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Bills/2026 Regular Session

HB 216

EnactedCrossfile SB 140
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Criminal Law - Benefits Exploitation

Sponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (District 18)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 662 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a person from knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining an individual for the purpose of appropriating the government benefits of an individual for the benefit of the person or another through deception, coercion, exploitation, or isolation; prohibiting a person from aiding, abetting, or conspiring with one or more persons to violate a certain provision of the Act; etc.

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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 (19)

MGA witness list
FAV 18FavorableUNF 1Unfavorable
PositionWitnessOrganizationTestimony
FAVWestrick, SaralobbyistAARP MarylandOral + Written (PDF)
FAVPeters, MeganlobbyistAlzheimer's AssociationOral + Written (PDF)
FAVMiicke, SarahlobbyistBaltimore Jewish CouncilOral + Written (PDF)
FAVBrown-Burnett, GloriaDepartment of Human ServicesWritten (PDF)
FAVDeBerry, UsherlaGovernors Office of the Deaf and Hard of HearingWritten (PDF)
FAVMDAD President, MDAD PresidentMaryland Association of the DeafWritten (PDF)
FAVRoques, CarmelMaryland Department of AgingWritten (PDF)
FAVSpraker, JessicaMaryland Legal AidOral + Written (PDF)
FAVPeters, MeganlobbyistMaryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)Written (PDF)
FAVThemelis, NinaMayor's Office of Government RelationsWritten (PDF)
FAVProctor, KaressaNASW MarylandWritten (PDF)
FAVOMalley, CatherineWomen's Law CenterWritten (PDF)
FAVRondeau, Jonathonfello.orgWritten (PDF)
FAVDelegate Kaufman, Delegate KaufmanlegislatorIndividualOral
FAVKaufman, AaronIndividualOral + Written (PDF)
FAVKolp, AndeIndividualOral + Written (PDF)
FAVRice, MatIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVTibbals, TrudyIndividualPosition only
UNFHilliard, ElizabethMaryland Office of the Public DefenderWritten (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP MarylandFAV 1
Alzheimer's AssociationFAV 1
Baltimore Jewish CouncilFAV 1
Department of Human ServicesFAV 1
fello.orgFAV 1
Governors Office of the Deaf and Hard of HearingFAV 1
Maryland Association of the DeafFAV 1
Maryland Department of AgingFAV 1
Maryland Legal AidFAV 1
Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1
Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 1
Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1
NASW MarylandFAV 1
Women's Law CenterFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland
FAVPeters, MeganAlzheimer's AssociationRegistered for: Alzheimer's Association
FAVMiicke, SarahBaltimore Jewish CouncilRegistered for: Baltimore Jewish Council
FAVPeters, MeganMaryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)Registered for: Alzheimer's Association