MD SB422

Expands juvenile court jurisdiction by removing the automatic exclusion of children aged 14+ charged with crimes punishable by life imprisonment, allowing these cases to begin in juvenile court rather than adult criminal court

Removes automatic adult court jurisdiction for children aged 16+ charged with abduction, kidnapping, robbery, first-degree assault, certain firearms offenses, and third-degree sexual offenses, shifting initial jurisdiction to juvenile court

Eliminates the provision that children previously convicted as adults of a felony must be tried as adults for subsequent felony allegations

Retains adult court jurisdiction for children aged 16+ charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, second-degree rape, carjacking, attempted second-degree murder, attempted second-degree rape, and certain handgun violations, unless transferred to juvenile court

Applies prospectively only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of October 1, 2025