Circuit Court Security Reports Due September 30, Potential Unfunded Mandate Coming

Forthcoming mandated reports will show how many more officers will be required statewide to meet enhanced courtroom security standards. Counties could be on the hook to foot the bill, but Judiciary says transitional state funding should be allocated in diminishing amounts for five years to help locals meet the funding requirement. 

HB 789 / SB 621 from the 2025 legislative session required a report from all agencies providing courtroom security in Maryland. That report is anticipated to give counties an understanding of how many more officers will need to be hired to meet the new standard that is anticipated to become law following the 2026 legislative session.

As county governments provide the funding for the circuit courts, it is expected that these early reports will give jurisdictions a glimpse into what the potential cost increase could be. These mandates come at a time when recruitment and retention for public safety positions are at historic lows and while the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is undertaking one of the most significant recruitment efforts for officers in recent history.

These reports, due by September 30, 2025, must include the following information:

  • the current number of court security officers available to provide courthouse security
  • the minimum number of court security officers necessary to meet the minimum adequate security standards, accounting for annual leave and absences
  • the current number of courthouse security positions for which funding has been allocated
  • the current number of vacancies in the agency, department, or entity
  • a viable plan to meet the minimum adequate security standards
  • any obstacles to the agency, department, or entity meeting those minimum adequate security standards

The mandated standards have not yet been passed into law but are likely to be during the 2026 legislative session and require:

  • at least one court security officer is present for each court proceeding
  • at least two court security officers are present for each court proceeding at which an individual who is or may be incarcerated is present
  • at least one additional court security officer for every four courtrooms on each floor of a courthouse

The standards originated from a task force established by SB 575 from the 2024 legislative session – the Task Force to Ensure Safety of Judicial Facilities. The act charged this task force with identifying minimum security requirements for courthouses, develop a legislative proposal to ensure the requirements identified can be met, and identify physical security deficiencies that currently exist as well as a plan to address them.

During the 2025 legislative session, MACo supported with amendments HB 789 / SB 621 – Courtroom Security – Minimum Adequate Security Standard. While counties appreciate and agree with the need to secure judicial proceedings, they must be able to reasonably anticipate those new costs. The original report anticipated the new costs to range from $34,055,248 to 36,820,236 annually statewide. As an example, in Harford the pending estimate is for six additional full-time pins to cover the standard. Although the report from the Judiciary recommends financial state support, it also highlights that the Maryland State Bar Association has offered to assist with grant writing endeavors for jurisdictions needing more assistance.