Maryland Parole Commission - Member Appointment Authority Transfer
Summary
Maryland SB823 transfers appointing authority for parole commissioners from the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation. The Governor must select members from nominees submitted by a nominating panel, which will be staffed by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. The bill passed the Senate 30-10 on March 20, 2026.
What changed
Maryland SB823 removes the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services' authority to appoint parole commissioners and instead grants the Governor appointment power, subject to Senate advice and consent. Nominees must be selected from a panel whose staffing will be provided by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy.
Affected parties include the Maryland Parole Commission, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. Criminal justice advocacy groups and legal professionals monitoring parole outcomes should track how the new nominating panel composition affects the pool and qualifications of appointed commissioners.
What to do next
- Monitor for implementation regulations from Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
- Review internal nomination panel procedures in anticipation of Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy staffing requirements
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Maryland / SB823 Passed SB823 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-20
Correctional Services - Maryland Parole Commission - Members
Altering the appointing authority and method of appointment of parole commissioners by repealing certain authority of the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services and requiring the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint members of the Maryland Parole Commission from nominees chosen by a certain panel; and requiring the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to provide staffing for the panel.
Bill Details
State Maryland
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation...
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Sponsors
William Smith (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-08 H Second Reading Passed with Amendments 2026-04-08 H Favorable with Amendments {893720/1 Adopted 2026-04-08 H Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary 2026-03-26 H Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-03-23 H Referred Judiciary 2026-03-20 S Third Reading Passed (30-10) 2026-03-20 S Second Reading Passed with Amendments 2026-03-20 S Floor Amendment {223921/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected (14-28) 2026-03-20 S Favorable with Amendments {283725/1 Adopted 2026-03-19 S Motion Laid Over (Senator Ready) Adopted 2026-03-19 S Favorable with Amendments {283725/1 2026-03-19 S Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings 2026-02-12 S Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-02-06 S First Reading Judicial Proceedings
Votes
2026-03-20 Floor Amendment 223921/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected Yea: 14 Nay: 28 2026-03-20 Third Reading Passed Yea: 30 Nay: 10
Committee Referrals
2026-02-06 S Judicial Proceedings 2026-03-23 H Judiciary
Amendments
2026-03-19 Favorable with Amendments 283725/1 2026-03-20 Floor Amendment 223921/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected (14-28) 2026-04-08 Favorable with Amendments 893720/1 Adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-10 Introduced 2026-03-20 Engrossed
Subjects
Corrections Committee Changes Committees and Commissions Crime Prevention and Policy, Governor's Office of Education Education, State Department of Governor Incarcerated Individuals Legal Aid Mental and Behavioral Health Parole and Probation Social Workers State's Attorneys Substance Abuse Treatment Victims Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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