MD HB650 | 2026 | Regular Session
Status
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: Introduced on January 30 2026 - 25% progression
Action: 2026-02-02 - Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Pending: House Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]
Status: Introduced on January 30 2026 - 25% progression
Action: 2026-02-02 - Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
Pending: House Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]
Summary
Repealing a certain provision relating to strategic lawsuits against public participation; authorizing a person served with a pleading asserting a certain cause of action based on the person's communication related to a governmental proceeding or exercise of certain constitutional rights to file a special motion for expedited relief to dismiss the cause of action; and generally relating to civil actions and public expression.
Title
Civil Actions - Maryland Uniform Public Expression Protection Act
Sponsors
| Del. Samuel Rosenberg [D] | Del. Jon Cardin [D] | Del. Elizabeth Embry [D] | Del. Scott Phillips [D] |
| Del. Stuart Schmidt [R] | Del. Sean Stinnett [D] | Del. Nicole Williams [D] |
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | House | Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. |
| 2026-01-30 | House | First Reading Judiciary |
Same As/Similar To
SB251 (Crossfiled) 2026-01-17 - Hearing 1/29 at 3:00 p.m.
Subjects
Administrative Agencies
Annotated Code of Maryland
Appeals
Attorneys' Fees
Civil Actions
Civil Actions and Procedures
Civil Rights and Social Equity
Claims
Communications
complaints
Court Costs
Courts
Evidence
Goods and Services
Health
Hearings
News Media
Petitions
Protests and Demonstrations
Public Corporations and Instrumentalities
Public Employees
Safety
Time
Annotated Code of Maryland
Appeals
Attorneys' Fees
Civil Actions
Civil Actions and Procedures
Civil Rights and Social Equity
Claims
Communications
complaints
Court Costs
Courts
Evidence
Goods and Services
Health
Hearings
News Media
Petitions
Protests and Demonstrations
Public Corporations and Instrumentalities
Public Employees
Safety
Time
Code Citations
| Chapter | Article | Section | Citation Type | Statute Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1301 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1302 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1303 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1304 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1305 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1306 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1307 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1308 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1309 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1310 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1311 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1312 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 1313 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 807 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Courts and Judicial Proceedings | 5 | 808 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
Maryland State Sources
| Type | Source |
|---|---|
| Summary | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0650?ys=2026RS |
| Text | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0650f.pdf |
