Maryland Senate Republicans Lead Floor Fight on “Community Distrust Act,” Slam “Super Sneaky” Process
Legislation that Maryland Senate Republicans say was rushed through a committee vote to the Senate floor Thursday met with a sustained floor fight from Senate Republicans. Lawmakers say they were given 1 hour to review Senate Bill 791 – the Community Trust Act, which deals with immigration enforcement. Advocates were granted access – however law enforcement and State’s Attorneys were shut out. A motion by Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey to delay consideration was denied on a party-line vote. During Friday’s floor debate, Senate Republicans introduced 14 amendments aimed at strengthening the measure, protecting public safety and restoring local control. Republican leaders say that this legislation represents a major shift in Maryland’s public safety framework.
Maryland’s General Assembly session ends on Monday.
Additional information from the Senate Republican Caucus:
Senate Republicans today led a sustained floor fight against the so-called Community Trust Act — which they have dubbed the “Community Distrust Act” — blasting what they described as a “super sneaky big deal” process used to rush the bill from a late-night, closed-door committee vote to the Senate floor.
At its core, the legislation represents a major shift in Maryland’s public safety framework. The bill restricts when state and local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration authorities, limiting coordination in certain cases and placing new constraints on detention and information sharing.
Republicans warned that these restrictions could undermine coordination between agencies, even in cases involving serious offenses such as murder, rape of a minor, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and drunk driving.
“This is a major public safety policy being forced through without transparency, without proper vetting, and without input from the people responsible for keeping our communities safe,” said Senator William Folden.
During floor debate, Senate Republicans introduced 14 amendments aimed at strengthening the bill, protecting public safety, and restoring local control.
Republican Amendments Offered
- Expanding Serious Charges for ICE Consultation
Amendments sought to broaden the list of offenses eligible for ICE consultation — including murder, rape of a minor, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and drunk driving — and to allow action based on individuals being charged, not just convicted. - Protecting Correctional Officers Acting in Good Faith
Ensuring correctional officers are held harmless and protected from liability when acting in good faith in the course of their duties. - Protecting Joint Task Force Participation
Preserving the ability of local law enforcement to participate in joint task forces with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, maintaining coordination on serious criminal activity. - Restoring Local Discretion
Providing greater flexibility for local jurisdictions in determining how and when to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. - Renaming Amendment
Renaming the bill the “Rachel Morin Act” and reinstating participation in the 287(g) program. The amendment is named for Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother who was tragically murdered in 2023, with the suspect later identified as an individual in the country illegally, a case that underscores the importance of coordination between local and federal law enforcement. - Interstate Offenses Amendment (Adopted – Sen. William Folden)
An amendment successfully adopted, led by Senator William Folden, allows for ICE involvement when an individual has been convicted of a serious offense in another state, sentenced to at least five years, and served that sentence — ensuring those individuals do not fall through the cracks.
“One of the most concerning aspects of this bill is that it limits action to only after a conviction, rather than when someone is charged with a serious offense,” said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready. “That ignores the reality that law enforcement often needs to act earlier, especially in cases involving violent crime, drug trafficking, or repeat offenders, to protect communities and prevent further harm.”
Republicans also pointed to real-world consequences of restricting coordination between agencies, citing the recent major drug trafficking bust on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where cooperation between law enforcement partners was critical to dismantling a large-scale criminal operation.
“Cases like the Eastern Shore drug bust show exactly why coordination between agencies matters,” said Senator Johnny Mautz. “This bill moves Maryland in the opposite direction — limiting cooperation at the very moment we should be strengthening it.”
Throughout debate, Republican members emphasized that the bill represents a significant policy shift that was advanced without adequate scrutiny or stakeholder input.
“Marylanders deserve transparency. They deserve a full and open debate. And they deserve policies that put public safety first,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey. “This process failed on all counts.”