Bill > SB185

This bill modifies Maryland's Public Ethics Law to enhance transparency and oversight for state officials and candidates in the Judicial Branch. The bill updates several key provisions, including administrative responsibilities for ethics reporting. Specifically, the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, the Judicial Ethics Committee, or another body designated by the Supreme Court of Maryland will now be responsible for maintaining records and making statements from judicial branch officials and judicial candidates available for public inspection. The bill also clarifies requirements for judicial candidates, mandating that they file a financial disclosure statement covering the calendar year before their candidacy, which must be submitted when filing a certificate of candidacy. Election boards are now prohibited from accepting a candidate's nomination papers without these required statements. The bill removes a previous requirement that the Supreme Court transmit copies of these statements to the Ethics Commission, instead allowing the designated judicial ethics body to manage the records directly. The changes are designed to promote transparency and maintain public trust in the judicial branch, with the new provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Justice

Judicial Proceedings (S)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0185?ys=2025RS