# Maryland SB 0465: Criminal Procedure - Admission of Out-of-Court Statements - Assault in the Second Degree

Maryland SB 0465, Criminal Procedure - Admission of Out-of-Court Statements - Assault in the Second Degree, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mary-Dulany James (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 529) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0465-2026RS
- 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 0465
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Procedure - Admission of Out-of-Court Statements - Assault in the Second Degree
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-02
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 529
- Sponsor: Mary-Dulany James (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Procedures, Assault, Evidence, Hearings, Oaths, Recordings -see also- Video, Trials
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (153 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Statements allowed after witness tampering: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, courts can admit certain out-of-court statements in felony and second-degree assault trials. The statement may be used against the party whose wrongdoing was meant to, and did, make the witness legally unavailable. The judge must hold a hearing without the jury, strictly…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mary-Dulany James (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Justin Ready (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 115 | 2 | 12 |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 38 | 5 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 529
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (115-2) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-24: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (38-5) (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator Smith) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_529_sb0465t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0465t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0465f.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_529_sb0465t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0465t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0465f.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-SB0465-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).