# Maryland SB 0322: Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification

Maryland SB 0322, Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-05-31 (Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 875) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0322-2026RS
- 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 0322
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification
- Status: became law
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-05-31, Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 875
- Sponsor: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts and Court Personnel - Statewide, Ex-Offenders, Fraud -see also- Forgery, Juries -see also- Grand Juries, Parole and Probation, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Perjury, Witnesses
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (129 yes, 47 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Criminal record rules for jurors: cost, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, you cannot serve on a jury if you were convicted of a crime punishable by more than 1 year and are still serving the sentence, including parole or probation. You also cannot serve if you have a pending charge for a crime punishable by more than 1 year. A conviction for perjur…
- English and disability rules for jurors: cost, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, you cannot serve on a jury if you cannot understand or speak English. You also cannot serve if you cannot read or write English well enough to complete the juror form. If a health care provider certifies that your disability prevents satisfactory service, you are disqualified…
- Who can serve on county juries: cost, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, you qualify for county jury service only if three things are true. You are an adult on the day you are picked as a prospective juror. You are a U.S. citizen. You live in the county on the day you are sworn in.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 97 | 36 | 7 |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 32 | 11 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-31: Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 875
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (97-36) (House)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (32-11) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Hearing 2/03 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-31: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_875_sb0322t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0322t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-22: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0322f.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_875_sb0322t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0322t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0322f.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-SB0322-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).