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HB 338

Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Arikan and 20 co-sponsors

HB 338 grants Maryland Capitol Police statewide law enforcement jurisdiction beyond the Capitol complex, expanding their enforcement authority across Maryland.

Passed Enrolled
0
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Bill Summary · HB 338

Legislative bill overview

HB 338 expands the jurisdiction of Maryland Capitol Police from the State House and Senate office buildings to statewide authority. This grants the Capitol Police force the power to enforce laws beyond the Capitol complex across Maryland's entire territory, similar to state police operations.

Why is this important

This represents a significant expansion of a specialized law enforcement agency's scope and authority. It affects public safety jurisdiction, resource allocation, and how Maryland manages overlapping law enforcement responsibilities with existing state and local agencies. The change could influence where Capitol Police deploy resources and what crimes they investigate.

Potential points of contention

  • Jurisdiction overlap: May create confusion or conflict with Maryland State Police, county sheriffs, and local police departments regarding which agency handles specific incidents or investigations
  • Accountability and training standards: Expanding jurisdiction without clarifying whether Capitol Police must meet identical training and oversight standards as other state law enforcement could raise public safety concerns
  • Resource and budget implications: Statewide operations require significantly more personnel, equipment, and funding—the bill's fiscal impact and how this is funded remains unclear
  • Mission creep concerns: Critics may argue this shifts Capitol Police from a specialized protective detail focused on legislators into a general law enforcement agency, diluting its original purpose

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

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