# Maryland HB 1001: Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions Maryland HB 1001, Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dana Jones (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 467) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1001-2026RS - 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 1001 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Election Law - Authority at Polling Places, Early Voting Centers, and Counting Centers - Revisions - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 467 - Sponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Elections, Arrests, Certifications, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., Elections Supervisors, Elections, State Board of, Evaluations and Reviews, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Political Candidates, Reports, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Standards and Best Practices, Voting -see also- Absentee and Mail-In Voting, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (302 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Broader observation at counting centers: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, boards of canvassers and local board staff can be observed as they complete each part of the canvass. Candidates on the county ballot, political parties, political committees, and certain campaign‑finance filers may name observers at each counting center. Other members of th… - Election officials direct police at polls: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, on‑duty police at a polling place must follow orders from the election judge or election administrators. An officer who arrests someone under such an order is protected as if the arrest were backed by a valid warrant. Police must also protect challengers and watchers while t… - More access for accredited watchers: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, more groups can name accredited challengers and watchers, including the State Board, local boards, candidates on the ballot, political parties, political committees, and certain campaign‑finance filers. Accredited observers can enter 30 minutes before polls open, stay all da… - Rules and limits for poll challengers: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, challengers and watchers may not ask or try to learn how a voter voted, talk with voters inside, assist voters, or handle original documents or voting machines. Election judges or the local election director can eject any observer who breaks these rules. Nonaccredited people… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-11 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 130 | 0 | 5 | | 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 40 | 0 | 4 | | 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 132 | 0 | 4 | ## Actions (15) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 467 - 2026-04-11: Passed Enrolled (House) - 2026-04-11: Third Reading Passed (130-0) (House) - 2026-04-11: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House) - 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (40-0) (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {303128/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (132-0) (House) - 2026-03-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {693227/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-02-11: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-02-06: First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_467_hb1001e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1001e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1001t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1001f.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_467_hb1001e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1001e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1001t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1001f.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-HB1001-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).