Department of General Services - Maryland Capitol Police - Statewide Jurisdiction
Summary
SB0298 expands the Maryland Capitol Police’s authority from a primarily site-based protective force into a police force with statewide jurisdiction. The bill amends the State Finance and Procurement Article to authorize Maryland Capitol Police officers, when properly trained and designated, to investigate and enforce statewide criminal laws, parking laws, motor vehicle laws, and Title 12 of the Criminal Procedure Article, in addition to their existing protective duties. It also revises the geographic scope of the Department of General Services’ police authority around State-owned or State-leased buildings and grounds, increasing the surrounding enforcement area from 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet.
The bill preserves the General Assembly’s control over access to State legislative buildings in Annapolis and requires that, before Maryland Capitol Police exercise their new powers in Baltimore City, they enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department. It also requires notification to the Secretary of State Police and other affected law enforcement agencies when the Capitol Police use their statewide enforcement powers, subject to regulations, policies, procedures, and memoranda of understanding. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
This legislation materially expands the statutory jurisdiction and operational authority of the Maryland Capitol Police within the Department of General Services. It changes Sections 4-601 and 4-605 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to give the force statewide policing powers, broadens the perimeter around covered State properties, and establishes coordination and notice requirements with other law enforcement agencies. The bill affects State police operations, interagency enforcement protocols, and the scope of authority over State buildings, public officials, people, and property.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the legislative process. It passed both chambers unanimously, with recorded votes of 44-0 in the Senate and 126-0 in the House, indicating strong bipartisan agreement. The absence of committee transcript material also suggests there was little publicly recorded opposition or extended debate in the available record.
Contention
The main policy issue raised by the bill is the expansion of a specialized Capitol Police force into statewide criminal enforcement, which could raise questions about overlap with the Maryland State Police, local police departments, and other specialized agencies. The bill addresses some of those concerns by requiring advance or prompt notification to the Secretary of State Police and, in Baltimore City, a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department before the new powers are used there. Another point of sensitivity is the preservation of the General Assembly’s final authority over access to legislative buildings in Annapolis, which reflects concern about maintaining legislative control over the Capitol complex even as police jurisdiction expands.