Bill > HB1350

This bill modifies Maryland's criminal law regarding fourth-degree sexual offenses by expanding the definition of repeat offender circumstances. Specifically, the bill allows for enhanced sentencing (up to 3 years imprisonment) when a person has been previously convicted of certain sexual offenses not just in Maryland, but also in other states, federal courts, military courts, or Native American tribal courts. The enhanced penalty applies if the prior conviction would have constituted a violation of specified Maryland sexual offense statutes if it had been committed within the state. The bill adds a new provision that enables prosecutors to use out-of-state or alternative court sexual offense convictions as a predicate for increasing the potential punishment for a current sexual offense. This change means that a person with a prior sexual offense conviction from another jurisdiction could face more severe penalties if they are subsequently convicted of a similar offense in Maryland. The bill will take effect on October 1, 2025, and is designed to provide prosecutors with more flexibility in addressing repeat sexual offenders by recognizing convictions from a broader range of judicial systems.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1350?ys=2025RS