least 3 acres and 0.5 miles from any correctional facility. The building must include single and double rooms with private bathrooms, accessible spaces, classrooms, a career center, family visiting areas, indoor and outdoor meeting space, on‑site recreation, a nonemergency medical suite, and access to public transit. Capacity must be at least 1.25 times the maximum number of prerelease‑eligible women at the state women’s prison in 2023, using the department’s October 2024 report. DGS must send a planning, design, and construction timeline before any request for proposals. Key dates: choose and design a site by Oct 1, 2027; start by Jul 1, 2028; finish by Mar 1, 2031; open by Sep 1, 2031; each allows up to a 6‑month delay. The Commissioner may contract with community providers or local governments for food, housing, transportation, and programs, and may house federal individuals only under a federal contract.

Eligibility and supervised leave for participants

You are eligible if you are an incarcerated woman within 36 months of your expected release and you have prerelease or minimum security status. The Commissioner may allow supervised leave for work, school or training, community or civic activities, volunteer work, sports, and family visits. You must carry a signed form with your leave conditions and you remain in the Commissioner’s custody while away. Escape while on leave is a crime and is punished under state law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mary Washington

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 196 • No: 74

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted

Yes: 32 • No: 13 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 32 • No: 13 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 101 • No: 36 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 31 • No: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 876

    5/31/2026

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/13/2026Senate

  3. Third Reading Passed (32-13)

    4/13/2026Senate

  4. Senate Concurs House Amendments

    4/13/2026Senate

  5. Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted (32-13)

    4/13/2026Senate

  6. Third Reading Passed (101-36)

    4/13/2026House

  7. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    4/10/2026House

  8. Favorable with Amendments {293323/1 Adopted

    4/10/2026House

  9. Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

    4/10/2026House

  10. Hearing 4/02 at 2:00 p.m. (Judiciary)

    4/2/2026House

  11. Hearing canceled (Judiciary)

    4/2/2026House

  12. Reassigned to Judiciary Appropriations

    3/30/2026House

  13. Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/27/2026House

  14. Hearing canceled

    3/27/2026House

  15. Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/26/2026House

  16. Referred Judiciary

    3/24/2026House

  17. Third Reading Passed (31-12)

    3/23/2026Senate

  18. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/20/2026Senate

  19. Favorable with Amendments {653123/1 Adopted

    3/20/2026Senate

  20. Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

    3/20/2026Senate

  21. First Reading Judicial Proceedings and Budget and Taxation

    1/14/2026Senate

  22. Hearing 1/28 at 11:00 a.m. (Judicial Proceedings)

    1/13/2026Senate

  23. Pre-filed

    10/10/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    5/31/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/20/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/14/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation