Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so<00:15:16.160> much<00:15:16.240> for<00:15:16.399> joining<00:15:16.639
• Uh yes,<01:15:00.080> recognized<01:15:00.480> Senator<01:15:00.719> from<01:15:
• >> Can<01:15:02.000> I<01:15:02.080> ask<01:15:02.159> the<01:15:02.320>
• > of<01:15:12.400> times<01:15:12.560> when<01:15:12.800> we<01:15:12.960
• > and<01:15:20.320> I<01:15:20.480> only<01:15:20.719> say<01:15:20.800><

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and handled several ceremonial and introductory matters before moving into committee reports. The chamber welcomed the doctor of the day, recognized an intern and a guest in the gallery, extended birthday wishes to Senator Chris West, and received remarks from the Romanian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Andre Moraru, who emphasized Romania’s strategic partnership with the United States, NATO cooperation, investment ties, energy projects, and support for Ukraine. Senators also briefly noted Maryland’s military and diplomatic ties to Romania. The ambassador’s remarks were journalized, and members were given time to meet with him off the floor. The Senate then took up a series of second-reading bills, mostly from the Finance Committee, adopting committee amendments and favorable reports without objection. Among the measures advanced were Senate Bill 39 on behavioral health reimbursement rate methodology and a work group for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers; Senate Bill 605 directing the Public Service Commission to study broadband and VoIP oversight; Senate Bill 721, Ralph’s Act, providing expedited DDA/Medicaid eligibility for certain recently relocated individuals; and Senate Bill 891 on perinatal mental health screening, coverage, training, and reporting. Each was amended in committee and ordered printed for third reading. The Senate also advanced several House bills, including House Bill 427 extending the task force on responsible use of natural psychedelic substances and adding an HBCU representative; House Bill 480 requiring transportation network companies to maintain written deactivation policies; House Bill 532 requiring overtime pay for firefighters employed by governmental units after 168 hours in a 28-day period; House Bill 816 reducing the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund assessment cap from 3% to 1% and authorizing an affordability program; House Bill 829 requiring human trafficking awareness training for certain for-hire and rideshare drivers; House Bill 862 requiring a two-person crew for certain freight rail operations in shared corridors, contingent on similar action in neighboring states; and House Bill 999 revising Class 9 limited distillery license rules and production limits. Most of these bills were reported favorably, with no objections, and were ordered to third reading or passed for third reading as applicable.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1, 2026, instead of April 1, 2024.
• Let's go to uh<01:15:00.560> calendar<01:15:01.000> 25,<01:15:01.920> calendar<01
• :15:02.200> 25.
• Clerk<01:15:04.320> will<01:15:04.680> read the<01:15:08.120> first<01:15:08.400
• House<01:15:10.320> Bill<01:15:10.520> 118,<01:15:11.280> Delegate<01:15:11.680>

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and proceeded through a series of committee reports and floor actions, mostly on House bills. Several measures were advanced without opposition, often after brief floor explanations and unanimous adoption of committee amendments. Topics included behavioral health rate-setting modernization (HB 772), expedited Medicaid eligibility for relocated individuals with developmental disabilities (HB 1015), perinatal behavioral health screening and coverage (HB 1118), mammogram notices about breast arterial calcification (HB 1364), menopause provider training and coverage (HB 1365), cannabis licensing and training changes (HB 622), cemetery sale and transfer oversight (HB 892), travel services insurance requirements (HB 994), cash transaction rounding authorization (HB 1026), specie as legal tender (HB 1312), menstrual hygiene product ingredient labeling (HB 1357), health care quality reporting and a health centralization commission (HB 1372), special pediatric hospital transfer and review procedures (HB 1376), telehealth continuity of care for out-of-state counselors (HB 1483), and child placement protections for unlicensed settings and pediatric overstay patients (HB 1559). Most of these bills were ordered passed for third reading after the chamber adopted the committee amendments and favorable reports. The Senate also considered environmental and consumer-related measures. HB 146 would delay implementation dates for onsite wastewater system regulation and licensing requirements, while striking provisions on inspections and pumping for rental properties and sales. HB 254, a Department of Natural Resources bill, was described as facilitating community engagement in planning and development of departmental projects. HB 969 on retail electric vehicle fuel sales and charging equipment requirements was also taken up and reported favorably. In each of these cases, members noted no committee opposition and no fiscal impact, and the bills were advanced. Two bills were set aside rather than immediately acted on. HB 1037, concerning a Public Service Commission study on broadband and voice over internet protocol service, was special ordered until Friday at the request of a senator. HB 1312, the specie/legal tender bill, prompted questions about the definition of specie and was also special ordered for consideration the next morning. No roll-call votes were recorded in the excerpt; actions were taken by unanimous consent on amendments and committee reports, with multiple bills ordered to third reading.

