MD SB170

Creates new felony offense of "benefits exploitation" prohibiting knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining individuals to appropriate their government benefits through deception, coercion, exploitation, or isolation

Covers a wide range of government benefits including Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, SNAP, Social Security, SSDI, veterans benefits, pensions, TDAP, and PAA

Defines coercion broadly to include threats of bodily harm, physical restraint, exposing damaging information, confiscating identification documents, providing controlled substances, causing financial harm, and depriving medical care

Penalties include up to 25 years imprisonment and/or fines up to $15,000, with each violation treated as a separate offense that cannot merge with other convictions

Effective date: October 1, 2025