SB 49

Unhoused Individuals - Rights and Affirmative Defense

Sponsor: C. Anthony Muse (District 26)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Criminal Law - ProceduresStatus: Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Providing that all unhoused individuals have certain rights; stating it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Courts liberally construe the Act to maximize the protections afforded by it to unhoused individuals in the State; establishing an affirmative defense of necessity to certain criminal charges relating to trespass or disturbing the peace; and repealing the authority of a municipality to prohibit vagrancy.

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Testimony (33)

MGA witness list

FAV 23FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 9Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lindamood, Kevin	Health Care for the Homeless	Oral
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Keguskatuve Bkacj Caycys if Nartkabdm Ubc,	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Orbe, Jr., Carlos	Maryland Latinos Unidos	Written (PDF)
FAV	McDermott, Meaghan	Maryland Legal Aid	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fair, Kris	Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kovacs, Lisa	Maryland Local Management Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tars, Eric	National Homelessness Law Center	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Prater, David	Office of Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Johnson, Carolyn	Public Justice Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muse, C. Anthony	Senator Muse	Written (PDF)
FAV	SWASC, UM	Social Work Advocates for Social Change	Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Muse, Senator Muselegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Cantu, Hugolobbyist	Apartments and Office Building Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jackson, Samiralobbyist	MD Police Chiefs Assoc. and MD Sheriffs Assoc.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sample, Sarah	Maryland Association of Counties	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Vormelker, Will	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bailey Thupari, Angelica	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
UNF	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Ennis, Ella	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Apartments and Office Building AssociationUNF 1

Behavioral Health System BaltimoreFAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

Health Care for the HomelessFAV 2

Keguskatuve Bkacj Caycys if Nartkabdm Ubc,FAV 1

Maryland Association of CountiesUNF 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland JudiciaryUNF 1

Maryland Latinos UnidosFAV 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ CaucusFAV 1

Maryland Local Management AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Multi-Housing AssociationFWA 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueUNF 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceFAV 1

MD Police Chiefs Assoc. and MD Sheriffs Assoc.UNF 1

National Homelessness Law CenterFAV 1

Office of Attorney GeneralFAV 1

Public Justice CenterFAV 1

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCUNF 1

Senator MuseFAV 1

Social Work Advocates for Social ChangeFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

UNFCantu, HugoApartments and Office Building AssociationRegistered for: Apartment & Office Building Association

UNFJackson, SamiraMD Police Chiefs Assoc. and MD Sheriffs Assoc.Registered for: Critical Response Group; Dell Technologies Inc.; Empower; Forward Financing; HDR Engineering, Inc.; Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs…

UNFWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…

UNFCastelli, WilliamRifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCRegistered for: ASC Engineered Solutions; Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&S, LLC; Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, MD; Brown Advisory; Cable Telecommunications Association of Maryland, Delaware and D.C., Inc.; Colonial Pipeline Company…

FWAPipkin, MatthewMaryland Multi-Housing AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Multi-Housing Association