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:15:06.399> of<00:15:06.560> a<00:15:06.800> violation<00:15:07.199> of
• Amendment two<00:15:40.560> conforms<00:15:40.959> the<00:15:41.120> bill<00:15:
• There<00:15:43.040> is<00:15:43.199> no<00:15:43.360> phys<00:15:43.839>
• :15:52.880> committee<00:15:53.120> amendment<00:15:53.440> and<00:15:53.519>
• <00:15:57.360> Without<00:15:57.759> objection,<00:15:58.079> the<00:15:58.160><

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Rabbi Ari Goldstein, whose remarks were journalized at the request of the senator from District 33. The chamber then recognized the doctor of the day, Dr. Maryann Lamont, for her 50 years in medicine and her work in neurology and stroke care, and also thanked a legislative aide, Samantha Briggs, who is leaving for law school. The presiding officer noted a quorum was present and moved into the day’s floor work. The Senate handled several messages and committee reports, including a conference committee appointment on Senate Bill 18, which concerns provisional social work licensure. In Finance, the chamber advanced Senate Bill 246 on Health Services Cost Review Commission member terms, Senate Bill 370 on acupuncture board revisions, Senate Bill 564 creating a Division of Data Protection in the Attorney General’s office and a related work group, Senate Bill 782 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, Senate Bill 808 on health insurance provider panel requirements, Senate Bill 849 on agricultural equipment warranties, Senate Bill 867 on the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission, and Senate Bill 982 on mutual insurance holding companies converting back to mutual insurers. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or conforming amendments, which were adopted without objection, and each was ordered printed for third reading. The committee also considered several House bills with Senate cross-files or identical measures. These included House Bill 118 on money transmitter licensing, House Bills 339 and 512 on Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners compensation, House Bill 1100 on telecommunications infrastructure protections, House Bill 1395 on agricultural equipment warranties, House Bill 1473 creating Maryland’s Future Board, House Bill 226 on Department of Disabilities housing programs, House Bill 278 codifying the Longevity Ready Maryland plan, and House Bill 746 on collaborative care model coverage and cost-sharing limits. In each case, the committee reports were adopted, amendments were approved where offered, and the bills were advanced to third reading or passed for third reading, with no recorded opposition on the floor.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, April 6, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:15:15.040> don't<00:15:15.280> think<00:15:15.440> that's<00:15:15.640>
• I believe<00:15:33.839> at<00:15:33.920> least<00:15:34.200> a<00:15:34.240>
• But<00:15:37.600> it<00:15:37.720> should<00:15:38.000> be<00:15:38.120> more
• <00:15:38.839> It<00:15:38.959> could<00:15:39.200> be<00:15:39.320> more
• I<00:15:41.640> do<00:15:42.000> think<00:15:42.320> we<00:15:42.440> had

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 6, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, received an invocation from Pastor Shannon Watkins of Souls One Outreach Cathedral in Cumberland, and welcomed several guests and student pages. The chamber also announced the week’s schedule for the final days of session, including likely double sessions later in the week and a possible Saturday hold. Administrative items included the reading of House messages, a favorable executive nominations report that was special ordered for Tuesday, and the introduction of several House bills and Senate bills on the calendar. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 841, the Utility Relief Reducing Energy Load Information for Every Family Act. Senators discussed energy affordability, ratepayer relief, utility costs, data center growth, in-state generation, and the role of programs such as RGGI, EmPower, and the RPS. Supporters said the bill provides a comprehensive short- and long-term response, including consumer transparency and low-income relief, while critics argued it did not go far enough and should have included stronger relief or pauses on renewable energy mandates. After debate and several explanations of vote, the Senate passed SB 841 by a constitutional majority, 38-affirmative votes. Earlier in the session, Senate Bill 213 on state procurement transparency and procedures also passed with 40 affirmative votes. After SB 841 passed, the Senate took up House Bill 1532, a conforming companion to the utility relief measure. The committee offered an amendment to align HB 1532 with SB 841, the amendment was adopted without objection, and the bill then passed on third reading. Senators who explained their votes largely echoed the same themes from the SB 841 debate, with some emphasizing the need for more relief and others stressing the bill’s broader policy changes and regional energy-market constraints.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, April 3, 2026, 957, house, all

