As Baltimore city and other areas across Maryland see more juvenile offenders, a bill up for debate Thursday would prevent anyone under the age of 25 from facing first-degree murder charges in certain instances.

The hearing was held in Annapolis where the democrats pushed their own juvenile justice reform laws. The debate focused on the Youth Accountability and Safety Act, House Bill 1180.

If passed, the bill would prevent anyone under the age of 25 from facing felony murder charges.

The bill is working its way through the house now, but republican senator William Folden of Frederick County is already calling the bill “irresponsible” in its approach to holding juveniles responsible for their criminal actions.

“They know the difference between right and wrong. They’re just not being held accountable and they don’t care about right or wrong,” said Folden.

FOX45 News, wanting to know how lawmakers are responding to the bill, sent emails to all lawmakers in both chambers, asking, as the bill is currently written, do you support this bill? Why or why not?

Among the first to respond, republican Delegate Susan McComas of Harford County. “This bill is the definition of insanity. We are going to legalize murder as long as people are under 25. Outrageous,” said McComas.

Democrat Delegate Carl Jackson of Baltimore County opposes the bill. “I believe that accountability must be at the center of any discussion regarding the criminal justice system,” said Jackson.

But republican Delegate Christopher Bouchat of Frederick and Carroll Counties is so far, the only one responding in support of the bill.

“If minors cannot consent to sex or sign contracts, why are we treating them as adults in the judicial system? I was a juvenile offender charged as an adult,” said Bouchat, who told FOX45 News he was charged with assault at the age of 16.

Meanwhile, republican Delegate Lauren Arikan of Harford County said she will never support removing felony murder for those under 25. “(Baltimore County) officer Amy Caprio’s murderers were held accountable because of the felony murder law,” she added.

Arikan put a face to the issue.

Caprio, the Baltimore County officer was responding to a burglary call when she was killed in 2018. Then 16-year-old Dawnta Harris was accused of first-degree murder.

From Caprio’s body-worn camera footage, the officer is heard repeatedly ordering Harris out of a stolen jeep. Caprio drew her pistol and Harris then ran her over and killed her.

Harris was 16 at the time of the murder but tried as an adult. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.