EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0943*
HOUSE BILL 943
E1 5lr2789
SB 435/24 – JPR CF SB 334
By: Delegate Toles
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Criminal Law – Crimes of Malicious or Fraudulent Burning – Prohibitions and 2
Penalties 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from committing a certain crime of malicious or 4
fraudulent burning that results in the death of or serious physical injury to a 5
firefighter; and generally relating to crimes of malicious or fraudulent burning. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Criminal Law 8
Section 6–112 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Criminal Law 14
6–112. 15
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANI NGS 16
INDICATED. 17
2 HOUSE BILL 943
(2) “CRIME OF MALICIOUS OR FRAUDULENT BURNING ” MEANS A 1
VIOLATION OF § 6–104, § 6–105, OR § 6–106 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
(3) “SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJU RY” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 3
3–201 OF THIS ARTICLE. 4
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT COMMIT A CRI ME OF MALICIOUS OR F RAUDULENT 5
BURNING THAT RESULTS IN THE DEATH OF OR S ERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY TO A 6
FIREFIGHTER. 7
(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A FELONY AND 8
ON CONVICTION IS SUB JECT TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 10 YEARS. 9
(D) A SENTENCE IMPOSED UND ER THIS SECTION MAY BE SEPARATE FROM 10
AND CONSECUTIVE TO O R CONCURRENT WITH A SENTENCE IMPOSED F OR ANY 11
CRIME BASED ON THE A CT ESTABLISHING THE VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this A ct shall take effect 13
October 1, 2025. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
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President of the Senate.