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SB 825

Baltimore City - Assault of Special Enforcement Officers - Penalties

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cory McCray

SB 825 elevates assaults on Baltimore City special enforcement, parking, and traffic officers to felony second-degree assault with up to 10 years' imprisonment.

Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 825

SB 825 — Baltimore City — Assault of Special Enforcement Officers — Penalties

Summary (enacted 2025)

Purpose / Intent

SB 825 expands Maryland’s felony second‑degree assault statute to provide increased criminal penalties when a person intentionally causes physical injury to certain Baltimore City “special” enforcement officers while those officers are performing official duties. The bill’s intent is to extend heightened protection (previously afforded to police, probation/parole agents, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders) to three categories of Baltimore City special officers.

Key provisions

  • Amends Article — Criminal Law, § 3‑203:
    • Defines “physical injury” as any impairment of physical condition (excluding minor injuries).
    • Adds the following persons to the list of protected victims for purposes of felony second‑degree assault when the attacker knows or has reason to know the victim’s status and the victim is engaged in official duties:
    • A Baltimore City special enforcement officer (authorized under Baltimore City Code § 16‑16A)
    • A Baltimore City special parking enforcement officer (§ 16‑16B)
    • A Baltimore City special traffic enforcement officer (§ 16‑16C)
    • A person who intentionally causes physical injury to one of these officers, knowing (or having reason to know) the officer’s status and that the officer is performing official duties, is guilty of felony second‑degree assault.
  • Penalties for felony second‑degree assault (as applied by the bill): imprisonment up to 10 years and/or a fine up to $5,000.
  • Effective date specified in the bill: October 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Primary effect: individuals who intentionally cause physical injury to the named Baltimore City special officers while those officers are acting in an official capacity — such assaults are elevated to felony second‑degree assault.
  • Baltimore City special enforcement officers, special parking enforcement officers, and special traffic enforcement officers: receive the same statutory protection (and potential prosecutorial gravity) already applied to police officers and certain first responders.
  • Criminal justice actors (prosecutors, defense counsel, courts): potential case‑handling implications because felony prosecutions can be filed in circuit courts and carry felony records.
  • Local corrections and court systems: potentially a small number of cases may shift from District Court to circuit court.

Fiscal / operational impact

  • Department of Legislative Services fiscal note: not anticipated to materially affect State or local finances or operations. Rationale:
    • The statutory maximum incarceration term is the same for misdemeanor and felony second‑degree assault in Maryland practice considered here, and the number of affected incidents is expected to be small (limited to Baltimore City and the specific officer classes).
    • There may be a modest, uncertain shift of some cases to circuit court and possible downstream sentencing consequences, but no material statewide fiscal impact was projected.

Legislative status (selected milestones)

  • Introduced: January 28, 2025 (Sponsor: Sen. McCray / Baltimore City Administration; additional sponsors/authors listed).
  • Bill language amends § 3‑203 (Criminal Law).
  • Enacted: Approved by the Governor and chaptered in 2025 (Chapter 355); bill text sets effective date of October 1, 2025.

Related legislation

  • Companion/related bills referenced in materials: HB 1501, HB 1433; earlier similar measure: SB 764 (2023).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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