# Maryland SB 0294: Criminal Procedure – Protection of Identity of Victim of Sexual Assault or Stalking

Maryland SB 0294, Criminal Procedure – Protection of Identity of Victim of Sexual Assault or Stalking, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Sara Love (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 542) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0294-2026RS
- 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 0294
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Procedure – Protection of Identity of Victim of Sexual Assault or Stalking
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-21
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 542
- Sponsor: Sara Love (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Procedures, Addresses, Committees and Commissions, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Discipline, Disclosure, Harassment -see also- Threats, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Identification -see also- Biometrics; Fingerprinting; DrLics, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, Notices, Personal Identifying Information, Petitions, Privacy, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Sexual Offenses, Telephones, Trials, Victims -see also- Criminal Injuries Compensation, Witnesses
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (171 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger court privacy for sexual assault and stalking victims: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, criminal and juvenile court records must protect names and details that can identify minor victims, sexual‑assault victims, and stalking victims. Courts and parties may not share filings, including charging documents, with nonparties unless those details are removed. A co…
- Licensing boards can see unredacted records for discipline: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a health licensing board that licensed or certified the defendant can ask the court to see unredacted records to investigate sexual misconduct. The board must serve its petition on each party. The state’s attorney must tell each victim what may be shared, how to object, a…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Sara Love (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 128 | 0 | 6 |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 542
- 2026-04-10: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (128-0) (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments {523923/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_542_sb0294t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0294t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-21: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0294f.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_542_sb0294t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0294t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0294f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0294-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).