# Maryland HB 0044: Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures

Maryland HB 0044, Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jessica Feldmark (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-04-13 (Referred Rules) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0044-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0044
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-08-20
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Referred Rules
- Sponsor: Jessica Feldmark (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Elections, Ballots -see also- Abs&MailInBallots; Abs&MailInVoting, Chartered Counties -see also- AACo; BCo; CecilCo; etc., Charters, Code Counties -see also- AllegCo; CarolineCo; ChsCo; etc., Constitutional Amendments, Elections, State Board of, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Language -see also- Communications; Literacy, Petitions, Public Information, Referendum, Rules and Regulations, Signatures, Time
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (134 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jessica Feldmark (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 6 |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-04-13: Referred Rules (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-01-16: Hearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2025-08-20: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Third Reading, 2026-04-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0044t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0044f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0044t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0044f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0044-2026RS (as of 2026-10-16).