Bill > HB1435

This bill requires the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) to prohibit police officers from engaging with white supremacist groups, causes, or ideologies, and from participating in extremist groups identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as supporting or encouraging illegal violent conduct. The bill specifically defines "White supremacist groups, causes, or ideologies" as those that promote white superiority over Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), advance religious and racial bigotry, seek to increase racial and ethnic tensions, or engage in hateful speech, intimidation, and violence against BIPOC. The legislation provides clear definitions of these terms and explicitly bars police officers from affiliating with, supporting, advocating for, participating in, or actively promoting such groups and ideologies. This law is designed to prevent law enforcement personnel from promoting or supporting racist or extremist viewpoints that could compromise their ability to serve all community members fairly and impartially. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, giving the MPTSC time to implement and communicate these new standards to police officers across Maryland.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1435?ys=2025RS