MD SB255 | 2026 | Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: Passed on April 28 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-28 - Approved by the Governor - Chapter 157
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: Passed on April 28 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-28 - Approved by the Governor - Chapter 157
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]
Summary
Prohibiting the imposition or application of a method for electing the governing body of a county or municipal corporation that impairs the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of the members' choice or influence the outcome of an election by diluting or abridging the rights of voters who are members of a protected class; authorizing the Attorney General and any other person to bring a certain action in the county where the violation allegedly occurred for injunctive relief, damages, or other relief; etc.
Title
Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-04-13 - Senate - Third Reading Passed (Y: 32 N: 14 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-04-13 - Senate - Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted (Y: 33 N: 13 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-04-13 - House - Third Reading Passed (Y: 91 N: 19 NV: 30 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-13 - House - Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Stein) Adopted (Y: 90 N: 37 NV: 13 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-11 - House - Third Reading Passed (Y: 94 N: 35 NV: 5 Abs: 7) [PASS]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (Y: 37 N: 88 NV: 8 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (Y: 36 N: 86 NV: 11 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected (Y: 35 N: 86 NV: 12 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (Y: 37 N: 90 NV: 6 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (Y: 34 N: 92 NV: 7 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 663122/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (Y: 36 N: 88 NV: 8 Abs: 9) [FAIL]
2026-02-10 - Senate - Third Reading Passed (Y: 30 N: 15 NV: 1 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-13 - Senate - Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted (Y: 33 N: 13 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-04-13 - House - Third Reading Passed (Y: 91 N: 19 NV: 30 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-13 - House - Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Stein) Adopted (Y: 90 N: 37 NV: 13 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-11 - House - Third Reading Passed (Y: 94 N: 35 NV: 5 Abs: 7) [PASS]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (Y: 37 N: 88 NV: 8 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (Y: 36 N: 86 NV: 11 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected (Y: 35 N: 86 NV: 12 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (Y: 37 N: 90 NV: 6 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (Y: 34 N: 92 NV: 7 Abs: 8) [FAIL]
2026-04-11 - House - Floor Amendment 663122/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (Y: 36 N: 88 NV: 8 Abs: 9) [FAIL]
2026-02-10 - Senate - Third Reading Passed (Y: 30 N: 15 NV: 1 Abs: 1) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-28 | Senate | Approved by the Governor - Chapter 157 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Passed Enrolled |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed (91-19) |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Stein) Adopted (90-37) |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Conference Committee Report {233429/1 Adopted |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed (32-14) |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Conference Committee Report {233429/1 Adopted |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted (33-13) |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Conference Committee Report {233429/1 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wells, Fair and Stewart) |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | House Refuses Recede |
| 2026-04-13 | House | House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wells, Fair and Stewart) |
| 2026-04-13 | House | House Refuses Recede |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Kagan, Harris and Simonaire) |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Senate Requests House Recede |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Kagan, Harris and Simonaire) |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Senate Requests House Recede |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Third Reading Passed (94-35) |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Floor Amendment {513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-88) |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Floor Amendment {183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (36-86) |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Floor Amendment {493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected (35-86) |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Floor Amendment {553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-90) |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Floor Amendment {123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (34-92) |
| 2026-04-11 | House | Floor Amendment {663122/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (36-88) |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Second Reading Passed with Amendments |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Favorable with Amendments Adopted |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Substitute Committee Amendment {353027/1 Adopted |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Committee Amendment Withdrawn |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Favorable with Amendments {943523/1 |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections |
| 2026-03-24 | House | Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Referred Government, Labor, and Elections |
| 2026-02-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed (30-15) |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Second Reading Passed with Amendments |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Favorable with Amendments {453628/1 Adopted |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Motion Laid Over (Senator Hershey) Adopted |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Favorable with Amendments {453628/1 |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment |
| 2026-01-19 | Senate | Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Same As/Similar To
HB350 (Crossfiled) 2026-02-06 - Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.
Subjects
Attorney General
Civil Rights and Social Equity
Counties
Discrimination
Elections
Emergency Bills
Health
Minorities
Municipal Corporations
Political Candidates
Safety
Voting
Civil Rights and Social Equity
Counties
Discrimination
Elections
Emergency Bills
Health
Minorities
Municipal Corporations
Political Candidates
Safety
Voting
Code Citations
| Chapter | Article | Section | Citation Type | Statute Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election Law | 15.7 | 101 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Election Law | 15.7 | 102 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Election Law | 15.7 | 103 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Election Law | 15.7 | 104 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Election Law | 15.7 | 105 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Election Law | 15.7 | 106 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
| Election Law | 15.7 | 107 | (n/a) | See Bill Text |
