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MarylandSB 02552026 Regular SessionSenate

Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations

Sponsored By: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

ElectionsAttorney GeneralCivil Rights and Social EquityCounties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc.DiscriminationEmergency BillsHealth -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.MinoritiesMunicipal Corporations -see also- Annap; BaltPolitical CandidatesSafety -see also- Occupational SafetyVoting -see also- Absentee and Mail-In Voting

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Winning plaintiffs can recover legal fees

If you are a private plaintiff and you prevail, the court can make the county or city pay your legal costs. This includes reasonable attorney, expert, and court fees. You prevail when the county gives some or all of the relief you sought.

How courts judge vote dilution claims

The law sets a two-part test to prove a violation. There must be polarized voting and a voting method that dilutes a protected group, with a workable alternative available. Courts must use accepted methods to estimate group voting and review local races and ballot questions. Elections before a lawsuit carry more weight. Low turnout or past wins alone do not defeat a claim. A group’s spread-out geography does not bar a claim, but it can shape the remedy. Courts may weigh past discrimination and current barriers to civic life.

Local elections cannot dilute protected votes

The law bans counties and cities from using voting methods that weaken a protected group’s power. A protected class means voters in a race, color, or language minority group, or a mix of those groups. Polarized voting means those voters prefer different candidates than other voters. These rules apply only to county and city elections, not statewide races.

Who can sue and court remedies

The Maryland Attorney General or any person can sue in the county where the problem occurs. They can ask for an order to stop the practice, damages, or other relief. Courts can order tailored fixes and must judge all proposed remedies on their merits. But a court cannot force a county to adopt an election method that conflicts with county practices without that county’s consent. Courts may grant temporary relief before an election if the plaintiff is likely to win and a fix is workable.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Charles E. Sydnor

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Kevin M. Harris

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 585 • No: 663

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 32 • No: 14 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 91 • No: 19 • Other: 32

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted

Yes: 33 • No: 13 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/13/2026

Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Stein) Adopted

Yes: 90 • No: 37 • Other: 15

House vote • 4/11/2026

Floor Amendment {513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected

Yes: 37 • No: 88 • Other: 16

House vote • 4/11/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 94 • No: 35 • Other: 12

House vote • 4/11/2026

Floor Amendment {663122/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected

Yes: 36 • No: 88 • Other: 17

House vote • 4/11/2026

Floor Amendment {123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected

Yes: 34 • No: 92 • Other: 15

House vote • 4/11/2026

Floor Amendment {553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected

Yes: 37 • No: 90 • Other: 14

House vote • 4/11/2026

Floor Amendment {183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected

Yes: 36 • No: 86 • Other: 19

House vote • 4/11/2026

Floor Amendment {493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected

Yes: 35 • No: 86 • Other: 20

Senate vote • 2/10/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 30 • No: 15 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 157

    4/28/2026

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/13/2026Senate

  3. Third Reading Passed (91-19)

    4/13/2026House

  4. Motion Vote Previous Question (Delegate Stein) Adopted (90-37)

    4/13/2026House

  5. Conference Committee Report {233429/1 Adopted

    4/13/2026House

  6. Third Reading Passed (32-14)

    4/13/2026Senate

  7. Conference Committee Report {233429/1 Adopted

    4/13/2026Senate

  8. Motion Limit Debate (Senator King) Adopted (33-13)

    4/13/2026Senate

  9. Conference Committee Report {233429/1

    4/13/2026Senate

  10. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wells, Fair and Stewart)

    4/13/2026Senate

  11. House Refuses Recede

    4/13/2026Senate

  12. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wells, Fair and Stewart)

    4/13/2026House

  13. House Refuses Recede

    4/13/2026House

  14. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Kagan, Harris and Simonaire)

    4/13/2026House

  15. Senate Requests House Recede

    4/13/2026House

  16. Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

    4/13/2026House

  17. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Kagan, Harris and Simonaire)

    4/13/2026Senate

  18. Senate Requests House Recede

    4/13/2026Senate

  19. Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

    4/13/2026Senate

  20. Third Reading Passed (94-35)

    4/11/2026House

  21. Floor Amendment {513920/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-88)

    4/11/2026House

  22. Floor Amendment {183626/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (36-86)

    4/11/2026House

  23. Floor Amendment {493427/1 (Delegate Hornberger) Rejected (35-86)

    4/11/2026House

  24. Floor Amendment {553021/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (37-90)

    4/11/2026House

  25. Floor Amendment {123028/1 (Delegate M. Morgan) Rejected (34-92)

    4/11/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    2/5/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/16/2026

    PDF

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