SB 138

Criminal Procedure - Sentencing - Domestic Violence as a Mitigating Factor (Providing Alternatives Through Healing for Justice-Involved Individuals (PATH) Act)

Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (District 30)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

Authorizing the introduction of evidence that a certain defendant was the victim of domestic violence and that the domestic violence was a significant contributing factor to the commission of a certain crime as a mitigating factor at sentencing of the defendant or a hearing on a motion for modification or reduction of a sentence; and establishing related procedures.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

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 (36)

MGA witness list

FAV 31FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Adams, Charles	Bowie State University's Prison Education Program	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hession, Melody	Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Moore, DaMarqus	Helping Ourselves To Transform	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sackie, Sackiella	Helping Ourselves To Transform	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jenkins, Nasir	Helping Ourselves to Transform	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Johnson, Dr. Carmen	Helping Ourselves to Transform	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mathis-Chambers, Nasyr	Helping Ourselves to Transform	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hylton, Alfrieda	John R. Lewis Reentry Reform Services, Ltd, Corp.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Moyd, Esquire, Olinda	Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Levi, Gwendolyn	Maryland Justice Project	Oral
FAV	Orbe, Jr., Carlos	Maryland Latinos Unidos	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muhammad, Dr. Mildred D	Mildred D Muhammad Enterprises, LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Deborah	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Tiffany	Office of the Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Watts, Lydia	Rebuild, Overcome, and Rise (ROAR) Center at UMB	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Finigan-Carr, Nadine	UMB: Center for Violence Prevention	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Karen	UULM-MD	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gardner, Gretta	Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Braveheart, T. Shekhinah	Individual	Position only
FAV	Combs, Crystal	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Henson, Senator Shaneka	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lao, Serena	Individual	Position only
FAV	Scott, Waunita	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Henson, Senator Hensonlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Tsiongas, Magdalena	Individual	Position only
FAV	Williams, Alyima	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Watts, Kimberlee	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Vormelker, Will	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
INFO	Brown, Kirsten	Maryland State's Attorneys' Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Bowie State University's Prison Education ProgramFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCAFAV 1

Helping Ourselves to TransformFAV 3

Helping Ourselves To TransformFAV 2

John R. Lewis Reentry Reform Services, Ltd, Corp.FAV 1

Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Alliance for Justice ReformFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)INFO 1

Maryland JudiciaryINFO 1

Maryland Justice ProjectFAV 1

Maryland Latinos UnidosFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFWA 1

Maryland State's Attorneys' AssociationINFO 1

Mildred D Muhammad Enterprises, LLCFAV 1

Montgomery County Women's Democratic ClubFAV 1

Office of the Attorney GeneralFAV 1

Rebuild, Overcome, and Rise (ROAR) Center at UMBFAV 1

Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black CommunityFAV 1

UMB: Center for Violence PreventionFAV 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

INFOJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault