# Maryland HB 0115: Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration Maryland HB 0115, Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jheanelle K. Wilkins (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 428) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0115-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland HB 0115 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Election Law - Individuals Released From State Correctional Facilities - Automatic Restoration of Voter Registration - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-07-23 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 428 - Sponsor: Jheanelle K. Wilkins (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Subjects: Elections, Addresses, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Elections, State Board of, Electronic Communication, Electronic Government, Ex-Offenders, Notices, Personal Identifying Information, Privacy, Public Safety and Correctional Services, Department of, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Standards and Best Practices, Voting -see also- Absentee and Mail-In Voting - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (163 yes, 143 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Automatic voter registration after prison release: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Maryland creates an automatic way to restore voter registration after release from a State correctional facility. By January 1, 2028, Public Safety and the State Board of Elections must have an electronic system running. Each month, Public Safety sends the Board a list of… - Voting rights notices after release: benefit, low. At release, Public Safety gives each person a voter registration form and discharge papers stating their voting rights are restored. Public Safety posts a clear notice on its website saying anyone no longer incarcerated has the right to vote. Public Safety also displays the same message on signs in… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jheanelle K. Wilkins (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Charlotte Crutchfield (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mary A. Lehman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sheree Sample-Hughes (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Melissa Wells (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 30 | 13 | 1 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Floor Amendment {743324/1 (Delegate Grammer) Rejected | fail | 33 | 97 | 7 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 100 | 33 | 3 | ## Actions (16) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 428 - 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (30-13) (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-03: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (100-33) (House) - 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-18: Floor Amendment {743324/1 (Delegate Grammer) Rejected (33-97) (House) - 2026-03-17: Motion Special Order until 03/18 (Delegate Grammer) Adopted (House) - 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {853623/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments 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) - 2025-07-23: Pre-filed (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_428_hb0115t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0115t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0115f.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 - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_428_hb0115t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0115t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0115f.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-HB0115-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).