1 | Common Cause Maryland Public Legislative Tracker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2 | Check out our 2024 legislative priorities! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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4 | The bills listed below only reflect our current priorities and several pieces of legislation where we have taken a formal position. If you don't see a bill listed, including unfavorable bills, please reach out and we will provide you with information on our position. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Bill Status | Position | SB | Senate Sponsor | HB | House Sponsor | Bill Summary | Hearing | Senate Bill Status | House Bill Status | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Voting & Elections | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Maryland Voting Rights Act | NO ACTION IN THE SENATE OR HOUSE. | FAV | SB 660 | Sen. Sydnor | HB 800 | Del. Smith | A landmark piece of legislation that builds on successful Voting Rights Act models enacted recently in other states. The bill takes the necessary steps to protect the voting rights of all Marylanders at the state level – but especially Voters of Color who have historically been denied the equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process – regardless of what direction the Supreme Court takes federal law. Download our one-pager. | Watch one of the hearings. | in committee | in committee | ||||||||||||||||
8 | Automatic Voter Registration - State Correctional Facilities | PASSED IN THE HOUSE. NO ACTION IN THE SENATE. | FAV | HB 627 | Del. Wilkins | legislation would designate the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services which oversees state prisomns an agency covered by the automatic voter registration program, ensuring eligible individuals are provided the opportunity to register to vote upon release. Download our one-pager. | Watch the hearing. | in committee | Passed | ||||||||||||||||||
9 | Special Elections - Legislative Vacancies | PASSED IN THE SENATE. NO ACTION IN THE HOUSE. | FAV | SB 29 | Sen. Kagan | HB 412 | Del. Foley | legislation would amend the state Constitution, if approved by voters, to require a special election to fill seats vacated by members of the Maryland General Assembly in any instance where a vacancy occurs more than fifty-five days prior to the filing deadline for statewide elections held in the second year of the term. | Watch one of the hearings. | On first reader in the House. | in committee | ||||||||||||||||
10 | Protections for Election Officials | SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR! | FAV | SB 480 | Governor | HB 585 | Governor | Legislation would create a new and reasonable misdemeanor charge for those who threaten state and local election officials or their families. | Watch one of the hearings. | Passed | Passed | ||||||||||||||||
11 | Mutilingual Elections | NO ACTION IN HOUSE. | FAV | HB. 563 | Del. Meriku-North | Legislation which would expand the language translation requirements for elections and provide additional support for voters whose first language is not English. This would include translated materials, a telephone hotline with interpreters, signage and a process for ensuring translations are accurate. Download our one-pager. | Watch the hearing. | in committee | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | Voting Rights for All Act | NO ACTION IN THE HOUSE. | FAV | HB 1022 | Del. Wilkins | The mass criminalization and incarceration of Black and brown communities disenfranchises and disempowers thousands of Marylanders and undermines the promise of a democracy that works for everyone. This legislation would ensure all eligible citizens are no longer punished for their past by restoring their right to vote in every election. | Watch the hearing. | in committee | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | Electronic Ballot Return | NO ACTION IN THE SENATE OR HOUSE. | UNF (unless amended) | SB 802 | Sen. Brooks | HB 775 | Del. Feldmark | Legislation would put the security of Maryland’s election infrastructure at risk and undermine public confidence in election results. We understand the motivation behind this effort but urge the General Assembly to adopt alternative, more secure mechanisms, that foster independent, private voting by voters with visual impairments and other print disabilities. | Watch one of the hearings. | in committee | in committee | ||||||||||||||||
15 | Risk-Limiting Audits | PASSED IN THE HOUSE. NO ACTION IN THE SENATE. | FAV | SB 523 | Sen. M. Washington | HB 40 | Del. Kaiser | Legislation would require the State Board of Elections, in collaboration with local boards of elections, to conduct risk-liming audits ( a "smarter" type of audit that minimized the burden on local election officials and provide strong evidence that the machine-generated counts are correct) after statewide elections. | Watch one of the hearings. | in committee | Passed | ||||||||||||||||
16 | Automatic Voter Registration update | NO ACTION IN THE SENATE OR HOUSE. | FAV | SB 605 | Sen. M. Washington | HB 1088 | Del. Feldmark | Legislation would upgrade our state's automatic voter registration program to "back-end." This change would create a more seamless registration process where eligible voters are automatically enrolled. These voters would still be provided the option to opt out of registration upon receipt of their mail notice. | Watch one of the hearings. | in committee | in committee | ||||||||||||||||
17 | Lower Pre-Registration Age | PASSED IN THE HOUSE. NO ACTION IN THE SENATE. | FAV | SB 515 | Sen. A. Washington | HB 436 | Del. Fair | Legislation would lower the minimum age of voter pre-registration from 16 to 15 years and ¾, the age when young people are first eligible to begin the driver's licensing process. Download our one-pager. | Watch one of the hearings. | in committee | in committee | ||||||||||||||||
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22 | Campaign Finance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Local Public Campaign Financing - Expansion | NO ACTION IN THE HOUSE. | FAV | HB 769 | Del. Feldmark | Legislation would expand on the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2013 (CFRA) by allowing public campaign finance systems currently allowed in the counties to also cover offices for sheriff, board of education, judge and clerk of the circuit court, register of wills, judge of the orphans’ court, or State’s Attorney. | Watch the hearing. | in committee | |||||||||||||||||||
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25 | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27 | Election Administration - State Administrator, Local Boards, and Election Directors | PASSED IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE. SENT TO GOVERNOR! | FAV | SB 417 | Sen. Hayes | HB 459 | Del. D. Jones | Legislation would require a yearly performance review of the state administrator and local boards of elections Directors. It would also improve current procedures and security protocols. Creates greater accountability and builds the public's confidence in our election s. | Watch one of the hearings. | Passed | |||||||||||||||||
28 | Deepfakes and Aritificial Intelligence (Synthetic Media) - Disclosure and Regulations | PASSED IN THE SENATE. NO ACTION IN THE HOUSE. | FAV | SB 978 | Sen. Hester | Legislation would require that individuals disclose any deepfake or AI-generated media content that is being distributed to the public to the State Board of Elections (SBE). It also provides SBE the opportunity to label or remove such content when necessary. | Watch the hearing. | Passed | in committee | ||||||||||||||||||
29 | Campaign Materials - DIsclosure of Use of Deepfakes and Artificial Intelligence (Synthetic Media) | NO ACTION IN THE HOUSE. | FAV | HB 872 | Del. Kaiser | Legislation would require that individuals seeking public office, working on campaigns, managing campaign finance entities and others publishing campaign related materials disclose that the content is AI-generated. | Watch the hearing. | in committee | |||||||||||||||||||
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