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, April 3, 2026, 960, senate, all

Keywords: MS House Floor - 3 April, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Saturday, April 4th, 2026. Saturday, April 4th, 2026.
• Sunday, April 5th, 2026.
• Tuesday, April 7th, 2026.
• Friday, April 10th, 2026.
• Sunday, April 12th, 2026.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 3 April, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:15:31.640> sheriff<00:15:31.959> to<00:15:32.079> remove,<00:15:32.800>
• Below<00:15:36.400> 32°,<00:15:37.839> if<00:15:38.000> there's<00:15:38.240>
• c><00:15:40.600> all<00:15:40.760> live<00:15:40.920> in<00:15:41.000> the
• <00:15:42.200> happens<00:15:42.680> quite<00:15:42.959> a<00:15:43.000>
• 15:32.920> let<01:15:33.040> me<01:15:33.240> also<01:15:33.560> say<01:15

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, April 3, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 113 members present and took up House Bill 774, a local enabling bill on residential landlord-tenant good-cause termination and eviction standards. The sponsor and floor leader described the bill as intended to create stability for families and communities by limiting nonrenewal of leases without good cause, while emphasizing that it would only take effect if adopted by local counties. The bill’s stated good-cause grounds include repeated late rent payment, lease violations, and other specified reasons. Several amendments were offered and debated. One amendment sought to require tenants to keep paying rent, late fees, and other lease obligations during any legal challenge to a nonrenewal; the floor leader argued this was redundant because existing law already requires payment during holdover proceedings, and the House rejected the amendment by roll call, 79 in the negative. Another amendment added a good-cause ground where housing is tied to employment on the property and the employment ends; the floor leader accepted it as a friendly amendment, and it was adopted. A further amendment exempted short-term rentals such as VRBOs from the bill; it was also accepted as friendly and adopted. The House then rejected another amendment that would have changed the late-rent good-cause standard from four notices in a 12-month period to three. The sponsor argued the change would reduce the time and financial burden on small landlords, while the floor leader responded that the bill did not alter existing eviction timelines for nonpayment and that the current four-instance standard was appropriate. Finally, an amendment to extend access to the state’s eviction counsel fund to low-income landlords was offered, with the sponsor arguing for fairness to small property owners; the floor leader opposed it, saying the fund was created to represent low-income tenants and that most landlords are already represented. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on that amendment.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Coach Perry has been at Germantown High School for 15 years and served as the athletic director for the
• April Fools was I think yesterday, gentleman. April Fools was I think yesterday, gentleman.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 2 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Resolution No. 131 Senate Resolution No. 131 declaring April 2nd, 2026, as Drive to Arrive Day
• I'd ask that we skip item 14 on today's calendar and go to item 15 and have the title read. Mr.
• million for the Mississippi Historic... $2 million for the Mississippi Historic Site Preservation Fund, $15

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 2 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House<00:15:08.000> Bill<00:15:08.240> 1623,<00:15:09.560> Montgomery<00:15:10.079
• Recognize<00:15:18.320> the<00:15:18.360> Senator<00:15:18.560> from<00:15:18.680
• We've got<00:15:52.240> a<00:15:52.280> second<00:15:52.600> reading<00:15:52.800
• <00:15:54.400> This<00:15:54.600> is<00:15:55.240> report<00:15:55.640> number
• <01:15:36.680> the<01:15:36.720> things<01:15:36.960> that<01:15:37.680>

