MD SB140

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

Covers benefits including Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, SNAP, Social Security, SSDI, veterans benefits, pensions, TDAP, and PAA

Penalties are tiered by aggregate value: under $1,500 is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year, $500 fine); $1,500-$25,000 is a felony (up to 5 years, $10,000 fine); $25,000-$100,000 is a felony (up to 10 years, $15,000 fine); $100,000+ is a felony (up to 20 years, $25,000 fine)

Also criminalizes knowingly benefiting financially from such ventures and aiding, abetting, or conspiring to commit benefits exploitation

Effective October 1, 2026