# Maryland SB 0512: Criminal Law - Stalking - Penalties

Maryland SB 0512, Criminal Law - Stalking - Penalties, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by William C. Smith (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 429); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0512-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0512
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - Stalking - Penalties
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-02
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 429
- Sponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Court Orders, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Electronic Communication, Harassment -see also- Threats, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Protection and Peace Orders, Repeat Offenders, Surveillance
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (179 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger penalties for stalking and repeats: benefit, medium. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, stalking is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 5 years in jail or a fine up to $5,000, or both. It becomes a felony with up to 10 years or a fine up to $10,000, or both, if certain facts apply. These include a protective order or other court order in effect, a prior Maryland s…
- Stalking now covers messages and tracking: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, Maryland defines stalking in clear terms. It includes a pattern of acts meant to make someone reasonably fear serious injury, sexual assault, false imprisonment, or death, or to cause serious emotional distress. The law covers in‑person acts, electronic messages, and devices…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 6 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 429
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/17 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_429_sb0512t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0512t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0512f.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_429_sb0512t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0512t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0512f.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-SB0512-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).