HB 864 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

St. Mary's County - Judgeships - Circuit Courts

HB 864 increases the number of resident judges for St. Mary’s County Circuit Court from 3 to 4, effective October 1, 2025. The bill directly affects St. Mary’s County’s judicial system by adding one permanent judgeship to address caseload needs. It amends Maryland’s Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code (Section 1-503) to reflect this change in the county’s authorized judgeship count. This is a procedural adjustment to judicial staffing, not a new policy or program.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Last action Feb 28, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - St. Mary's County - Judgeships - Circuit Courts → Third - St. Mary's County - Judgeships - Circuit Courts · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to renumber the list of Maryland counties and their circuit court judgeships, updating the sequence to reflect a new organizational structure. The bill also added committee approval and adoption status, indicating it has progressed from first reading to second reading and received a favorable committee report. The effective date remains unchanged at October 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Renumbered the list of counties and their assigned number of circuit court judgeships from items (5) through (23) to items (2) through (23), reorganizing the sequence for clarity.

Added committee report status showing the Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report and the House adopted the bill, with second reading occurring on February 22, 2025.

Changed the bill title reference from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' to reflect its progression toward final enactment.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

132–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 137

Feb 24, 2025

D Democratic98

94 Yea 4

95% Yea

R Republican39

38 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Judiciary

lower

Feb 24, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (132-0-5)

house of delegates

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors