Legislative Record Review: From Expungement to Youth Justice, Police Training and Housing, A Look at Senator C. Anthony Muse’s 2026 Work

During a review of bills and other official documents from Maryland’s 2026 General Assembly session in Annapolis, several measures sponsored or co-sponsored by State Senator C. Anthony Muse were among those examined. The legislation covered issues including clearing certain eligible court records, how some young people are handled in the justice system, police training and protections for renters.

Among the measures was Senate Bill 320, which Senator Muse sponsored. The legislation deals with expungement, the legal process that allows certain eligible court and police records to be removed from public inspection.

The law addresses certain cases that ended with what courts call a “no finding” or were terminated without a finding. Put simply, it gives eligible people whose cases ended in those ways an opportunity to ask a court to clear qualifying records. Similar legislation had been introduced during the 2025 legislative session before returning in 2026.

Senate Bill 320 received unanimous approval in both the Senate and House of Delegates before Governor Wes Moore signed it into law May 12. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Senator Muse was also among the co-sponsors of the Youth Charging Reform Act, Senate Bill 323. The legislation changes some of Maryland’s rules for young people accused of serious crimes, including when their cases fall under the juvenile court system and how certain young people can be detained, confined or transported while their cases are pending.

One notable change removes a previous rule that automatically excluded a child from juvenile court jurisdiction when the child was accused of a crime punishable by life imprisonment. The legislation passed both chambers of the General Assembly and was signed into law May 26.

Police training was another subject found during the review. Senator Muse co-sponsored the LEAD Act of 2026, which requires Maryland police training to include instruction on interactions with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia and autism.

The training requirement applies both to new officers and to continuing training for officers already serving. The legislation passed unanimously in both the Senate and House of Delegates and was signed into law May 26. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Housing was also among the issues addressed. Senator Muse co-sponsored Senate Bill 335, which provides additional protections for certain prospective tenants who use income-based housing assistance, such as government programs that help qualifying individuals and families pay their rent.

Under the law, certain landlords cannot reject an applicant simply because the person uses qualifying housing assistance when the requirements established by the law are met. The measure also requires certain landlords to give tenants the option of having their positive rental payment history reported to a consumer reporting agency, meaning consistently paying rent on time could become part of a tenant’s credit history. The legislation was signed into law May 26.

The bills highlighted here are only a portion of the legislation considered during the 2026 General Assembly session. Official records also list Senator Muse as the primary sponsor of proposals involving issues such as rights involving unhoused individuals, residential leases, driver’s license suspensions related to child support, speed monitoring along Maryland Route 210 and a proposed commission to examine Maryland’s expungement laws. Not all of those proposals became law.

Senator C. Anthony Muse represents Maryland’s 26th Legislative District in Prince George’s County. Senator Muse currently serves on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and as vice chair of the Executive Nominations Committee.