Emergency Immigration Bills Passed Both Houses

Read Full Digest Here: Feb. 16th Digest

On Thursday, the House of Delegates gave final approval to SB 245 - Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement Agreements – Prohibition, so it will now go to the Governor for signature.  The bill had to obtain 3/5 vote in both houses as an emergency bill, allowing it to go into effect upon the Governor’s signature.  The Senate required 29 votes and passed 32-12; the House required 84 votes and passed 99-38. Shortly thereafter, its companion bill HB 444 passed the House 99-40 and the Senate 32-13. Although only one of these bills needed to pass in order for the emergency measure to become law, Governor Wes Moore will sign these bills in a signing ceremony on Tuesday, February 17th at 10:00am per our partner, CASA. 

The bill will prohibit the State, a unit of local government, a county sheriff, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent of the State or a unit of local government from entering into an immigration enforcement agreement under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Immediately upon enactment of the bill, the State, a unit of local government, a county sheriff, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent of the State or a unit of local government with an existing immigration enforcement agreement must exercise the agreement’s termination provision. This will prevent local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities in rounding up undocumented migrants.

Meanwhile a priority health care bill, SB 169 - Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions – Procedures has passed the Senate 32-11 and is headed to the House for consideration.

Most Priority Bills Filed and More Hearings Scheduled

With a third of the session completed, and the bill filing deadlines passed for both chambers, the UULM-MD priority bills have now all been filed, and all but four have companion bills introduced in both houses. Our Issue Leads are also watching fifteen (15) which may require our action during the session.

Twenty-six (26) bills have had committee hearings (with our testimony), 36 more are scheduled, two (2) have been withdrawn, and three (3) have been passed by one or both chambers. 

Here is the status of each Issue Area:

Civil Rights – 1 measure (opposed) – 2 bills – 1 heard in committee and 1 scheduled for a hearing

Climate Change – 4 priority measures – 8 bills: 3 heard and 5 scheduled

10 measures being watched – 19 bills: 4 heard and 15 scheduled

Criminal Justice – 8 priority measures – 15 bills: 7 heard, 4 scheduled, 2 withdrawn

2 measures being watched – 4 bills: 2 heard and 1 scheduled  

Gun Violence – 3 priority measures – 6 bills: 4 heard and 1 scheduled

3 measures being watched – 5 bills: 4 scheduled

Healthcare – 4 measures – 5 bills: 2 heard, 2 scheduled, and 1 passed the Senate

Immigration – 7 measures – 12 bills: 2 heard, 6 scheduled, 2 passed both chambers and ready for the Governor’s signature

ACLU of Maryland Day of Action: 

Monday, February 16, 2026

4:00 PM -  8:00 PM ET

St. Anne's Episcopal Church,

CHURCH Cir, Annapolis, MD 21401

Join the ACLU of Maryland and our partners for a Day of Action on Monday, February 16, to demand justice for our immigrant communities and the safety of ALL Marylanders.

At the event you’ll meet other advocates and hear directly from our champions on our shared goals for this legislative session. Then, we’ll head to Lawyers Mall to rally together and amplify our demands for change and action!

Sign Up Here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/AJ2kp33SMkWqits1s-Q23Q2