# Maryland SB 0709: Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act)

Maryland SB 0709, Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act), is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0709-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0709
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - Masked Intimidation - Prohibition (Unmask Hate Act)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-31
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- Sponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Harassment -see also- Threats, Holidays and Special Dates, Identification -see also- Biometrics; Fingerprinting; DrLics, Medical Conditions -see also- AIDS; COVID-19; rabies, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Personal Protective Equipment, Religion -see also- Places of Worship, Repeat Offenders, Threats, Weather
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jackson

## Actions (2)

- 2025-02-04: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- First Reading, 2025-01-31: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0709f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0709f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [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-SB0709-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).