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation by Reverend J.C. Austin of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, and journalized the prayer. Members also introduced several guests and interns, including a shadow from the 45th District, a Legislative Black Caucus fellow, a ninth-grade author from Annapolis High School, a World Autism Acceptance Day group in the gallery, and a student shadowing the Senator from District 30. The chamber then moved to House bills on second reading and Senate bills on third reading. The Senate adopted favorable committee reports and passed several House bills without objection, including measures extending the Maryland Horse Industry Board sunset, requiring housing counseling information for certain first-time homebuyers, expanding the educator expense tax subtraction to full-time pre-K teachers, increasing funding for the State Library Resource Center, extending agricultural use assessment eligibility for community solar projects, allowing the Seat Pleasant Police Department to join the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System, authorizing changes to a tax sale legacy protection program, and granting special taxing authority for the Village of Drummond. The chamber also adopted seven amendments to Senate Bill 1007 on state debt authorizations and ordered it printed for third reading. On final passage, Senate Bill 956 on Maryland Transportation Authority video toll collections passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 841, a major energy affordability and utility reform bill, with two committee amendments adopted. The bill was described as providing short-, medium-, and long-term rate relief, including changes to EmPOWER Maryland, utility cost recovery, data center tariffs, net metering, solar policy, transmission planning, battery storage, nuclear incentives, and low-income assistance. Debate began on the amended report, and a motion to lay the bill over was withdrawn while members discussed waiting on additional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:15:06.079> move<00:15:06.320> adoption<00:15:06.760> of<00:15:06.880> the
• amendment<00:15:07.920> and<00:15:08.040> the<00:15:08.120> favorable<00:15:08.560
• House<00:15:30.800> Bill<00:15:31.000> 472,<00:15:31.959> Delegate<00:15:32.440>
• <00:15:40.839> Uh<00:15:40.920> this<00:15:41.320> is<00:15:41.680> the
• > put<00:15:55.040> put<00:15:55.120> some<00:15:55.320> limits<00:15:55.640

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Father Mark Bilek of Westminster, introduced by the Senator from the 42nd District and praised by members for his community service and Lenten message of reconciliation. The prayer was journalized. The chamber then recognized several guests, including interns, family members, a shadowing student, and the doctor of the day, Dr. Ann Benfield, before moving to floor business. A scheduling note indicated a light floor agenda, with committee work later in the day and a longer floor session expected the next day. The Senate considered several second-reading committee reports and moved multiple bills to third reading, generally without objection. These included House Bill 229, increasing Maryland Transportation Authority bond capacity from $4 billion to $5 billion; House Bill 266, allowing resource-sharing revenues to support state communications infrastructure, with an amendment conforming it to Senate Bill 85; House Bill 472, extending and adjusting the theatrical production tax credit; House Bill 607, setting constitutional officers’ salaries; House Bill 810, creating a study on blockchain-based lease recordation verification with an amendment adding the Maryland Blockchain Association; House Bill 1095, granting a Calvert County property tax credit for former tobacco barns; House Bill 1142, creating a task force on county and municipal revenue structures; and House Bill 1165, addressing apprenticeship program accountability and completion. The Senate also advanced Senate Bill 956, authorizing the Maryland Transportation Authority to waive portions of video tolls or civil penalties on delinquent accounts, with a sponsor amendment. Members briefly joked about April Fools’ Day during the proceedings, but the chamber continued to adopt reports and amendments without recorded opposition. At the end of the session, leaders announced committee schedules for the afternoon and the next day, including Finance, Triple E, Budget and Taxation, and Judicial Proceedings meetings. The Senate then held a quorum call, confirmed 45 members present, and adjourned until Thursday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh... 14, 15, 16. 14, 15, 16. We'll pick up with Senator Fillingane. If he's here, here you go.
• Usually, they'll give you 15, 20 minutes.
• Uh, we're on paper until April 20th—I'm sorry, April 15th would be my hope.
• I'd like to call a Rules Committee meeting in the Pro Tem's office at 6:15. >> 6:15 this evening. >>
• 6:15 this evening.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• South Gallery and If you'll look in the South Gallery and help me honor and recognize former District 15
• resolution that we are recognizing and commending the Tammy Nichols TV show as a program that celebrates 15

Keywords: MS House Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: MS House Floor - 2 April, 2025; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 3 April, 2025; 10:00 AM, 925, all