Bill > SB356

This bill proposes to repeal an existing Maryland law that currently makes it a criminal offense for an individual with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) to knowingly transfer or attempt to transfer the virus to another person. Under the current law, such an action is considered a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both. By removing this entire section from the Health - General article of Maryland law, the bill effectively decriminalizes the intentional transmission of HIV. The proposed legislation would take effect on October 1, 2025, and was approved by the Governor on May 20, 2025. The bill's title, the "Carlton R. Smith Act," suggests it is named after a specific individual, though the context for this naming is not provided in the bill text. The repeal appears to be part of a broader trend of modernizing HIV-related laws that were often created during the early years of the AIDS epidemic when there was significant fear and misunderstanding about the virus.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0356?ys=2025RS