# Maryland SB 0531: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement (Verbal Waiver Transparency Act)

Maryland SB 0531, Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement (Verbal Waiver Transparency Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Shelly Hettleman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 407) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0531-2026RS
- 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 0531
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexually Assaultive Behavior - Request for Verbal Acknowledgement (Verbal Waiver Transparency Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 407
- Sponsor: Shelly Hettleman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Procedures, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Sexual Offenses, Victims -see also- Criminal Injuries Compensation, Waivers
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (159 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Court enforcement and police policies for sexual assault victims: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, an affected victim can go to court. You can ask a judge to order police to follow these rules or declare your rights. Each police agency must have a policy to enforce the rules and send it to the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee. The statu…
- No police verbal waivers from sexual assault victims: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, police cannot ask sexual assault victims to sign or say they waive rights. Agencies cannot use words or forms to limit an investigation, block prosecution, or limit the right to sue. If you ask to narrow or pause an investigation, police must write down your request and f…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Shelly Hettleman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sara Love (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 118 | 0 | 11 |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 41 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 407
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (118-0) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (41-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments {813120/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_407_sb0531t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0531t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0531f.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_407_sb0531t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0531t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0531f.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-SB0531-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).