HB0338 expands the authority of the Maryland Capitol Police within the Department of General Services from a more limited, location-based jurisdiction to statewide jurisdiction. The bill authorizes Capitol Police officers to investigate and enforce criminal laws, parking laws, and motor vehicle laws statewide, while also revising the geographic scope of the Department’s jurisdiction over State-owned and State-leased buildings and grounds to include a 2,000-foot surrounding area instead of 1,000 feet. It also updates the statutory description of the Capitol Police force to reflect this broader role in protecting public officials, people, and property in accordance with the revised jurisdictional provisions.
The bill also adds procedural safeguards and coordination requirements when Capitol Police exercise statewide powers. Before acting in Baltimore City, the Department must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department. In addition, when Capitol Police officers use their statewide enforcement authority, they must provide notice to the Secretary of State Police and, depending on the location and agency involved, to local law enforcement leaders and other specified agencies under adopted regulations, policies, procedures, and memoranda of understanding. The bill preserves the authority of the presiding officers of the General Assembly over access to State legislative buildings in Annapolis.
The bill’s impact on state law is to amend the State Finance and Procurement Article, specifically Sections 4-601 and 4-605, to significantly broaden the Maryland Capitol Police’s jurisdiction and clarify how that authority is exercised. It affects the Department of General Services, the Maryland Capitol Police, the State Police, local police agencies, and other law enforcement entities that may be notified or coordinated with when Capitol Police operate outside their traditional facilities-based role. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
Overall sentiment appears supportive and administrative rather than controversial, as reflected by the bill’s enactment into law without recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials. The structure of the bill suggests an intent to modernize and standardize Capitol Police authority while maintaining coordination with other law enforcement agencies. The main point of potential contention is the expansion of a specialized police force into statewide jurisdiction, particularly in Baltimore City, where the bill explicitly requires a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department before enforcement powers may be exercised there.
HB0338 amends Maryland law to give the Maryland Capitol Police statewide police authority and to expand the Department of General Services’ jurisdictional perimeter around State-owned and State-leased buildings and grounds from 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet. It also requires interagency notification and coordination when Capitol Police use statewide enforcement powers, and mandates a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department before those powers may be exercised in Baltimore City. The bill primarily affects the State Finance and Procurement Article and the operational authority of the Department of General Services and related law enforcement agencies.
The available record suggests broad support or at least no visible opposition, since the bill was enacted as Chapter 264 and no committee transcript or vote breakdown is provided. The bill appears to have been treated as a law-enforcement administrative update, with its emphasis on coordination, notice, and jurisdictional clarity indicating an effort to avoid conflict with existing police agencies. The absence of recorded debate in the supplied materials makes it difficult to identify any organized opposition, but the statewide expansion of police authority is the most likely area of concern.
The principal issue of contention is the scope of authority granted to the Maryland Capitol Police, especially the move from a facilities-centered jurisdiction to statewide enforcement powers. Some stakeholders could view this as an appropriate modernization to protect State property and officials, while others may be concerned about overlap with local police, the State Police, and agency-specific police forces. The bill addresses one likely flashpoint by requiring a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department before Capitol Police may exercise these powers in Baltimore City, and by requiring advance or prompt notice to other law enforcement officials under regulations and interagency agreements.