# Maryland SB 0356: Public Health - Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Carlton R. Smith Act)

Maryland SB 0356, Public Health - Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Carlton R. Smith Act), is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by William C. Smith (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-20 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 652) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0356-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0356
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Public Health - Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Carlton R. Smith Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-16
- Last action: 2025-05-20, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 652
- Sponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Public Health, AIDS, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (133 yes, 48 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Maryland ends its HIV-specific transmission crime: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland repeals its specific crime for knowingly transferring or trying to transfer HIV. The repealed ban applied to people with HIV. The law removes misdemeanor penalties of up to $2,500 in fines, three years in prison, or both.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sara Love (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 100 | 37 | 2 |
| 2025-02-18 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 33 | 11 | 1 |

## Actions (12)

- 2025-05-20: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 652
- 2025-04-03: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Third Reading Passed (100-37) (House)
- 2025-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2025-04-01: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2025-02-19: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2025-02-18: Third Reading Passed (33-11) (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Favorable with Amendments {273920/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Hearing 1/29 at 11:00 a.m. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2025-05-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_652_sb0356t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2025-02-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0356t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2025-01-16: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0356f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_652_sb0356t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0356t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0356f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [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-SB0356-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).