type: timeline_event
On March 17, 2026, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted to advance SB 346, the "No Kings Act," a bill that would impose civil liability on federal agents who violate the constitutional rights of Maryland residents. The legislation represented one of the most assertive state-level efforts to create legal accountability for federal enforcement operations that had drawn widespread condemnation.
The bill established a civil cause of action allowing Marylanders to sue federal agents in state court for violations of their constitutional rights, including unlawful search and seizure, excessive force, and due process violations. The civil penalties provision was designed to provide a state-level avenue for redress at a time when federal courts and the Department of Justice were increasingly seen as unwilling to hold federal agents accountable.
The House version of the legislation had already passed by a decisive 96-38 margin in February, signaling strong bipartisan support in the lower chamber. The Senate committee vote moved the companion bill closer to final passage, with advocates expressing confidence that the full Senate would follow suit. Maryland's effort was being closely watched by legislators in other states considering similar measures.
The bill's name was an explicit nod to the No Kings protest movement, reflecting how the language and framing of the grassroots resistance had permeated into formal legislative action. Supporters argued that the measure filled a critical gap in accountability as the federal government expanded immigration enforcement, deployed agents in civilian settings, and resisted judicial oversight. Opponents raised concerns about potential conflicts with federal supremacy, but proponents countered that the bill was carefully drafted to operate within established state civil liability frameworks.