HB 412 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Elections - Local Boards of Elections - Open Meeting Requirements (Local Boards of Elections Transparency Act)

HB 412 requires Maryland's local election boards and canvassing boards to post meeting agendas, public testimony, and materials for votes online at least 48 hours before meetings (or as soon as possible in emergencies). It mandates live video streaming of all public meetings, except for off-site visits, project inspections, or site visits, and requires maintaining unedited video archives for five years. These rules apply directly to local election boards handling absentee ballots and canvassing boards overseeing vote counting. The bill aims to increase public transparency in election administration by making meeting details and proceedings more accessible.

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

May 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Elections - Local Boards of Elections and Boards of Canvassers - Open Meeting Requirements (Local Boards of Elections Transparency Act) → Third - Elections - Local Boards of Elections - Open Meeting Requirements (Local Boards of Elections Transparency Act) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the requirements for local election boards to make meeting agendas and materials publicly available online at least 48 hours in advance, with emergency exceptions. It also requires live video streaming of open meetings and maintains archived recordings for 5 years. The bill adds a committee report indicating favorable action with amendments and updates the bill's chapter designation.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on local election board transparency requirements, with no changes to the fundamental applicability beyond adding procedural updates and video streaming mandates.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for local boards to make meeting agendas and materials publicly available on their websites at least 48 hours before meetings, with exceptions for emergencies or natural disasters.

Added requirement for local boards to provide live video streaming of open meetings, with specific exemptions for off-site meetings, project site visits, and inspections.

Added requirement for local boards to maintain complete and unedited archived video recordings of open meetings for a minimum of 5 years after the meeting date.

Added requirement for boards of canvassers to provide live video streaming of the canvass process and maintain archived video recordings for 5 years after completion.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report indicating favorable action with amendments and updated house action status to adopted.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 303

executive

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

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 (131-0-6)

house of delegates

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors