MD HB1415

Law enforcement officers must wear identification (agency/department, last name, and badge/ID number) on their outermost layer of clothing while on duty in Maryland, and must verbally disclose this information upon request.

The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission must develop a model policy addressing identification size, placement, legibility, display on various uniform types, requirements for plainclothes officers, and limited circumstances when identification may be temporarily obscured for safety.

All law enforcement agencies operating in Maryland—including state, local, other state, and federal agencies—must adopt policies consistent with the Commission's model policy.

Officers actively engaged in undercover operations are exempt from the identification requirements.

Knowingly and willfully violating these requirements is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine, waives civil immunity, and constitutes police misconduct; effective October 1, 2026.