HB 442

Criminal Procedure - Victims and Witnesses - Out of Court Statement of Child to Forensic Interviewer

Sponsor: Karen Simpson (District 3)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - ProceduresStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 147 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Expanding the evidentiary rule on the admissibility of out of court statements made by child victims or witnesses to make admissible an out of court statement made by a child to a forensic interviewer.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableUNF 2UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Shellenberger, Scott	Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Gravely, Kathryn	Center For Hope	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fitzwater, Jessica	Frederick County Executive	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Carpenter, Lindsey	Frederick County State's Attorney's Office	Written (PDF)
FAV	King, Joyce	Frederick County State's Attorney's Office	Oral
FAV	Mash, Christian	Garrett County State's Attorney	Oral
FAV	Quarles, Antoin	Helping Oppressed People Excel (H.O.P.E.)	Position only
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Position only
FAV	Feinstein, Debbie	Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office	Oral
FAV	Selden, Trina	Out for Justice	Position only
FAV	Speaks, Terry	Out for Justice	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Simpson, Delegate Simpsonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Grove, Robin	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	LeMon, Erica	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Simpson, Karen	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Stofa, Tamara	Office of the Public Defender	Oral
UNF	Khalfani, Natasha	Office of the Public Defender Maryland	Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only