Video & Transcript Research : 'Senate streaming session for Thursday, February 12, 2026'
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Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:01:48.720><c> we</c><00:01:48.960><c> will</c> you, Senator, for that. we will you, Senator,
- </c> this 12th day of February, 2026. this 12th day of February, 2026.
- Thank you all for joining us. All right, Senators.
- </c> >> Thank you, Senator. Thank you for that. >> Thank you, Senator.
- 42:44.560><c> the</c><00:42:44.800><c> Senate</c> session, this bill passed the Senate session, this
Summary:
The Senate convened with 39 members present, heard the invocation from Reverend Meredith West, and journalized her remarks. The chamber then recognized several guest groups and observances, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Second District Corridor 1 for “100 Q’s in Annapolis Day,” the Kent Island High School boys lacrosse team for winning the Maryland 2A state championship, Arts Day participants, Rural Maryland Council members, Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition advocates, and visitors from the Maryland Judiciary. Senators also spoke about the meaning of Kente cloth during Black History Month, and the chamber recognized a birthday and thanked protocol staff for Valentine’s Day decorations.
The Senate’s featured presentation was the annual Lincoln Day speech by the Senator from the 37th District. The senator reflected on Abraham Lincoln’s life, political career, and moral leadership, emphasizing his self-education, opposition to the expansion of slavery, the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg, and the idea that the nation’s founding principles of liberty and equality guided Lincoln through the Civil War. The minority leader praised the address, and the Senate agreed without objection to journalize the remarks.
After the ceremonial portion, the Senate moved to business. Bond initiatives on the calendar were read and referred to the Capital Budget Subcommittee. The Executive Nominations Committee reported favorably on a list of recess appointees, including gubernatorial secretaries, district court judges, and a state board appointee, and the report was special ordered to Monday, February 16, 2026. The chamber then began second-reader consideration of Budget and Taxation bills: Senate Bill 25, altering the cyber security technology and service tax credit, was amended and ordered printed for third reading; Senate Bill 58, creating a property tax credit for retail service station conversions, was discussed with questions about who would receive the credit and why the incentive was needed, and consideration was ongoing when the transcript ended.
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Transcript Highlights:
- Annapolis, Maryland, February 11th, 2026. >> Recognize the deputy majority leader. >> Thank you, Madam
- 12, 2026, referred to Appropriations. >> Introductory House bond initiatives number 33, February 12,
- </c> >> Thank you for working it out and for >> Thank you for working it out and for giving
- </c> for. Correct. for. Correct.
- . for. for.
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Transcript Highlights:
- . >> All right, senators. We are very pleased today, on Thursday, February 19th, to have...
- >> Senate<00:12:19.440><c> Bill</c><00:12:19.760><c> 971.
- </c><00:12:20.959><c> Senator</c><00:12:21.360><c> Hayes,</c><00:12:21.839><c> natural</c> >> Senate
- Senate Bill 136 is on third reading for >> Senate Bill 136 is on third reading for final<00:20
- Senate Bill 145 is on third reading for >> Senate Bill 145 is on third reading for final<00:21
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Transcript Highlights:
- Enjoy your visit and thanks for your work this session. >> Yes, Senator from Montgomery County, 17th
- Enjoy your visit and thanks for your work this session. >> Yes, Senator from Montgomery County, 17th
- Enjoy your visit and thanks for your work this session. >> Yes, Senator from Montgomery County, 17th
- Enjoy your visit and thanks for your work this session. >> Yes, Senator from Montgomery County, 17th
- I move the Senate of Maryland stand adjourned until Friday, February 6th for a pro forma session at 11
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Reverend Carissa Serber, and journalized her remarks. Members then welcomed several guests and groups in the gallery, including Maryland Community Action Partnership advocates, Cecil College students and Dr. Mary Bolt, Cecil County Executive Adam Strait, the Maryland Association of Justice, Faith Baptist School students, and several interns and staff members. The chamber also introduced Senate Bill 585 and a bond initiative for the Active Achievers Youth Center, both of which were referred to the appropriate committees or subcommittees.
