HB 322 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Election Law - Municipal Elections - Administration

HB 322 authorizes Maryland's State Administrator of Elections to enter into memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with municipalities. This allows the state administrator to collaboratively support local election administration, such as providing resources or guidance. The bill directly affects municipalities handling their own elections and the State Administrator's office. It adds Section 2-103(e) to election law, creating a formal mechanism for this state-local partnership without changing voting procedures or election rules. The bill is procedural, focusing on administrative coordination rather than policy changes to voting.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Election Law - State Administrator of Elections - Municipal Elections → Third - Election Law - Municipal Elections - Administration · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the State Administrator of Elections' authority to enter into memoranda of understanding with municipalities and lease voting equipment to them, while simultaneously removing the local board of elections' authority to lease voting systems. It also modifies municipal election administration requirements, including changing the deadline for requesting ballot inclusion from 18 months to 9 months before the filing deadline and adding voter registration and voting to the list of election administration procedures that municipalities must certify.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from focusing on State Administrator-municipality collaboration to also include equipment leasing authority, while removing local board leasing authority. Applicability now includes municipal corporations alongside municipalities.

ELIGIBILITY

State Administrator can now enter memoranda of understanding with municipal corporations (in addition to municipalities) to support election administration.

REQUIREMENT

State Administrator authorized to lease voting systems or equipment to municipal corporations for use in municipal elections.

Removed authority of local boards of elections to lease voting systems to governmental or nongovernmental entities within the county.

Added voter registration and voting to the list of election administration procedures that municipalities must certify as consistent with State and county election procedures.

TIMELINE

Changed municipal election ballot request deadline from 18 months to 9 months before the individual certificate of candidacy filing deadline.

FISCAL

Lease proceeds from State Administrator equipment leases must be distributed to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

40–5

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

32 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican13

8 Yea 5 Nay

61% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 124

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (40-5-1)

senate

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Feb 24, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (97-34-6)

house of delegates

Jan 10, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors