# Maryland SB 0029: Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures

Maryland SB 0029, Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Cheryl C. Kagan (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 439) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0029-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0029
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-08-20
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 439
- Sponsor: Cheryl C. Kagan (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: 2 (179 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Clear ballot questions with public review: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, every ballot question must have a bold short title, a plain-language summary of the change, the choices, and a short result statement for each choice. Officials must prepare and certify this information by July 1 before the general election; if they miss, the circuit court c…
- Full ballot texts posted 90 days early: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, the State Board and local boards must post the full text of proposed constitutions and amendments, referred state laws, and county charters and measures for at least 90 days before the general election. Each posting must include a link to the official General Assembly or cou…
- Plain-English petitions with full text access: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, the State Board uses plain-language rules for petition guidance and forms. It must avoid passive voice, legal jargon, and double negatives. The Board gives the public free guidelines, instructions, and sample petition forms on request. Each signature page must have a short t…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Cheryl C. Kagan (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 135 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 439
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (135-0) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-24: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-02-05: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Hearing 1/21 at 11:00 a.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2025-08-20: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_439_sb0029t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-02-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0029t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0029f.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_439_sb0029t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0029t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0029f.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0029-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).