Election Law - Campaign Finance Entities - Oversight and Control of Campaign Funds
SB 153 updates Maryland's campaign finance rules to strengthen financial oversight. It designates the treasurer as the sole financial steward of campaign finance entities, requiring all funds to be handled through them and prohibiting candidates from directly accessing or disbursing campaign funds. The bill allows treasurers to appoint authorized agents for disbursements and removes the chair’s authority to approve payments in most cases, instead requiring treasurer approval for all disbursements. These changes directly affect campaign committees, their treasurers, and candidates running for office in Maryland.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Sep 22, 2025
Signed May 12, 2026
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Third - Election Law - Campaign Finance Entities - Oversight and Control of Campaign Funds
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Enrolled - Election Law - Campaign Finance Entities - Oversight and Control of Campaign Funds
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3 edits
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May 12, 2026
MINOR
SB 153 was enacted into law as an Enrolled Bill, finalizing its transition from a proposed Senate Bill. The core policy change shifts the appointment authority for campaign committee leadership: candidates must now appoint the Chair and Treasurer, whereas the previous version allowed the Chair to be designated by the candidate or their representative. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the Treasurer is the financial steward of the campaign finance entity and modifies requirements for designating authorized agents to make disbursements.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the appointment process so that the candidate must appoint both the Chair and Treasurer of the authorized candidate campaign committee, replacing the previous flexibility where the Chair could be designated by the candidate or their representative.
Explicitly defined the Treasurer as the financial steward of the campaign finance entity, centralizing financial oversight.
Updated provisions regarding the designation of authorized agents to make disbursements, now authorizing the Treasurer, the candidate, or responsible officers to make these designations.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 30, 2026
How they voted
45–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 27, 2026
D
Democratic36
88% Yea
R
Republican13
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 441
executive
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Mar 30, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (105-33-4)
house of delegates
Mar 27, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (45-0-4)
senate
Mar 6, 2026
Committee
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Sep 22, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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