# Maryland SB 0745: Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026)

Maryland SB 0745, Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mike McKay (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 659) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0745-2026RS
- 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 0745
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 659
- Sponsor: Mike McKay (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 10
- Subjects: Public Safety, Autism Spectrum, Developmental Disabilities, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc., Missing Persons, Police Training and Standards Commission
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (164 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Police must train on autism and dementia: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, police training in Maryland includes required lessons on autism, dementia, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The lessons cover finding missing people, searches near water, sensory-aware approaches, reunification, documentation, and work with other agencies.…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike McKay (Republican), 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: C. Anthony Muse (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: William C. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (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 | 119 | 0 | 10 |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 659
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (119-0) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: 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 {983922/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_659_sb0745t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0745t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0745f.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_659_sb0745t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0745t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0745f.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-SB0745-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).