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SB 820

Whistleblower Protection Fund Act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Fuller and 3 co-sponsors

Maryland municipalities gain authority to raise maximum fines for municipal ordinance violations from $1,000 to $5,000 and for municipal infractions from $1,000 to $5,000.

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Bill Summary · SB 820

SB 820 — Municipalities: Enforcement of Ordinances and Resolutions (Chapter 570, 2025)

Status: Enacted (Approved by Governor May 13, 2025). Effective date: October 1, 2025.
Primary sponsors (Senate): Senators Watson and Rosapepe. Cross-file: HB 1506.

Purpose / Intent

To give Maryland municipalities greater civil and criminal penalty authority for enforcing local ordinances and resolutions by raising the statutory maximum fines that may be imposed for misdemeanor ordinance violations and for municipal infractions.

Key provisions

  • Amends Article — Local Government, sections 6‑101 and 6‑102.
  • Increases the maximum criminal fine for a violation of a municipal ordinance declared to be a misdemeanor from $1,000 to $5,000. The existing imprisonment cap (up to 6 months) remains unchanged; a court may impose the fine, imprisonment, or both.
  • Increases the maximum fine for each municipal infraction (a civil enforcement mechanism) from $1,000 to $5,000.
  • Retains existing procedural elements for municipal infractions: fines are payable to the municipality and (as under prior law) are due within 20 calendar days of service of the citation.
  • Examples of offenses commonly classed as municipal infractions (under the statute) include certain zoning/land‑use violations and littering, which remain within municipal authority.

Who is affected

  • Municipal governments: gain authority to impose higher fines for enforcement of local ordinances and civil municipal infractions.
  • Residents, businesses, and others who violate municipal ordinances or receive municipal infraction citations: may face higher maximum fines (up to $5,000).
  • Local courts/municipal enforcement systems: may see changes in citation/fine collection caseloads and revenues.

Fiscal and practical impact

  • Local revenues: likely to increase to the extent municipalities impose higher fines; the magnitude depends on municipal policy and enforcement choices.
  • Local expenditures: not materially affected by the statute change.
  • State finances: not materially affected.
  • Small businesses: no direct fiscal impact identified in the fiscal analysis.

Timing and legislative history (summary)

  • Introduced in the Senate: January 28, 2025.
  • Passed both chambers and enacted into law: Approved by Governor May 13, 2025 (Chapter 570).
  • Effective: October 1, 2025.

Notes

The enactment raises maximum penalty amounts but does not alter which offenses may be classified as misdemeanors or municipal infractions, nor does it change existing imprisonment limits. Municipalities retain discretion whether and how to use the increased penalty authority.

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

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