# Maryland SB 0516: Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting

Maryland SB 0516, Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 461) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0516-2026RS
- 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 0516
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Law Enforcement - Protective Body Armor - Requirements and Reporting
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-03
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 461
- Sponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 10
- Subjects: Public Safety, Crime Prevention and Policy, Governor's Office of, Equipment -see also- Charging; Med. Equip.; MV Equip; etc., Grants, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Notices, Police Training and Standards Commission, Time
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (176 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Up-to-date body armor for officers: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, agencies may not send officers to field duties unless the officer is issued protective body armor. The armor must meet current National Institute of Justice ballistic standards. It cannot be past the maker’s expiration or suggested replacement date. Agencies must replace…
- Grant penalties for overdue armor: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, if armor is not replaced within 31 days after the maker’s date, the agency must notify the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. The Commission then alerts the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. The Governor’s Office withholds the agency’s gran…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: William G. Folden (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mary-Dulany James (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sara Love (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike McKay (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: C. Anthony Muse (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 131 | 0 | 7 |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 461
- 2026-04-10: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (131-0) (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-13: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments {943724/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_461_sb0516t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0516t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0516f.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_461_sb0516t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0516t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0516f.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-SB0516-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).