Maryland General Assembly

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that specific Maryland districting standards, such as compactness and equal population, apply only to state legislative districts and not to congressional districts. It also authorizes the General Assembly to grant the Supreme Court of Maryland original jurisdiction to review the state's congressional districting plan. Additionally, the amendment states that the Maryland Constitution does not provide its own criteria for drawing congressional district boundaries, leaving those decisions to federal laws. The measure would be put to a vote by Maryland voters in November 2026.

This bill withdraws and repeals specific sections of a previous law that proposed a constitutional amendment regarding collective bargaining for state employees. By removing these sections, the legislation effectively cancels the plan to alter the state constitution on this issue. The bill also amends the remaining part of the original act, which was contingent on the successful passage and voter ratification of the now-withdrawn constitutional proposal. This action is taken to prevent duplicate or conflicting legal measures from remaining in effect.

SB 426 modifies Maryland's Public Information Act to restrict public access to specific divorce-related records. It requires custodians to deny inspection of divorce applications, financial records submitted during proceedings, divorce settlements, and custody orders (Section 4-305.1(B)). However, it allows access to these records for the parties directly involved ("persons in interest"), their legal representatives, or individuals authorized by court order (Section 4-305.1(C)). The bill explicitly excludes final divorce decrees from public inspection (Section 4-305.1(A)). This change takes effect October 1, 2026.

HB 2102 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace the current legislative redistricting process with a citizen-based Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Convention. This 188-member body would be elected by county voters every ten years to draw new state and federal district maps, subject to strict eligibility rules that bar current or aspiring elected officials, party staff, and lobbyists from serving. The General Assembly retains the power to challenge a certified map plan in court, but if no challenge is filed or the Supreme Court of Maryland upholds the plan, it automatically becomes law. Additionally, the bill mandates that every state legislative district for the House of Delegates must consist of exactly three single-member delegate districts.

SB 2102 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an independent Legislative and Congressional Redistricting and Apportionment Commission, which would take over the process of drawing state legislative and congressional district maps from the General Assembly. The bill requires that all House of Delegates districts be single-member units and sets specific standards for map drawing, including prohibitions against considering political party affiliation or the residence of incumbent officeholders when creating boundaries. If the commission fails to adopt a plan or if the legislature rejects the proposed maps, the Supreme Court of Maryland would gain original jurisdiction to establish the final district plans. The legislation also mandates public hearings and transparency requirements for the redistricting process, with the constitutional changes subject to voter approval in the November 2026 general election.