MD HB22

Applies to incarcerated individuals serving sentences of 18 months or more at Maryland state correctional facilities, requiring the Commissioner of Correction to document possession of birth certificates, Social Security cards, and photo ID or driver's licenses upon intake

Requires the Commissioner to begin obtaining an incarcerated individual's birth certificate at least 9 months before anticipated release and to apply for Social Security cards at the earliest possible date, with the individual's written consent

Mandates that correctional facilities return valid identification documents to individuals upon release and work to renew expired driver's licenses or photo IDs if they expired less than 1 year before the anticipated release date

Establishes confirmation checkpoints at 6 months and 3 months before release to verify that all required identification documents have been obtained and will be available upon release

Takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly states that these requirements may not delay an incarcerated individual's release from confinement