EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1435*
HOUSE BILL 1435
E4 5lr3003
HB 88/23 – JUD
By: Delegates Acevero, Martinez, Ruff, Smith, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission – 2
Prohibition Against Certain Affiliation or Support by Police Officers 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to 4
prohibit police officers from affiliating with, supporting, or advocating for White 5
supremacist groups, ideologies, or causes or participating in or actively promoting a 6
certain extremist group; and generally relating to the Maryland Police Training and 7
Standards Commission. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Public Safety 10
Section 3–201(a) and (b) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Public Safety 15
Section 3–207(o) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Public Safety 21
3–201. 22
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1435
(b) “Commission” means the Maryland Police Training and Standards 1
Commission. 2
3–207. 3
(O) (1) (I) IN THIS SUBSECTION TH E FOLLOWING WORDS HA VE THE 4
MEANINGS INDICATED . 5
(II) “BIPOC” MEANS BLACK PEOPLE , INDIGENOUS PEOPLE , 6
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR . 7
(III) “WHITE SUPREMACIST GRO UPS, CAUSES, OR IDEOLOGIES ” 8
MEANS GROUPS , CAUSES, OR IDEOLOGIES THAT : 9
1. PROMOTE WHITE SUPREMACY AND T HE IDEA THAT 10
WHITE PEOPLE ARE SUPE RIOR TO BIPOC; 11
2. PROMOTE RELIGIOUS AN D RACIAL BIGOTRY ; 12
3. SEEK TO EXACERBATE R ACIAL AND ETHNIC TEN SIONS 13
BETWEEN BIPOC AND NON–BIPOC; OR 14
4. ENGAGE IN PATENTLY H ATEFUL AND INFLAMMAT ORY 15
SPEECH, INTIMIDATION, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST BIPOC AS A MEANS OF 16
PROMOTING WHITE SUPREMACY . 17
(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL PROH IBIT POLICE OFFICERS FROM: 18
(I) AFFILIATING WITH , SUPPORTING , OR ADVOCATING FOR 19
WHITE SUPREMACIST GRO UPS, CAUSES, OR IDEOLOGIES ; OR 20
(II) PARTICIPATING IN OR ACTIVELY PROMOTING A N 21
INTERNATIONAL OR DOM ESTIC EXTREMIST GROUP THAT THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF 22
INVESTIGATION HAS DET ERMINED SUPPORTS OR ENCOURAGES ILLEGAL V IOLENT 23
CONDUCT. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2025. 26