Final Push to Get Bills Voted Out of Committees

Read Full Digest Here: March 23 Digest

Monday, March 23 is the Opposite Chamber Crossover Date, meaning that each Chamber must send the bills that it intends to pass favorably to the other Chamber.  Bills that miss this deadline are subject to being referred to the other chamber’s Rules Committee, rather than going directly to a standing committee for consideration. Now is the time to focus on alerts to to contact their lawmakers to vote on bills not already passed a committee or a chamber.

Priority Bills on the Move Before Crossover Date

Ahead of the deadline, legislative committees have produced a flurry of activity, amending and voting out scores of bills, including many of those selected as priorities by UULM-MD. This has led to multiple sessions of the full House and Senate, including a rare House session on Saturday. While things are still moving rapidly, below is a snapshot of the bills that moved by the time the House and Senate adjourned for the weekend.

This week alone, eleven (11) more bills passed either the House or Senate, two more passed Second Reading in the Senate, and one more passed Second Reading in the House.

Immigration – 9 of 19 bills moving

• Data Privacy - Consumer Data, Public Records, and Message Switching System (Data Privacy Act) – HB 711 – passed the House 94-35; no action on companion bill SB 504.

• Public Schools - School Security Personnel - Immigration Investigation and Enforcement – SB 810 – passed Second Reading on the Senate Floor; companion bill HB 1341 passed the House earlier in the session.

• Correctional Services - Private Immigration Detention Facilities - Zoning Requirement - SB 984 – passed Second Reading in the Senate with amendments; companion bill HB 1017 passed the House earlier in the session.

• Transportation - Aviation - Passenger Health and Safety (Aviation Health and Safety Act) - HB 639 – passed Second Reading in the House with amendments; no action on companion SB 505.

• One bill (SB 1) was passed earlier in the session; no action on companion HB 155.

• Two bills (HB 444 and SB 245) passed both houses and were signed by the Governor earlier in the session, and 5 more were passed by one chamber

Climate Change – 4 of 25 bills moving

• Public Service Commission - Full Costs and Benefits Analysis of Sources of Electricity Generation - SB 270 passed the Senate (45-0); no action on companion bill HB 674.

• Land Use - Transit-Oriented Development - Alterations (Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act) - SB 389 passed the House 96-32; HB 894 – passed Second Reading in the Senate.

• One bill (HB 437) passed the House earlier this session.

Democracy – 1 of 2 bills moving

• Charitable Organizations - Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status - Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026) – awaiting 2nd Reading on Senate Floor.

minal Justice – 8 of 25 bills moving

• Division of Correction - Volunteer Services Program – HB 108 – passed the House 131-2; companion bill SB 61 – passed the Senate 44-0.

• Criminal Procedure - Expungement - No Finding and Case Terminated Without Finding – HB 187 – passed the House 133-0; companion bill SB 320 passed the Senate 41-0.

• Criminal Procedure - Motion to Reduce Duration of Sentence - Repeal of Sentencing Date Limitation – SB 162 - passed the Senate 45-0; companion bill HB 876 was withdrawn by the sponsor.

• Correctional Services - Restrictive Housing - Individuals with Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities – HB 310 – passed the House 132-0; no action on companion bill SB 268.

* Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing – Limitations – HB 921 - passed Second Reading in the House with Amendments

• One bill (SB 323) passed Senate earlier in the session.

Gun Violence Prevention – 4 of 6 bills moving

• Criminal Law - Firearm Crimes - Machine Gun Convertible Pistols – SB 334 – passed the Senate 28-16; no action on companion bill HB 577.

• Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act - HB 83 – passed the House 89-32; no action on companion SB 20.

• One bill (SB 775) passed the Senate earlier this session

Healthcare – 3 of 7 bills moving

• Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards - Sex Designation (Birth Certificate Modernization Act) – SB 626 – received a Favorable Report by Senate Finance and Judicial Proceedings Committees; its Second Reading vote in the Senate was postponed twice.

• Two bills (HB 372 and SB 169) passed their respective chambers earlier this session.

Time to Bring Remaining Priority Bills to a Vote

For those priority bills that have not yet come out of committee in the chamber of origin, we must renew our efforts to contact your lawmakers on the relevant committees seeking a (favorable) vote. Also, bills voted out of committee must be brought to a vote on the House or Senate Floor before close of Tuesday's sessions.

All alerts requested by our Issue Leads can be found on our Take Action page, along with information on the bills and sample messages to send lawmakers.  This is the last opportunity before Crossover to reach out to your representatives and make an impact on their vote.

Actions on uulmd.org/take-action