Maryland Black Caucus Backs Range of Bills, Including Limiting Adult Charges for Minors

The caucus is supporting measures to reduce racial profiling and protect voting rights on a local level.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus announced it is backing a wide range of bills during this year's General Assembly session, including a measure that would reduce the number of crimes for which juveniles are automatically charged as adults. The caucus is also supporting bills aimed at reducing racial profiling during traffic stops and protecting voting rights on a local level.

Why it matters

These legislative proposals reflect the Black Caucus' efforts to address systemic racial inequities in Maryland's criminal justice and voting systems. Limiting automatic adult charges for juveniles and curbing racial profiling during traffic stops could help mitigate disproportionate impacts on communities of color, while protecting local voting rights is crucial for ensuring equal political representation.

The details

The bill to reduce automatic adult charges for juveniles would not affect the most violent offenses like first-degree murder, first-degree rape, or armed carjacking. However, the Maryland State's Attorneys Association opposes the bill, citing issues in the Department of Juvenile Services. The caucus is also supporting a bill to make minor traffic violations a secondary offense, which would protect immigrants from deportation through 287(g) agreements. Additionally, the caucus wants to see a ban on 287(g) agreements and measures to protect voting rights at the local level.

  • The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus announced its legislative priorities on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Del. Sandy Bartlett, is holding a hearing on the bill to reduce automatic adult charges for juveniles on Thursday afternoon.

The players

Maryland Legislative Black Caucus

A group of African American state legislators in Maryland who advocate for policies and legislation that address the concerns of the Black community.

Sandy Bartlett

A Maryland state delegate who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.

Charles Sydnor

A Maryland state senator from Baltimore County.

Maryland State's Attorneys Association

An organization representing state's attorneys in Maryland, which opposes the bill to reduce automatic adult charges for juveniles.

Office of Public Defender

The agency that provides legal representation for indigent defendants in Maryland, which is not opposed to the bill to reduce automatic adult charges for juveniles.

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What they’re saying

“Those in opposition to the legislation, they wanted to talk about how it was just based in the jails. Well, when you have pretextual traffic stops and people being stopped for pretty minor offenses, they're being blackmailed.”

— Charles Sydnor, Maryland State Senator (wbal.com)

What’s next

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the bill to reduce automatic adult charges for juveniles on Thursday afternoon.

The takeaway

The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus is taking a proactive approach to addressing racial inequities in the state's criminal justice and voting systems through a range of legislative proposals. These efforts reflect the caucus' commitment to promoting policies that protect the rights and interests of the Black community in Maryland.