Bill > SB484

This bill establishes comprehensive legal protections for unhoused individuals in Maryland, defining an "unhoused individual" as someone without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and expanding their rights in public spaces. The bill declares that punishing unhoused people for undertaking life-sustaining activities (like sleeping or seeking shelter) violates protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Unhoused individuals are granted specific rights, including being present in public places without discrimination, engaging in life-sustaining activities, using public spaces freely, maintaining privacy for personal property, practicing religion, and occupying vehicles parked in public places without obstruction. The legislation prohibits state and local governments from imposing civil or criminal penalties on unhoused individuals exercising these rights and also protects people who provide assistance to them. The bill creates a legal mechanism allowing individuals or the Attorney General to bring civil actions against entities that violate these protections, with potential court-awarded injunctive relief and litigation costs. Additionally, the bill establishes an affirmative defense of necessity for criminal trespass or disturbing the peace charges if the defendant was engaging in life-sustaining activities without access to adequate alternative indoor space. The bill also repeals municipalities' authority to prohibit vagrancy and will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0484?ys=2025RS