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HB 1485

Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Jurisdiction

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Simmons

HB 1485 expands Maryland Capitol Police jurisdiction from State House buildings to additional state-owned property to enhance security coverage across more government facilities.

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations
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Bill Summary · HB 1485

Legislative bill overview

HB 1485 expands the jurisdiction of the Maryland Capitol Police beyond the State House and State Office Buildings to cover additional state-owned property and facilities. The bill modifies the agency's legal authority to enforce laws across a broader geographic area as defined by the Department of General Services.

Why is this important

Capitol Police agencies primarily protect legislative buildings and officials. Expanding their jurisdiction could improve security coordination across state properties, but also raises questions about resource allocation, overlapping authority with local law enforcement, and whether this represents mission creep for a specialized police force.

Potential points of contention

  • Jurisdictional overlap: Expanded Capitol Police authority may conflict with local police departments' jurisdiction over the same areas, creating potential confusion about who responds to incidents
  • Resource capacity: Whether the Capitol Police have sufficient staffing and training to effectively cover additional facilities beyond their traditional legislative security role
  • Scope definition: The bill's reference to "property and facilities as defined by the Department of General Services" is vague—exactly which locations fall under this expansion remains unclear without seeing implementation details

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

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