# Maryland SB 0544: Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard

Maryland SB 0544, Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 476) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0544-2026RS
- 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 0544
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security Standard
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 476
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts and Court Personnel - Statewide, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Standards and Best Practices
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (163 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Phased staffing goals for Maryland courtrooms: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, security providers use best efforts to meet staffing goals. Have one officer in each courtroom for criminal, family, and juvenile cases. Have two officers in any case with an incarcerated person or someone who may be remanded. Add one extra officer for every four or fewer co…
- Statewide courtroom security standards and officer qualifications: benefit, low. The law sets a minimum security standard for all Maryland courthouses. It applies to sheriffs, court security units, and security contractors. Court security officers must meet the state's Special Police Officer qualifications. The law takes effect October 1, 2026. It aims to protect judges, staff,…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- (none)

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 120 | 0 | 9 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 1 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 476
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (120-0) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-09: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-06: Third Reading Passed (43-1) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/18 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_476_sb0544t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0544t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-04: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0544f.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_476_sb0544t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0544t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0544f.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-SB0544-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).