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HB 1605

Compensation for Individuals Erroneously Convicted - County Cost-Sharing - Repeal

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Griffith

HB 1605 eliminates county cost-sharing requirements for wrongful conviction compensation, shifting full financial responsibility to Maryland's state budget.

Rereferred to Judiciary
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Bill Summary · HB 1605

Legislative bill overview

HB 1605 repeals Maryland's county cost-sharing requirement for compensating individuals who have been exonerated after wrongful convictions. Currently, the state and counties share the financial burden of compensation payments to wrongfully convicted individuals; this bill would shift full responsibility to the state level.

Why is this important

Wrongful conviction compensation directly affects both exonerated individuals' ability to rebuild their lives and county budgets. This shift represents a significant policy change about who bears financial responsibility for systemic justice failures, potentially impacting county finances while simplifying the compensation process for recipients.

Potential points of contention

  • County fiscal impact: Counties currently share costs for compensation; this transfer to the state increases state budget obligations while reducing county expenses
  • Principle of responsibility: Disagreement over whether counties (where convictions occurred) or the state (criminal justice system) should bear primary financial responsibility
  • Compensation adequacy: Questions about whether removing cost-sharing barriers will lead to faster, fuller compensation for exonerees or if state-only funding will be insufficient

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

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