SB 255 — Maryland
Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations
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.
Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 157 · Apr 28, 2026
Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.
Committees: Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate); Government, Labor, and Elections (House of Delegates)
Updated May 6, 2026
Timeline
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Jan 16, 2026 · Senate
Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m.
Jan 19, 2026 · Senate
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Favorable with Amendments {
Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Motion Laid Over (Senator Hershey) Adopted
Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Favorable with Amendments {
Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Third Reading Passed
Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
Feb 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
Mar 24, 2026 · House of Delegates
Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Apr 10, 2026 · House of Delegates
Favorable with Amendments {
Apr 10, 2026 · House of Delegates
Committee Amendment Withdrawn
Apr 10, 2026 · House of Delegates
Substitute Committee Amendment {
Apr 10, 2026 · House of Delegates
Favorable with Amendments Adopted
Apr 10, 2026 · House of Delegates
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Apr 10, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Third Reading Passed
Apr 11, 2026 · House of Delegates
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Senate Requests House Recede
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Kagan, Harris and Simonaire)
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
Senate Requests House Recede
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Kagan, Harris and Simonaire)
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
House Refuses Recede
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wells, Fair and Stewart)
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
House Refuses Recede
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wells, Fair and Stewart)
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Conference Committee Report {
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Conference Committee Report {
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Third Reading Passed
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Conference Committee Report {
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Stein) Adopted
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
Third Reading Passed
Apr 13, 2026 · House of Delegates
Passed Enrolled
Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 157
Apr 28, 2026 · executive
Sponsored by Charles Sydnor, Kevin Harris
Senate vote — 30–15
On Third Reading (Emerg) · Feb 7, 2026 · result: pass
30 yea · 15 nay · 2 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
Senate vote — 33–13
Motion to Limit Debate · Mar 27, 2026 · result: pass
33 yea · 13 nay · 1 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 35–86
FLA Del. Hornberger /493427/1 · Mar 27, 2026 · result: fail
35 yea · 86 nay · 20 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 34–92
FLA Del. Morgan, M. /123028/1 · Mar 27, 2026 · result: fail
34 yea · 92 nay · 15 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 36–88
FLA Del. Morgan, M. /663122/1 · Mar 27, 2026 · result: fail
36 yea · 88 nay · 17 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 36–86
FLA Del. Buckel /183626/1 · Mar 27, 2026 · result: fail
36 yea · 86 nay · 19 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
Senate vote — 32–14
Bill is on Third Reading for Final Passage. · Mar 27, 2026 · result: pass
32 yea · 14 nay · 1 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 37–88
FLA Del. Buckel /513920/1 · Mar 27, 2026 · result: fail
37 yea · 88 nay · 16 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 94–35
On Third Reading (Emerg/Amend) · Mar 27, 2026 · result: pass
94 yea · 35 nay · 12 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 37–90
FLA Del. Buckel /553021/1 · Mar 27, 2026 · result: fail
37 yea · 90 nay · 14 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 90–37
Previous Question · Apr 2, 2026 · result: pass
90 yea · 37 nay · 14 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 91–19
On Third Reading and Final Passage (CCR Adp) · Apr 2, 2026 · result: pass
91 yea · 19 nay · 31 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 27, 2026 (partial import — not yet the full session). Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.