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SB 267 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Election Law - Petitions for the Formation of a New Political Party - Process

SB 267 modifies Maryland's election law to change when petitions for new political parties can be filed and to prevent resubmitting rejected signatures. It restricts filing to specific periods: during the year of a presidential election (excluding closed registration times), during the year of a gubernatorial election (excluding the same closed periods), and during special election periods. Crucially, it prohibits resubmitting signatures from any petition previously rejected for not meeting legal requirements. This directly affects individuals or groups seeking to form new political parties in Maryland. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Sep 19, 2024 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Election Law - Petitions for the Formation of a New Political Party - Process → Third - Election Law - Petitions for the Formation of a New Political Party - Process · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends the process for filing petitions to form new political parties in the state. The main change reorganizes the filing timeline rules while keeping the core requirements intact. The bill also adds a favorable committee report and adoption status, indicating it has progressed through the legislative process.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on election law procedures for political party formation petitions, with no change to the fundamental purpose or applicability.
TIMELINE

Reorganized the filing period rules for new political party petitions, restructuring how exceptions apply to presidential, gubernatorial, and special election years.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report and adoption status information showing the bill received a favorable recommendation and was adopted by the Senate.

Changed document header formatting from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' and adjusted line numbering throughout the text.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2025

How they voted

43–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 46
Feb 18, 2025
D Democratic33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 283
executive
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Ways and Means
lower
Mar 18, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (123-13-3)
house of delegates
Mar 7, 2025
Committee
Referred Ways and Means
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-0-3)
senate
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Sep 19, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.