Long-debated juvenile automatic charging reform passes Maryland General Assembly

Katharine Wilson, The Baltimore Sun on Apr 6, 2026

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BALTIMORE — The Maryland General Assembly has passed the Youth Charging Reform Act, reforming which offenses minors are automatically charged as adults for, and what type of facilities they can be held in. A version of the reform has been considered for about 14 years, but has never been up for a vote in either chamber before this session.

In a 92-39 vote, the state House of Delegates passed the bill Monday without amending the version the state Senate passed in March, which watered down the original bill. The legislation now moves to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk.

The legislation removes first-degree assault and several handgun offenses from the current list of 33 offenses that automatically lead to adult court for 16- and 17-year-olds. The offenses removed from the automatic charging list could still be moved to adult court if a judge permits. The bill would also prohibit the housing of minors in adult facilities after October 2029.

“In Maryland, we believe children have the possibility of redemption,” Majority Leader Del. David Moon said on the House floor. “We think they have hope.”

Every state’s attorney in Maryland has criticized the bill for potentially making it more difficult to build cases against minors. Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates has pushed for the changes to auto charging to be delayed by three years to give the Department of Juvenile Services time to prepare for more minors in their care.

Several Republicans criticized the bill on the House floor Monday, noting that the charges are serious offenses best addressed in adult court and pointing to the opposition from state’s attorneys.

“When are we going to start looking out for the victims in this state?” said House Minority Whip Del. Jesse Pippy.

Currently, 55% of minors initially charged as adults whose cases reach a conclusion are later brought to juvenile court, according to the Department of Juvenile Services. The bill targets offenses most likely to be returned to juvenile court under the current policy.

The new head of the Department of Juvenile Services, Betsy Fox Tolentino, was a leading voice supporting the legislation, arguing that the changes would allow minors to receive resources more efficiently. Tolentino has said that she is not concerned about the legislation straining the department, as most of the minors who would now no longer be automatically charged are the cases most likely to be brought down to juvenile court in the current system.

Montgomery County Democratic Sen. Will Smith, the lead sponsor of the bill, told reporters after the House vote that the bill’s passage is “historic,” paving the way for more significant changes to automatic charging policies in the state.

“It will cover the lion’s share of the youth charged as adults right now, but also it will allow for the Department of Juvenile Services and the state of Maryland to have proof of concept, and I think that will solidify and strengthen the arguments for further reforms down the line,” Smith said.

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