Criminal Law - Human Remains, Pet Remains, and Cemeteries - Prohibitions
Sponsor: Gary Simmons (District 12B)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Hearing 2/18 at 11:00 a.m. (Judiciary) (as of Dec 1, 2025)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Altering the definition of 'permanent cemetery' to include a cemetery owned by a family or religious organization; prohibiting a person from tampering with human remains interred in a cemetery; altering certain penalties relating to prohibitions against removal of human remains from a burial site; prohibiting a person from damaging, desecrating, mutilating, storing, tampering with, trafficking, or transporting human remains; etc.
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Testimony (0)
MGA witness listFAV 11FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Simmons, Christine | Anne Arundel Genealogical Society | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | McGuckian, Eileen | Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites, Inc. | Oral |
| FAV | Brantley, John | Granite Historical Society Inc | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Edwards, Mark | Maryland Cemetery Legislative Advocates | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Thompson, Elinor | Maryland Commissioner on African American History and Culture | Oral |
| FAV | warden, candy | Rosa Bonheur Society | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | McNair, Lee | Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry | Position only |
| FAV | Delegate Simmons, Delegate Simmonslegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Johnson, Jennifer | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Simmons, Gary | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Zinner, David | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Vormelker, Will | Maryland Judiciary | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Themelis, Nina | Mayor's Office of Government Relations | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Stierhoff, Johnlobbyist | Venable LLP | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Westervelt, Patricia | Maryland Department of Transportation | Written (PDF) |
Organizations on record
Registered lobbyists who testified
FWAStierhoff, JohnVenable LLPRegistered for: Abbott Laboratories; Annie E. Casey Foundation, Inc., The; Arts for Learning Maryland; Baltimore Community Foundation; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Baltimore Museum of Art…