MD HB187

Creates a new felony offense for knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining an individual to appropriate their government benefits through deception, coercion, exploitation, or isolation

Covered government benefits include Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, SNAP, Social Security, SSDI, veterans benefits, pensions, TDAP, and Public Assistance to Adults

Defines coercion broadly to include threats of bodily harm, physical restraint, exposure of damaging information, confiscating identity documents, providing controlled substances to compel compliance, financial harm, and deprivation of medical care

Violations constitute a felony punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment, a fine up to $15,000, or both, with each violation treated as a separate offense that does not merge with other convictions

Takes effect October 1, 2025