The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 255, the Voting Rights Act of 2026 for counties and municipal corporations. Senators questioned the bill’s scope, especially whether it would affect county commissioner election methods, who could bring suit, what “vote dilution” means, and whether the measure was tied to district maps or candidate filings. The sponsor explained that the bill creates a state framework for the federal Voting Rights Act, provides standing rather than a remedy, and applies when a protected class believes its vote has been diluted; political party was said not to be a protected class. The committee amendment was adopted without objection, and the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading.
On third reading, Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 29 passed with constitutional majorities. Senate Bill 93 also passed. Senate Bill 141, dealing with election misinformation, disinformation, and deep fakes, was moved back to second reader for a technical amendment and then special ordered to Tuesday. The Senate also held a lighthearted recorded vote on Seahawks versus Patriots, with the Seahawks winning 28 to 8, and then received committee scheduling announcements for upcoming hearings and voting sessions.
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Transcript Highlights:
- See who we have for Recognize the Senator from District 4.
- I have a feeling for Senate Bill 376.
- Senate Bill 443 is on third reading for final passage. Senators, this is an emergency bill.
- Senate Bill 745 is Senator McKay, Police Training Autism and Dementia Lead Act of 2026.
- morning at 9 a.m. for a voting session.
Summary:
The Maryland Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Pastor Delman Coates, and received several guest introductions, including the doctor of the day, student visitors, homeschool advocates, community leaders, and the Braver Angels group. The chamber also journalized remarks welcoming Dr. Coates and recognized a prayer breakfast, with members offering brief thanks and acknowledgments before moving to legislative business.
The Senate handled several messages and nominations, including withdrawal of an appointment, Johns Hopkins Police Accountability Board nominations, and Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners nominations, all referred to Executive Nominations. The chamber also received House Bill 156 and an Executive Nominations Committee report recommending confirmation of a slate of appointments, which was special ordered for later consideration. A motion to return Senate Bill 463 to second reader and special order it for Tuesday was adopted without objection, and Senate Bill 473 was also special ordered for Tuesday.
On third reading, the Senate passed a large number of bills, including measures on ignition interlock participation, school construction, port hearing notice, veteran status notation for educators, correctional officer scholarships, benefits exploitation, veterans trust fund applications, presidential electors, advance enrollment for children of active service members, retired law enforcement handgun permits, high-risk pregnancy discharge communication, charitable organization audit thresholds, child care criminal history checks, water pollution discharge permits, blockchain task force creation, franchise registration reform, licensing portability for foreign service members and spouses, Medicaid collaborative care cost-sharing, gift card fraud, school for the deaf board membership, vehicle dealer hearings, massage therapy advertising, protective body armor reporting, lithium-ion battery safety, pharmacy prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, human relevant research fund contributions, state and higher education email requirements, and auto insurance producer commissions. Most passed unanimously or by wide margins; Senate Bill 348 and Senate Bill 585 passed with 30 and 32 votes in favor, respectively.
Senate Bill 140, concerning benefits exploitation, drew extended debate over constitutionality and pending litigation, with one senator citing an Attorney General opinion and another citing a Supreme Court case on neutral principles in church property disputes; the bill ultimately passed with 40 votes. Members later changed several votes on the floor, including on Senate Bills 172, 376, 428, and 48. The session ended while the clerk was beginning to read Senate Bill 629, with the remaining calendar not completed in the transcript.
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Transcript Highlights:
- </c> >> Annapolis, Maryland, February 15, 2026.
- Introductory House bond initiatives number 45, February 19th, 2026, referred to appropriations. >> Thank
- 19th, 2026, referred number 44, February 19th, 2026, referred to<00:02:52.800><c> appropriations.
- Has anything changed since we did it two sessions ago? >> Thanks for that question.
- a work session will be meeting for a work session immediately<01:11:33.760><c> following</c><01:11:34.640
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Transcript Highlights:
- The clerk will read the journal from the previous day. >> Annapolis, Maryland, February 27th, 2026. >
- ,</c> >> Annapolis, Maryland, February 27th, >> Annapolis, Maryland, February 27th, 2026.
- I thank the gentleman for sharing the amendment with me before session today.
- I couldn't go word for word when I checked, having only received it at the beginning of session.
- The Health Committee will meet at 1:00 p.m. for bill hearings followed by a voting session.
Summary:
The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause.
The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom.
Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.
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