CUMBERLAND – February 26, 2026

Senator Mike McKay is pushing bipartisan legislation to give Maryland law enforcement officers the training they need to safely interact with individuals living with autism and dementia — two conditions that affect how people communicate, behave, and respond to stress.

McKay’s bill — Senate Bill 745, the LEAD Act of 2026 — would require the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to include specialized autism and dementia training in both entrance-level and in-service law enforcement programs. The training would equip officers to recognize signs of these conditions, de-escalate encounters, locate individuals who wander from home, and use sensory-aware approaches that protect both the individual and the officer.

“This is about giving our officers practical tools for situations they’re already dealing with every day,” said Senator McKay. “Without proper training, a routine encounter can escalate fast. With the right training, officers can read the situation, bring the temperature down, and get everyone home safe.”

McKay spoke at a press conference in Annapolis alongside the bill’s House sponsor, Delegate Aaron Kaufman (D-Montgomery), and Shari Bailey, a Harford County mother whose personal experience became the driving force behind the legislation.

Bailey’s daughter Laila has autism and is non-verbal. When Laila bolted out the door while being watched by a nanny, Bailey received the kind of phone call no parent should ever get. She didn’t know if her daughter had been hit by a car, if she’d fallen, or if she’d be found at all. Laila can’t call for help. She can’t tell a stranger her name or where she lives.

That experience led Bailey to bring together lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to push for a package of legislation aimed at protecting individuals who “elope” — the term used when someone with autism or dementia wanders or runs away from safety.

SB 745 was heard before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on February 24 with no opposition. The House crossfile, HB 634, is moving through the House on a parallel track.

“Every family in Maryland who has a loved one living with autism or dementia knows the fear that comes with a knock on the door or a phone call you weren’t expecting,” McKay said. “This is commonsense legislation that protects our most vulnerable neighbors and supports the officers who serve them. I’m calling on my colleagues in the General Assembly to move this bill to the Governor’s desk without delay.”

###

Stay up to date on Senator McKay’s fight for Western Maryland — sign up for his District Newsletter at MikeMcKayMD.com/#newsletter.